What is a dream feed?
Becoming a new parent is a rewarding journey, filled with precious moments, cuddles, and the joy of watching your baby grow. In fact, many new parents put their babies to bed for the night just to end up watching them sleep. However, after just a few hours, likely when you are also about to fall asleep, your little one is crying and hungry AGAIN.
Ensuring your baby gets the nourishing sleep they need can be so challenging in the early years because they cannot communicate what they need.
On the quest for restful nights, many parents have discovered the art of the dream feed. In this blog post we’ll dive into what a dream feed is, why it can be beneficial, how to implement it, and when you can start and stop dream feeding.
Dream feed defined
Dream feeding is a feeding technique that can extend those early night stretches of sleep so you and your babe can get uninterrupted slumber. This is achieved by feeding your baby while he or she is still sleeping- or dreaming- with the idea that this will keep their tummy full and give them a longer stretch of sleep.
When can you start?
Luckily, there are no definitive rules when it comes to initiating a dream feed. You know your baby best so staying attuned to your baby’s sleep patterns can help you anticipate how long they usually stay asleep before waking up in the middle of the night. Although it’s different for everyone, typically babies can sleep for 3-4 hour stretches when they are no longer a newborn between 1-4 months.
How do you implement a dream feed?
Typically parents choose to dream feed between 10pm and midnight, usually before going to bed themselves. This is an ideal time because your baby is likely in a deep sleep or dream-like state and won’t fully wake up while feeding.
Keep the environment calm and quiet when going into your baby’s sleep space. Lights should be minimal and white noise will help minimize sound from your movements.
Gently pick up your baby and softly rouse them to a semi-awake state by stroking their cheek or patting their back so that they can latch on to your breast or the bottle without fully waking.
Your baby should be in a comfortable position and there should be minimal distractions so you don’t overstimulate your baby.
After the feeding is finished, you can burp your baby gently if needed without arousing them too much. Then, carefully transition them back to their crib or bassinet.
Benefits of dream feeding
Longer stretches of sleep for you and baby
Babies still need to feed at night up until 6 months of age in most cases so they’re able to get adequate nutrition using this technique
This can help nursing moms maintain their supply
When should I stop the dream feed?
Every baby is unique so there is no set age to stop dream feeding. Reach out to your pediatrician to see if your baby still needs to be fed during the night and stop your dream feed accordingly.
In some cases this may be too stimulating for a baby and cause a disruption in sleep. Implementing a dream feed consistently will help your baby become accustomed to the feeding pattern and potentially sleep for longer stretches at night. However, if you find that this does not work for you, you can stop at any time.
Healthy sleep and proper nutrition go hand in hand so utilizing a dream feed can be beneficial in more ways than one. Dream feeding can be a powerful tool to help you get much needed sleep during the infant stage and can also provide an ideal time to give your baby his or her inevitable nighttime feed. Remember that whether you choose to dream feed or not, you are providing your baby with the love and care they need to thrive.
If you need more support, please reach out to the team at My Sweet Sleeper so we can discuss all of our different packages that can help your baby get a good night’s rest.
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