The dream feed can be a very useful technique for helping your child sleep longer during the night. I use the dream feed technique in my practice very often and have had amazing results with helping children sleep longer and more soundly through-out the night. It is easy to use this technique incorrectly as many parents unknowingly do, here are some tips to keep in mind when using the dream feed technique.

In order for the dream feed to be successful use these proven and tried tips to ensure success with dream feeding.

• Give your child the dream feed any time between the hours of 10:30pm and 12:00am
• Make sure your child is fully asleep during the whole dream feed process, (hence the name dream feed) Many parents try to give their child a dream feed while the child is awake and that truly defeats the true purpose of the dream feed and it becomes a regular feed instead of being used for its intended purpose.
• Make it a full feed whether your child is breast fed or bottle fed (Ex. If your child usually takes 5 ounces at their normal feed than offer the same number of ounces at the dream feed and see how much they take, many times they may take less and that’s ok. Same goes for breastfeeding, offer a full feed. Make sure that after two weeks of dream feeding you decrease the amount of the feed by 1 ounce and continue to decrease by 1 ounce on a weekly basis until your child is no longer needing the dream feed. I always recommend using the dream feed technique for 4-6 weeks)
• If your child should arouse while you are attempting to dream feed hold them until they fall back into a deep sleep and try again, refrain from talking or interacting with them during this time. (its best to gently pick them up and leave the lights off and sound machine on in order to be successful with the dream feed. Also, refraining from talking or singing to your child is best, you should go in and feed and leave as quickly as possible).

It is possible to be successful with dream feeding your child on a regular basis, remember to stay confident and continue to keep your end goal in mind of successfully having your child sleep for longer periods of time and get a restful night sleep, and then in return you will get some much needed extra sleep at night as well.