In plain words
A dream feed is a feed given while the baby is still asleep, usually late in the evening. The parent offers the breast or bottle gently, and the baby may drink without fully waking. Some families use it to extend the baby's first stretch of sleep. Others find it does not change sleep much. Sleep in young babies changes quickly, so results vary from family to family. A dream feed can also mean more night feeds for the parent, which some find hard. For babies with weight-gain or feeding concerns, the feeding plan is set with a provider. Sleep and feeding questions are common and can be raised at well visits.
The deeper version
A dream feed is a late-evening feed given to a drowsy or sleeping infant to extend the interval before the first waking. Evidence for its effect on infant sleep duration is limited and mostly from small observational or uncontrolled studies, and the effect may reflect the infant's age and feeding pattern more than the feed itself. Mindell and Owens (A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep, 3rd edition, 2015) describe feeding-related sleep associations and the role of responsive settling. Concern about sleep-related risks and over-feeding is part of the discussion, and sleep guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes environments regardless of feeding practice. The open question is whether dream feeding changes independently of age.
Where it comes up
- Breastfeeding and sleep: feeding to sleep, night feeds, and sharing the loadFeeding Your Baby
- Night weaningFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about dream feed
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Sources
- Mindell JA, Owens JA — A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep: Diagnosis and Management of Sleep Problems, 3rd edition, 2015
- American Academy of Pediatrics — SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment