When to Drop Dream Feed: What Signs to Look Out For

An infant spends the majority of his or her time sleeping throughout the first few months of life. In fact, it is suggested that babies sleep for 16-17 hours every day. Their sleep patterns, however, often consist of shorter durations of only a few hours at a time.

As a result, it’s usual for new parents to be fatigued and looking for strategies to assist their infant sleep longer at night. After all, excellent sleep is vital not just for your health, but also for your child’s growth and development.

In truth, a child’s brain develops the fastest during the first two years of life, and much of this growth takes place while they are deep in sleep. This allows infants to store and digest new information at a far faster rate than adults.

This is where dream feed comes in!

Dream feeds may allow you and your child to sleep for longer periods of time while simultaneously giving sustenance to their growing body.

So, let’s dive into the phenomenon of dream feed and when to drop dream feed:

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What Exactly Is Dream Feed?

A dream feed is essentially the day’s final feeding. It usually occurs 2-3 hours after the night meal and around the time you go to sleep. In theory, it moves the last planned feeding of the day, allowing the baby to sleep for a significant period of time at the same time you do. This meal usually takes place between 9:00 and 10:30 p.m.

When to Drop the Dream Feed?

Let’s look at all the signs that you need to keep an eye out for, so you can drop the dream feed at the right time:

1. Your Infant Is Sleeping During the Night Consistently

Make sure that your baby sleeps from the dream feed till your chosen morning wake time. If you are no longer waking up in the middle of the night, then it is time. Many newborns start sleeping during the night, then wake up, then sleep through again, and so on.

It is natural to switch back and forth. Do not discontinue the dream feed while your infant is in the back-and-forth period of sleep. Wait to discontinue the dream feed until the infant has been sleeping through the night so consistently that you would be astonished if the baby woke up early in the morning.

The bottom line is that before you discontinue the dream feed, you want your baby’s night sleep habits to be regular.

2. If Your Infant Is Old Enough to Miss a Feed During 24 Hours

Your baby must be old enough that the recommended number of feedings will be met even if the dream feed is discontinued. You don’t want to discontinue the dream feed if it means the baby won’t get enough feedings according to his or her age in the next 24 hours.

Your kid must be old enough to go longer periods without feeding at night.

Your infant must be able to go from nighttime feeding to morning feeding without having to eat. If you stop the dream feed before your infant can stop the extra feeding, your little one will wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

3. Your Infant Has Been Sleeping Through the Night for 2 to 4 Weeks

Before discontinuing the dream feed, wait for two to four weeks after your little one has been napping during the night.

If your baby has demonstrated that sleeping through the night is now his or her new thing, you will have a great platform to build on if you need to problem-solve after discontinuing the dream feed.

4. If the Dream Feed Has Started Disrupting Your Kid’s Night Sleep

The dream feed can disrupt a child’s sleep. Although it is uncommon, there are times when the dream feed interferes with the baby’s night sleep and causes him or her to wake up during the night.

So, if that starts happening with your little one, it is time for you to say goodbye to the dream feed for good!

5. Your Kid Does Not Get Up During the Night for the Dream Feed Anymore

Not all infants wake up during the night for the dream feed, but if your baby used to wake up every night but has since stopped, it’s time for you to quit. If you have to wake your kid up every night for the dream feed, your baby may be ready to discontinue it.

Please keep in mind that this is only one of the signs. If your kid performs this but does not sleep through the night, he or she is not ready. Even if your baby isn’t awake at this meal, he may still require those extra calories.

Does the Dream Feed Work?

Every child is unique, as you have probably realized by now, and there is no universally applicable approach to parenting. Dream feeds can be an efficient way to extend lengths of overnight sleep, but they may not be suitable for every parent.

For some newborns, the dream feed can interrupt their natural sleep patterns and lead them to wake up more frequently during the night. If this happens, it’s better to abandon it and let them wake up naturally for feeding.

Another possibility is that some babies awaken easily and have difficulty falling back asleep after a dream feed.

It is critical to do what is best for you and your child. You can always experiment with dream feeds for a few nights to see if they help you or not. If not, you have the option to let your baby wake up and eat on their own schedule.

Here Is a Sample Dream Feed Schedule for You:

In order to help you out, we have created a dream feeding schedule for you:

Bedtime feed: 6 PM or 7 PM

Dream feed: 10 PM or 11 PM

Night feed: 3 AM or 4 AM or 5 AM

Without having a dream feed schedule, your nights might look like this:

Bedtime feed: 6 PM or 7 PM

Night time feed: 12 AM

Night time feed: 4 AM

This means that you will have to wake up twice instead of just one time during the night, further fragmenting your night’s sleep and causing further disruptions.

Breastfeeding and Dream Feed

After you discontinue the dream feed, you will most likely sleep for 10-12 hours without having to breastfeed. This is acceptable for some parents, but others will need to pump before bed to maintain their supply. If your infant is several months old when you discontinue the dream feed, you are less likely to pump.

If you are feeding your kid every four hours throughout the day, there is a greater likelihood that you will need to pump. It is not true that you must breastfeed at least 5 times per day to maintain your supply, nor is it true that moms will be fine only nursing 5 times per day. Every mother is unique. You must determine what works best for you.

The Pros and Cons of Dream Feed

Well, like every other thing in the world, the dream feed also has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s take a look at them:

Pros of the Dream Feed

It allows babies to sleep longer at night.
Infants get to sleep during the night with fewer interruptions.
Your baby’s sleep pattern becomes more similar to yours.
It could help a breastfeeding mother’s supply.
By predicting your baby’s demand for food, it can reduce the amount of time he or she screams.
Predicts their hunger and takes the guessing out of night wakings.
Sleepy babies are grumpy babies, therefore ensuring that your baby wakes up less frequently at night may result in him or her being less cranky throughout the day.
Knowing they might get some extra sleep rather than going to bed unsure when their next waking is going to enhance their sleep.
It may assist the baby in avoiding any pain related to reflux after a feeding.
If your child is having difficulty eating during the day, the night feed can help them acquire the extra calories they may have missed.

Cons of the Dream Feed

You may need to stay up later during the night to complete it.
Unfortunately, this does not always work.
Your baby’s sleep can get disturbed.
Disrupts the natural sleep pattern of the newborn.
It can be challenging to let go of the habit.
Some will argue that this violates the feeding-on-demand right of a baby by putting a meal on your child that they may not already want or need.
It strengthens the brain-tummy link by reinforcing the relationship between food and sleep. It simply flies through our children’s eating cues.
It can overfill your baby’s stomach, causing sleep disruption as well as gastrointestinal distress.

Moreover, when a child grows dependent on dream feeding, no learning occurs, and he or she may lose his capacity to suck purposefully. Our advice is to strike a balance between dream feeding as well as conscious suckling. The baby remains calm and reassured in this manner, and may even fall asleep at the breast or near the end of a bottle while learning to suck-swallow-breathe with purpose as time goes on.

The Bottom Line

Sleep and diet are critical components of a child’s growth, particularly during the first two years when their mind is most malleable. Dream feeds may offer you an option to guarantee that your baby receives adequate nutrition while sleeping for longer periods of time in the months following birth.

And, let’s be honest, every mother can use a little more sleep during the postpartum period.

FAQs

Here are a few common questions people have when dropping the dream feed.

Is swaddling acceptable after discontinuing the dream feed?

Yes, it is. You can absolutely swaddle your baby after the dream feed is over.

Is it necessary for the infant to be in a crib to receive the dream feed?

The dream feed does not require your infant to be in a crib. Your infant can remain in a bassinet. Most babies, however, will be in a crib by the time they are mature enough to stop the dream feed.

Can I use formula milk for dream feeds?

Yes, you can! Dream feeding is just as simple with formula milk as it is with breast milk. Simply follow the directions on the formula container to properly prepare it.

Can dream feeds cause my kid to wake up early?

Dream feeds can trigger early waking in babies. However, this is not always the case. After a dream feed, some babies may wake up earlier than usual, while others may sleep through the night. You will have to experiment to see what works best for your child.

Will dream feeding help my baby sleep better at night?

Absolutely, a dream feed can help your baby sleep for extended periods of time, reducing night wakings. You can encourage your baby to sleep for longer periods without waking up hungry by feeding him or her a little extra milk before the longest sleep cycle.

Can I use a pacifier when I am dropping the dream feed?

When skipping a night feed, some people choose to use a pacifier. This can also be used when dropping a dream feed. If your baby stirs during their sleep and appears to want to eat, you can use the pacifier to calm your kid down and put him or her to sleep.

However, if you use the pacifier to drop the dream feed, you may find that nighttime feeds begin. Use this strategy only if you are certain your kid does not need to eat and can get enough sleep at night to make it to the next feed.