Should I do a Dream Feed?
Will a Dream Feed help my Baby Sleep Through the Night?
What is a Dream Feed?
A dream feed is different from a late feed, though many people confuse the two. A late feed happens when your baby wakes up around 10 or 11 pm for a feed, and you feed them before putting them back to sleep.
In contrast, a dream feed is when you feed your baby while they are still asleep. They don’t wake up during the feed — you simply offer the bottle or breast near their mouth, and they latch and feed without fully waking. If your baby wakes up during the feed, it’s not truly a dream feed.
You might be wondering: how does this work?
For most babies, simply rubbing a bottle or nipple near their mouth will encourage them to latch and begin feeding while still asleep. However, not all babies will cooperate. Some may resist, turning their head away in protest, and simply fall back to sleep.
Should I Try a Dream Feed?
In my experience, dream feeds can be hit or miss. They work best when your goal is to help your baby consolidate sleep during the night. The idea is that by offering a feed before midnight (rather than after), your baby will sleep a longer stretch and allow you to get more uninterrupted rest.
Ideally, you would go to bed after the dream feed and not wake again until morning — this is the dream scenario!
By feeding your baby before midnight, you might help them avoid waking for a feed in the early hours of the morning. As a result, they’ll wake up hungry around 6-7 am, ready to start their day — which can be a better start to your morning routine.
When Dream Feeds don't work
While dream feeds can be effective for some babies, but they don’t work for everyone. Here are a few reasons why they might not be helpful:
1. Refusal to Latch: As mentioned, some babies simply won’t latch or feed during a dream feed, even if they’re half-awake. In these cases, you might be better off letting your baby sleep longer and waking them up when they’re truly hungry, which can lead to a better feed.
2. Partial Feed: Some babies will latch and feed, but only take a small amount — for example, a 60ml bottle or a brief breastfeed. This can create a pattern where your baby is snacking throughout the night rather than taking a full, satisfying feed. If this is happening, it may be better to skip the dream feed altogether and let your baby wake naturally when they’re truly hungry.
3. Waking Too Early: A dream feed may work initially, but some babies wake up very early (like around 1 or 2 am) even after taking a full feed. If this happens repeatedly, the dream feed is likely not working, and it might be time to stop.
4. Frequent Night Wakings: If your baby wakes up every 2 hours after a dream feed, it’s a sign that the feed may be disrupting their natural sleep pattern. In this case, dropping the dream feed and letting your baby sleep longer might be the solution.
5. Older Babies (6 months and beyond): If your baby is past 6 months old and still getting a dream feed, it may be time to drop it. After this age, babies should be able to sleep for longer stretches without needing a feed, and forcing a scheduled night feed can actually disrupt their sleep patterns.
When Can I Start a Dream Feed?
I don’t typically recommend dream feeds for newborns, as their bedtime is usually later at about 9-10 pm anyway, and the dream feed doesn’t extend their sleep — they’re feeding every 2-3 hours, and tend to cluster feed until they are about 5–6 weeks old, so they aren’t usually settled enough to benefit from a dream feed.
If your baby is around 6-12 weeks old and has developed a more predictable bedtime routine (around 6-7 pm), you can consider trying a scheduled feed around 10–10:30 pm. In this window, you can gently wake your baby, change their nappy, and offer a full feed to help them sleep longer through the night. If this works, your baby may then sleep for a good 3-5 hours before needing another feed.
When Should I Drop the Dream Feed?
Once your baby starts eating solids (usually around 6 months), you can begin to reduce or eliminate the dream feed. As they transition to 1-2 meals a day, solid food will replace some of their nighttime calories, and you can safely drop the dream feed.
If by around 6-8 months, your baby weights 6-8 kilos, then your baby may be ready to sleep through the night without a feed.
The Consensus
Dream feeds can work for some babies, but not all. It’s a strategy to help babies sleep longer at night, but it may not be effective if your baby continues waking up too early or frequently. If you’re already struggling with fragmented sleep and your baby is over 16 weeks old, adding a dream feed probably won’t help — you may need to focus on teaching your baby self-soothing skills instead.
For newborns, a later bedtime around 10 pm can help them consolidate sleep, and you can transition to a dream feed around 12-16 weeks. The dream feed is just one approach to improving sleep. It’s not actually one I ever recommend in my programs as there are other strategies available depending on your baby’s age and needs.
