Should You Dream Feed Your Baby?

A dream feed can be a game-changer for tired parents. It’s a method we used in those early, sleep-deprived months while our newborn baby was still navigating the difference between night and day. But what is a dream feed? And is it a safe method for sleep?

What Is a Dream Feed?

A dream feed (or dream feeding, if you’re feeling fancy) is when you gently feed your baby while they’re still snoozing, usually between 10 p.m. and midnight. The idea is to top them up before you go to bed, hoping they’ll sleep a bit longer through the night and give you a longer stretch of sleep.

How to Dream Feed Your Baby

Wondering how to dream feed? Don’t worry, it’s easier than it sounds:

Wait until around 10–11 p or just before your own bedtime.
Gently lift your baby without waking them fully.
Offer the breast or bottle. Babies often latch instinctively during a dream feed but you can also encourage them by gently rubbing the teat or nipple on their lower lip.
Keep lights low and avoid too much stimulation.
Pop them back in their cot. Some babies don’t even need burping, but you know your baby best, so use your own instincts here.

Our baby slept quite deeply during those newborn days and wouldn’t initially accept a dream feed. We found that a quick nappy change would usually help to stir her enough to take a bottle and we’d get a long (around 3-4 hours) stretch of blissful sleep before she woke for another feed.

When to Start and Stop Dream Feeding

You can start dream feeding infants from around a few weeks old, as long as they’re gaining weight well. In fact, some doctors recommend dream feeding for babies who need to gain some extra weight. Overall, we found that it works best once your baby has settled into a bit of a feeding rhythm.

Now the biggie: when to stop a dream feed?

Most parents drop the dream feed around 4 to 6 months, or when baby starts sleeping through without it. If your little one starts taking less milk at that feed—or even wakes up more then it may be time to stop.

Is Dream Feeding Safe? And Does It Work?

In short, yes, a dream feed is perfectly safe for healthy babies. Just follow the usual safe sleep guidelines. If your baby has medical problems, you should seek advice from your local GP or health visitor.

However, there are some concerns that a dream feed can actually prevent babies from learning their own hunger cues and instead may encourage them to leave it up to you to know when they’re hungry, which can create bad habits. If this is a worry, then you may want to let your baby just wake up naturally on their own. Yes, those early days are hard, particularly if you have a baby that wakes up every 2 hours or less. However, most babies will naturally stretch out their sleep over time.

What can I do instead of a dream feed?

Not sure a dream feed is right for you or your little one? This is totally fair, dream feeding doesn’t suit every baby or every family setup. But don’t worry, there are other ways to help your baby sleep longer at night (and buy yourself some much-needed shut-eye too).

Sleep in Shifts

If you’ve got a partner around, sleeping in shifts can be an absolute lifesaver in those early weeks. When our little girl was a newborn, I’d head to bed around 9 p.m. while my partner stayed downstairs with her sleeping in the Moses basket. Then, at around 2 a.m., he’d bring her up and pop her in the next-to-me crib, and I’d take over the night feeds. It meant we both got at least a few uninterrupted hours. Of course, this one’s trickier for single parents or if you’re exclusively breastfeeding, but don’t worry—we’ve got more ideas.

Offer a Big Feed Before Bed

A bigger-than-normal feed before bed can help your baby stay fuller for longer. From around 6 months (when baby could take in a bit more milk), we started giving her a larger feed before bedtime to help stretch out those nighttime hours. Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding, a good full tummy might help them snooze for longer before that first wake-up.

Focus on Daytime Feeding

Sometimes those frequent night wakings are simply down to baby not getting enough milk during the day. Try offering more regular feeds in daylight hours to top up their intake and it might just help them settle better overnight. You should also make sure your baby gets plenty of daylight exposure throughout the day. This helps them begin to tell the difference between day and night, which is thought to support more settled sleep patterns.

Create a Calm Sleep Space

Even if you are trying a dream feed baby routine, a calm sleep environment makes all the difference. Keep things dark, cool, and quiet. The ideal room temperature is around 16–20°C. Dress baby in breathable layers or a baby sleeping bag to keep them cosy but not too hot.

So, should you dream feed your baby?

Still wondering, should I dream feed my baby? If you’re at the end of your tether with a baby that wakes too often at night, then a dream feed may be worth giving a go. Every baby is different and what works for one baby may not work for another. Some parents find a dream feed is the answer to helping them get a longer stretch of sleep at night, while others may find it creates an unnecessary disturbance to their little ones' routine. Follow your baby’s cues and what you feel works best for your family.

Photo by MYKOLA OSMACHKO