If you are waking up in the middle of the night to feed your baby, you might be wondering when that extra sleep will finally return to your life. For many parents, the 'dream feed' is a bridge to longer nights.

What is a Dream Feed? A dream feed involves offering your baby a feed while they are still in a deep sleep state, usually before you head to bed yourself (e.g., between 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM). This can 'top them off' so they can sustain a longer stretch of sleep afterward, potentially skipping a 2:00 AM wake-up call.

When can you drop night feeds? Generally, if your baby is gaining weight well and meeting their nutritional needs during the day, night feeds can often be phased out. Many infants naturally start stretching their sleep around 6–9 months as their solid food intake increases and their biological sleep rhythms mature.

Practical Tips:

• Listen to Your Baby: If your baby is consistently waking up and asking for a feed, they likely need the calories. If you are the one initiating the feed, you can try gently dropping it to see if they sleep through.
• Burping: Many parents find that by the time they start dream feeds, they no longer need to wake the baby for a full burp. Keeping them upright for a few minutes can be enough.
• Night Changes: Unless your baby wakes up for a feed, most experts agree you don’t need to change their diaper overnight once they are a few months old, provided you are using a high-quality diaper or one sized up to prevent leaks.

Consult your pediatrician if you have specific concerns about your baby’s weight gain or nutritional milestones before making changes to their feeding schedule.