Colin Snow
Feeding a baby to sleep is a common practice, especially in the newborn stage, to help them sleep for longer stretches at night and ensure their nutritional needs are met. This practice is often referred to as dream feeding, and it involves feeding the baby while they are asleep or half-awake, usually between 10 pm and midnight. While dream feeding can be beneficial for some parents and babies, it may also lead to overfeeding, disrupt the baby's ability to recognise hunger cues, and cause difficulty in breaking the feeding-to-sleep association later on. As babies grow, parents may seek strategies to move past feeding to sleep and promote healthier sleep habits for their little ones.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Goal | To help babies sleep for longer stretches during the night |
| When to start | When the baby is between 2 and 3 months old |
| When to stop | By 6 months, most healthy babies don't need dream feeds anymore |
| Timing | Between 10 pm and midnight, 2-3 hours after the baby's last feed |
| Benefits | Helps babies sleep for longer and helps parents get undisturbed sleep |
| Drawbacks | May lead to overfeeding and an upset stomach, may not work for all babies |
| Alternatives | Rocking the baby to sleep, patting or stroking, changing the sleep routine |
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What You'll Learn
Dream feeds can help babies sleep longer
"Feed to sleep" is a common practice where parents feed their babies to help them sleep. This is quite normal and beneficial during the newborn stage, as it helps parents bond with their babies and ensures that all their nutritional needs are met. Feeding to sleep can also be a useful tool to soothe newborn babies and lull them into a deep sleep. However, as babies grow older, some parents may want to move away from this association and explore other strategies to help their children sleep.
Dream feeding is a technique where parents rouse their baby from sleep (without fully waking them) to feed them one more time before the parents go to bed for the night. It is usually done two to three hours after the baby has been put to sleep for the night, typically between 10 pm and midnight. The goal of dream feeding is to get the baby to sleep for longer stretches during the night and to align the baby's longest stretch of sleep with that of the parents. This can help both the baby and the parents get a longer stretch of sleep.
Dream feeding can be started when the baby is between 2 and 3 months old and showing signs of sleeping for longer stretches without a feed. It is not recommended to force dream feeding if the baby does not seem interested or hungry. Additionally, it is important to note that dream feeding may not work for every baby, and in some cases, it can lead to overfeeding or disrupt the baby's natural sleep patterns. If dream feeding does not seem to be effective, it is advisable to consult a pediatrician for guidance.
To perform dream feeding, gently pick up your baby from the crib or bassinet without fully waking them. Tickle their feet or cheeks to stimulate their sucking reflex, and then put your breast or the bottle to the corner of their mouth. Make sure to prop your baby up in your arms while feeding. Dream feeding can be combined with other techniques, such as swaddling, white noise, and rocking, to create a calming environment and help your baby fall back asleep more easily.
While dream feeding may help some babies sleep longer, it is not a guaranteed solution for all. It is important to be consistent with the approach you choose and make changes gradually. If you decide to stop dream feeding, you can do so by cutting it cold turkey and allowing your baby to wake naturally and signal when they are hungry. Remember, every baby is unique, and you should always consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice regarding your baby's sleep and feeding habits.
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The pros and cons of dream feeds
Feeding a baby to sleep is a common practice, especially in the newborn stage, as it helps with bonding and ensures that the baby's nutritional needs are met. However, as the baby grows, parents may want to move past feeding the baby to sleep. One method that is often considered is dream feeding.
Dream feeding involves rousing a baby from sleep (but not fully waking them) to feed them before the parent goes to bed. This is usually done two to three hours after the baby has been put to sleep for the night. The goal of dream feeding is to help the baby sleep for longer stretches during the night and to reduce the number of night feedings.
Pros of Dream Feeding
- Reduced night feedings: Dream feeding can help the baby sleep for longer stretches, reducing the number of times the parent needs to nurse during the night. Research shows that about 57% of babies under one year old slept for more than eight hours at a stretch with dream feeding.
- More uninterrupted sleep: By dream feeding the baby before the parent goes to bed, the parent can get some uninterrupted sleep as the baby is likely to sleep for a longer stretch.
- Easier to discontinue: Once the baby gets older, they will naturally wean off the dream feed, making it easier to discontinue.
- Lesser interruptions during feeding: Feeding the baby while they are asleep reduces distractions, making it easier for the baby to feed without interruptions.
- More sleep for the baby: Dream feeding can help the baby get more sleep overall, as they will not be waking up as frequently for feeds.
Cons of Dream Feeding
- Overfeeding: Dream feeding can lead to overfeeding, especially when bottle feeding, which can cause an upset stomach for the baby.
- Dependency: Dream feeding can create a feed-to-sleep dependency, where the baby associates feeding with falling asleep. This can make it harder for the baby to fall asleep without feeding and may strengthen the dependency.
- Disruption of restorative sleep: Waking the baby for a dream feed can disrupt their first sleep cycle, which is the deepest and most restorative sleep. This could result in lower quality sleep for the baby.
- Not effective for all babies: Dream feeding may not work for all babies, and some may continue to wake up frequently even with dream feeding.
- Difficulty in weaning: If the baby wakes up regularly during dream feeding, it may be harder to wean them off the night feeds later on.
- Inhibits learning hunger cues: By not allowing the baby to wake up on their own and signal that they are hungry, dream feeding can inhibit the baby's ability to learn their own hunger cues.
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How to break the feeding to sleep habit
Feeding to sleep is a common practice for parents with newborns. It helps parents bond with their babies and ensures that all their nutritional needs are met. However, as babies grow, some parents may want to break this habit as it can become challenging when the baby relies solely on feeding as a cue to fall asleep. Here are some ways to break the feeding-to-sleep habit:
Understand Feed and Sleep Cues
By learning your baby's feed and sleep cues, you can determine when they are genuinely hungry or simply relying on feeding to fall asleep. Some common feed cues include eagerly turning to the breast or bottle, sucking on fingers or fists, and crying. Sleepy cues may vary with age and baby, but some common ones are becoming less vocal and yawning.
Adjust the Feeding Schedule
Gradually decrease the amount of milk fed during the night and switch to water. This helps break the association between feeding and sleeping. You can also move the bedtime feed to before bath time or earlier in the night when the baby is less tired.
Introduce Positive Sleep Associations
Positive sleep associations are items or activities that help your baby feel good about falling asleep. These can include a cozy sleeping bag, a soft blankie, or a cuddly toy. You can introduce these items during feeding time so that your baby starts to associate them with comfort and sleepiness. Over time, your baby will be able to fall asleep independently with the help of these positive sleep associations.
Allow Awake Time Before Bed
It is recommended to allow for 5-10 minutes of awake time between feeding and bedtime. This ensures that your baby does not rely on feeding alone to fall asleep and can learn to self-soothe. During this time, you can change their diaper, read to them, or cuddle to help them stay awake.
Gradual Withdrawal
Some parents prefer a gradual approach to breaking the feeding-to-sleep habit. This can involve rocking the baby to sleep for a few nights and then gradually slowing down the movement. Once the baby can fall asleep without rocking, you can lie down next to them and provide rhythmic patting or gentle stroking.
Remember, consistency is key when making changes to your baby's sleep routine. It may take time for your baby to adjust, so be patient and persistent in your new approach.
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Strategies to help babies fall asleep without feeding
"Feed to sleep" refers to the practice of feeding a baby to help them fall asleep. While this is common and often helpful in the newborn stage, some parents may want to move past this practice as their baby grows older.
Gradual Withdrawal
This method involves slowly reducing the amount of feeding involved in the baby's sleep routine. You can start by rocking your baby to sleep for a few nights. Once they are comfortable with that, you can gradually slow down the movement until they are able to fall asleep without the rocking motion. Eventually, you can transition to lying down next to your baby and using a rhythmic, light patting or gentle stroking motion to soothe them to sleep. This method allows both you and your baby to learn new ways of doing things gradually, without the pressure of sudden changes.
Pick-up, Put-down
This technique involves picking up the baby when they cry and then putting them down once they calm down. You can repeat this process until the baby learns to self-soothe and fall asleep independently.
Intervals of Being Outside the Room
With this approach, you gradually increase the intervals between your presence in the room and the baby's sleep. Start by leaving the room for short periods, and then slowly increase the duration of your absence. This helps the baby get used to falling asleep without your constant presence.
Change the Order of the Sleep Routine
You can try changing the order of your baby's sleep routine by feeding them earlier in the night when they are less tired. Feed them in a more upright position and away from their crib or cot. After feeding, you can continue with the rest of the bedtime routine. This approach may help reduce the association between feeding and falling asleep.
Swaddling
Swaddling your baby can provide a sense of security and comfort, mimicking the feeling of being in the womb. This can help your baby feel calm and relaxed, making it easier for them to fall asleep.
Pacifier and Soothing Touch
Using a pacifier can help satisfy your baby's sucking reflex, which is often comforting for them. Combine this with a soothing touch, such as gentle patting or stroking, to help your baby feel calm and drift off to sleep.
It's important to remember that different approaches work for different families, and it's always a good idea to consult a pediatrician or sleep specialist for personalized advice. Consistency and patience are key when trying to establish new sleep habits for your baby.
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When to stop dream feeding
The decision to stop dream feeding depends on various factors, including how helpful it is, calorie intake during the day, and whether your baby is waking from hunger or a sleep onset association. By 6 months, most healthy babies don't need dream feeds anymore. However, age alone shouldn't be the only barometer for when to stop dream feeding.
Some parents may choose to gradually reduce the time spent nursing or lessen the formula in the bottle by 1-2 ounces. Others may opt to cut out the dream feed cold turkey and allow their baby to wake naturally when they need to eat. If you're unsure about when or how to stop dream feeding, it's always best to consult your paediatrician or healthcare provider for personalized advice.
It's important to note that dream feeding may not work for every baby, and there are potential drawbacks to consider. For example, dream feeding may disrupt the first very restorative period of sleep, leading to more night wakings. It may also cause overfeeding, especially with bottle feeding, resulting in an upset stomach. Additionally, dream feeding may hinder your baby's ability to rely on their own hunger cues.
If you're looking to transition away from dream feeding, there are alternative strategies you can explore. For example, you can try rocking your baby to sleep and gradually slowing down the movement until you can lie down next to your baby without rocking. Changing the order of your sleep routine by feeding earlier when your baby is less tired and in a more upright position can also help. Remember, consistency is key when making changes to your baby's sleep habits.
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Frequently asked questions
A dream feed is a late-night feed given to a baby right before the parent goes to bed, usually around two to three hours after the baby has been put to sleep. The goal is to fill the baby up so that they sleep longer at night and the parent can get some undisturbed sleep.
The baby should be roused from sleep (but not fully woken up) to feed. The baby should be kept swaddled and the room should be dim and quiet, except for white noise. The parent can then put their breast or the bottle to the corner of the baby's mouth, stimulating a latch and the sucking reflex.
Dream feeds are not necessary for a baby to get a good night's sleep. However, they can be helpful for parents who are struggling with interrupted sleep. It is important to note that dream feeds may not work for every baby and can sometimes lead to the baby waking up more often or becoming overfed.
There are various methods to stop doing dream feeds, such as gradual withdrawal, pick up put down, and using intervals of being outside the room. It is important to be consistent with the chosen approach and to give it a few weeks to see if the baby naturally begins to wean the dream feed.
