Can dream feed backfire?

While providing a dream feed to your newborn who needs to eat frequently might be an effective short-term strategy, dream feeds can backfire as your little one approaches 4 months. Between 3 and 4 months, a baby's biological sleep rhythm is maturing.

What are the cons of dream feed?

Disadvantages of a Dream Feed

Sometimes a dream feed may not work out as you expected. You may wake up your baby. At times, you may end up waking up your baby when you're trying to feed them. According to research, infants up to six months old spend as much as 50% of their time in REM sleep.

Why you shouldn't do a dream feed?

Dream feeding might wake up your baby more and lead to trouble falling back to sleep, or result in more night wakings because you disrupted that first very restorative period of sleep. Dream feeding may also backfire in the long run because baby will get used to having an extra feed overnight.

When should you stop dream feeding?

All babies are different, so there is no specific age recommendation for stopping a dream feed. My general rule is that you can bid adieu to the dream feed 2 to 4 weeks after your baby is sleeping well from the time of your dream feed on through to the morning.

How do you know when dream feed isn't working?

YOU'LL KNOW IT'S NOT WORKING FOR YOU IF…

…you have given it a week, and your baby is still waking up multiple times overnight OR they can't stretch out their sleep. Sometimes, this late night feed actually interrupts their deep sleep and makes it really hard for them to fall back to sleep.

Dream Feeding - Should You Feed A Sleeping Baby?

How many ounces should a dream feed be?

How much do you feed during a dream feeding? There is no right or wrong answer to this one; you can do a small “snack” feeding of 2-3oz, you could do their normal 4-6oz, you could feed on one side if breastfeeding, or feed on both sides! Some babies will only drink a tiny amount, some will take in the full feeding.

Do you need to burp during dream feed?

Yes, you should burp your baby even after a dream feed, which is a late-night feeding you wake your little one up for before you head to bed. The reason? Any feeding, including a dream feed, can create gas and/or cause your baby to spit up. So do your best to alleviate that pressure.

Should a dream feed be a full feed?

Your goal is to provide one more feeding before you go to bed. So take him out of the crib or bassinet about 2-3 hours after the bedtime feeding and offer another full feeding. It's that simple. If she needs a diaper change, do it.

How successful are dream feeds?

As with most things baby or sleep-related, dream feeding works for some babies and not for others. In my experience, it works about 50% of the time. Some research shows that by getting one or more feedings between 10pm and midnight, babies wake up less during the night, which makes sense!

Do dream feeds disturb sleep?

Dream feeding generally takes place in the first hours of a baby's sleep, which is when they sleep most soundly, so there's a risk of interrupting a deep sleep. That might be fine if your baby can fall right back asleep. But if a dream feed disrupts your baby's sleep for the rest of the night, it may not be worth it.

What time is best for dream feed?

Typically, dream feeds are done around 10 or 11 p.m., before you've gone to bed for the night. The idea is that a baby will sleep longer through the night and, ideally, until morning on a full stomach.

When should I drop my 10pm feed?

By 6/7 months, your baby likely is ready to drop the night feeds completely. However, keep in mind that many babies still need a early morning feed (between 3-5am) until 12 months!

Should you pump after dream feed?

It's not essential to use expressed breast milk for the dream feed of course, and if you are using formula, or are combination feeding and prefer to use formula milk for this final feed of the day, then I'd still recommend expressing your milk before you go to sleep to keep your supply functioning in accordance with ...

Does dream feeding increase milk supply?

A dream feed can be especially helpful for babies who sleep through the night on their own early on or for moms who have returned to work. In both cases, mom's milk supply may take a hit, but by removing milk through a dream feed you can maintain or even increase supply without having to add in another pumping session.

How long does it take for a dream feed to work?

If you choose to give dream feeding a try, stick with it for a week to give your baby a chance to adjust and then see whether or not it's working for them. If it does work for your little one, you can continue dream feeding until 6 months and then gradually reduce the feed before dropping it altogether.

Why won't my baby burp after dream feed?

Some babies naturally take in less air during the dream feed because they are more relaxed. In this case, they may not burp but you should still try to get one out.

Should I keep baby upright after dream feed?

It's better for them to assume an upright position after feeding. If babies are allowed to fall asleep during a dream feed, this might contribute to delays in the development of self-settling. Not every family will see this as a problem, but for some families, it's an important consideration.

Should I change diaper during dream feed?

If you feel it is necessary, then yes. Otherwise, it's generally best to wait on the diaper until the baby's next waking. Some parents prefer to change the diaper before the dream feeding. The problem with this is that it usually wakes the baby (and oftentimes, the baby will poop again anyway!)

What happens if baby wakes up during dream feed?

Some babies might fully wake up during the dream feed, which is okay! Just make sure you keep the lights dim and minimize the amount of stimulation to make sure you can get them back to sleep easily. Other babies might not stay awake enough for a full-feed, which is also okay!

How long should baby sleep after dream feed?

Rouse the baby.

After your baby has been sleeping for 1 - 3 hours, you will want to gently wake up your baby. Many families ask us, “How awake should my baby be for the dream feeding?” Ideally, you want your baby to remain drowsy and awake just enough to take a full feeding. Pro Tips: Keep the lights off or very dim.

How do you do the perfect dream feed?

Can I go 8 hours without pumping at night?

Ultimately, if your baby has reached its birth weight and you're pumping enough milk during the day, it's okay to sleep eight hours without pumping at night. Keep in mind there is an adjustment period for your body as it begins to acclimate to the decrease in supply.

Will milk supply decrease when baby sleeps through night?

My Baby Is Sleeping Longer At Night. Will This Hurt My Supply? When babies reach their birth weight and can sleep for longer stretches at night, the time between nighttime feedings gradually lengthens. Letting your baby sleep for longer periods during the night won't hurt your breastfeeding efforts.

Is it OK to put baby to sleep without burping?

Even if your baby falls asleep, try burping them for a few minutes before placing them back down to sleep. Otherwise, they make wake up in pain with trapped gas.

Do babies naturally drop night feeds?

Do Babies Naturally Drop Night Feeds? It is natural for babies to drop night feeds on their own. This is because your baby will be able to last longer without food. You can start to prep your baby to drop night weaning by gradually giving him less time on the breast each night.