Herbie Murray
Newborns have a strong desire to suck, especially when tired, due to their active sucking reflex. This means they are likely to feed whenever a feed is offered, whether they are awake or during light sleep. If a baby repeatedly falls asleep while feeding, feeding can become a sleep association, causing them to seek to feed whenever they are tired and ready to sleep, regardless of whether they are hungry. This can result in broken sleep, which could then lead to infant distress due to sleep deprivation. However, some parents opt for dream feeding, which is a method of nursing your baby without fully waking them up before you go to bed. This can help babies sleep longer and give parents more uninterrupted sleep.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Newborns' desire to suck | Newborns have a strong desire to suck, especially when tired, due to their active sucking reflex. |
| Feeding-sleep association | Feeding a newborn while asleep can lead to a feeding-sleep association, where the baby links feeding with falling asleep. This can result in broken sleep and infant distress due to sleep deprivation. |
| Dream feeding | Offering a dream feed to a newborn before bedtime can help them sleep longer and reduce the number of night feedings. It involves feeding the baby while asleep or half-awake without fully waking them up. |
| Potential complications | Sleep-feeding can cause feeding aversion, where the baby rejects feeds while awake, leading to underfeeding. It can also interfere with the baby's natural sleep patterns, especially during the first sleep, which is the deepest and most restorative. |
| Parental convenience | Dream feeding can provide parents with more uninterrupted sleep by aligning with their sleep schedule. |
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What You'll Learn
Dream feeding can help newborns sleep longer
Newborns have a strong desire to suck, especially when tired, and will often feed whenever it is offered, whether they are awake or during light sleep. While it is possible to feed newborns while they are asleep, there are some potential drawbacks to this. For example, if a baby repeatedly falls asleep while feeding, they may develop a feeding-sleep association, where they will seek to feed whenever they are tired and ready to sleep, regardless of whether they are hungry or not. This can result in broken sleep, which could then cause infant distress due to sleep deprivation.
One way to mitigate this issue is through dream feeding. Dream feeding is when you rouse your baby, without fully waking them up, to feed them one more time before you go to bed for the night. This can help to ensure that your baby's longest block of continuous sleep occurs when you are also sleeping, thereby increasing your hours of uninterrupted sleep. Research has shown that giving a dream feed between 10 pm and midnight can reduce night wakings, helping babies stay asleep until a more reasonable time in the morning. This can become part of your baby's regular sleep schedule, helping them to sleep for longer stretches during the night.
However, it is important to note that dream feeding may not be suitable for all newborns. For example, if your newborn's bedtime is between 9 pm and 10 pm, their long stretch of sleep may already line up with yours without the need for a dream feed. In this case, a dream feed may interrupt their deep sleep and make it difficult for them to fall back asleep. Additionally, some newborns may resist or reject feeding while they are asleep, which can lead to frustration and the potential development of a feeding aversion.
Ultimately, the choice to dream feed or not is up to you and should be based on your newborn's individual needs and preferences. If you are unsure, it may be helpful to consult with a healthcare professional or a sleep specialist for guidance.
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The risks of developing a feeding-sleep association
Newborns have a strong desire to suck, especially when tired, due to their active sucking reflex. This means that they will likely feed whenever a feed is offered, whether they are awake or during light sleep. When a baby repeatedly falls asleep while feeding, feeding can become a sleep association, which means the baby will seek to feed whenever they are tired and ready to sleep, regardless of whether they are hungry or not.
Developing a feeding-sleep association can increase the risk of broken sleep, which can cause infant distress due to sleep deprivation. A chronically sleep-deprived baby might fall asleep before completing a feed, and a rigid feeding schedule in this case could result in underfeeding. As a result of a feeding-sleep association, a baby may develop a habit of feeding only in a drowsy or sleepy state. This can cause frustration for parents, who may then try to gently pressure their baby to feed when they are awake. If pressured to feed when they are awake, the baby can develop an aversion to feeding, creating further complications.
Additionally, the stress associated with trying to ensure a baby gets enough to eat, exhaustion from providing multiple night feeds, numerous health visits, and financial strain can take a significant toll on parents' physical and emotional health. Unrealistic expectations about an infant's sleep are significant predictors of fatigue, and parental perceptions of an infant's sleep as problematic are associated with higher parenting stress.
To prevent a feeding-sleep association from developing, parents can take active steps such as encouraging the infant's autonomy and reducing parental involvement at bedtime.
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How to dream feed a newborn
Dream feeding is a technique used by parents and caregivers to help their baby sleep for longer periods during the night. It involves feeding your baby without fully waking them, for the last time in the day. This method can help reduce the number of times your baby wakes up during the night to be fed. It is important to note that dream feeding is a personal choice and may not work for every baby.
- Establish a bedtime routine: A consistent bedtime routine will help your newborn understand when it is time to sleep. This might include activities such as reading a book, singing a lullaby, or giving your baby a massage.
- Create a calming environment: Turn down the lights, close the curtains or blinds, and speak in a soft voice to help your baby relax.
- Put your baby to sleep: When your baby appears sleepy, put them to sleep on their back in a cot or bassinet. Ensure that the mattress is firm, flat, and clean, and remove any toys, loose objects, and excess blankets from the sleeping area.
- Gently rouse your baby: Just before you head to bed, gently wake your baby for their dream feed. This is usually about two to three hours after they have fallen asleep, and right before you go to sleep.
- Feed your baby: If you are bottle-feeding, ensure your baby is not fully asleep and sit them in a semi-upright position to prevent choking. If you are breastfeeding, aim to keep your baby awake but drowsy so they can easily fall back asleep after feeding.
- Burp your baby: Newborns are naturally gassy, so be sure to burp them regularly and hold them in an upright position during and after feeding.
- Put your baby back to bed: Place your baby back in their crib or bassinet with as little fuss as possible. Keep the environment calm and low-key to encourage your baby to fall back asleep easily.
Remember, dream feeding is a personal choice and may not be suitable for all families. It is always important to follow safe feeding guidelines and consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns.
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The pros and cons of dream feeding
It is not uncommon for newborns to feed while sleeping. Dream feeding is a method of nursing your baby without fully waking them before you go to bed. It is typically done between 10 pm and midnight and can help your baby sleep longer, giving you a chance to get some undisturbed sleep.
The Pros of Dream Feeding
Dream feeding can be beneficial for several reasons:
- Reduced night feedings: It can help to lower the number of times you need to nurse your child during the night.
- Longer sleep for your baby: Your baby may sleep for longer stretches at a time, which can be beneficial for their overall development.
- More uninterrupted sleep for parents: By dream feeding your baby before you go to bed, you may encourage your baby to have their longest block of sleep from that point onwards, resulting in more uninterrupted sleep for you.
- More control over your night: Dream feeding can give you a sense of control over your night, allowing you to plan and schedule your time more effectively.
- Improved mood and relationships: The extra sleep gained from dream feeding can positively impact your mood and relationships, reducing drowsiness and improving your overall well-being.
The Cons of Dream Feeding
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:
- Interrupted sleep: Despite the intention of keeping the baby asleep, dream feeding may actually interrupt your baby's deep, restorative sleep. They need to be mostly awake to suck and swallow, which can disrupt their sleep/wake rhythm and interfere with their natural 24-hour cycle.
- Lack of satisfaction: When babies are aware that they are eating, they feel satisfied. With dream feeding, this connection may be missing, and they may not feel as satisfied.
- Habitual wake-ups: Dream feeding may create a new habit where your baby starts waking up at the same time each night, even when they are not actually hungry.
- Counterproductive to consolidated sleep: Dream feeding may be counterintuitive to the goal of helping your baby sleep through the night. It can perpetuate the feed-to-sleep association, making them more likely to look for feeding at other points during the night.
- Underfeeding: A rigid dream feeding schedule may result in underfeeding if the baby falls asleep before completing the feed.
When to Stop Dream Feeding
If you find that dream feeding is no longer working for you and your baby, it is important to make a change. This may be indicated by your baby struggling to fall back to sleep after the feed or waking more frequently during the night. In such cases, you can simply stop offering the dream feed, and your baby may still wake for developmentally appropriate nighttime feedings.
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When to start and stop dream feeding
Newborns have an active sucking reflex, which means they are likely to feed whenever a feed is offered, whether they are awake or during light sleep. While it is not harmful for newborns to feed while sleeping, it can lead to a feeding-sleep association, which can result in broken sleep and infant distress due to sleep deprivation.
Dream feeding is a planned feeding where you intentionally rouse your baby without fully waking them up to feed them one more time before you turn in for the night. It is usually introduced when the baby is a newborn or slightly older, and is most used for babies between 6 weeks and 10 months old. The goal of a dream feed is to offer your baby one more feed before you go to bed, so that you and your baby's schedule sync better, and you both sleep better.
To start dream feeding, gently take your baby out of the crib or bassinet between 10 pm and 12 am, or whenever you go to bed. Keep the room dim and quiet, except for some white noise. Touch your baby's cheek with your breast or bottle to wake up their rooting reflex and get them to start eating. Encourage nursing for 5 to 10 minutes on each side. For bottle-fed babies, try for about 3 ounces. After the feed, burp your baby and put them back down. If your baby wakes up during or after the feed, you can get them back down with the help of the 5 S's: swaddling, side/stomach, shushing, swinging, and sucking.
You can stop dream feeding when you and your baby are ready. You can gradually phase out dream feeding by offering a little less milk or formula each night. Alternatively, you can stop waking your baby for feedings and let them wake naturally when they need to eat.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is generally safe to let your newborn eat while sleeping. This is known as "dream feeding" and is a method to nurse your baby without fully waking them up before you turn in for the night. This can help your baby sleep for longer stretches and can also help you get some undisturbed sleep.
To dream feed your newborn, gently pick them up from their crib and rouse them just enough to eat by tickling their feet or cheeks. Then, put your breast or bottle to the corner of their mouth to stimulate a latch and the sucking reflex. Once your baby is finished taking milk, put them back in the crib on their back.
Yes, there are potential risks linked with dream feeding. One risk is the development of a feeding-sleep association, where the baby psychologically links feeding with falling asleep. This can result in broken sleep, which could then cause infant distress due to sleep deprivation. Additionally, there is a lack of research supporting the effectiveness of dream feeding in helping babies sleep longer.
