Dream Feeds – What, Why, and Do They Work?

Imagine this: it’s 10.30 at night, you’ve just finished cleaning up the dinner dishes, folded a load of washing (okay, thrown it in a corner), and now you’re finally ready to crawl into bed. But then you get that sinking feeling—you know your little one is bound to wake the minute you drift off. Enter the dream feed.

What Is a Dream Feed?

The dream feed is exactly what it sounds like: feeding your baby while they’re still mostly asleep. Usually offered somewhere between 10pm and 11pm, the idea is to give bub one last top-up before you head off to bed yourself, in the hope that their next wake-up will be later in the night—ideally lining up with when you’re ready to wake too. It’s a bit like filling up the petrol tank before a road trip.

Why Do Parents Try It?

For many parents, the lure of a dream feed is simple: more sleep. If your baby’s tummy is full just before you settle in, there’s a good chance they’ll snooze a longer stretch, and that means you might finally get to enjoy more than a two-hour block of shut-eye.

Some families also find that dream feeds help smooth out the chaos of the evening hours, especially if bub tends to get fussy or snacky before bed. A calm, sleepy top-up can sometimes be the difference between a midnight meltdown and a peaceful stretch of rest.

Do Dream Feeds Actually Work?

Here’s the kicker: dream feeds aren’t a guaranteed miracle. For some babies, it works beautifully—they take the feed half-asleep, snuggle back down without fuss, and gift you a glorious five or six hours of rest.

But for others, it backfires. Instead of dozing off, your little night owl decides that 11pm is the perfect time to practise their cooing or demand a nappy change. Some babies also just won’t drink much when they’re that drowsy, which makes the whole exercise feel like wasted effort.

Tips for Trying Dream Feeds

If you do want to give dream feeds a whirl, the trick is to keep the whole experience calm and sleepy. Think low lighting, gentle movements, and your best stealth-ninja parenting skills. Skip the nappy change unless absolutely necessary, and don’t try to fully wake your baby—just gently encourage them to latch or drink while still in that hazy, drowsy state.

Here are some extra things that can help:

• Timing matters. Aim to feed bub around 10–11pm, just before you go to bed yourself. Too early and you’ll likely still get a midnight wake-up; too late and you might disturb their natural sleep cycle.

• Choose your weapon wisely. Some babies do better at the breast, others with a bottle. If you’re bottle-feeding, prep it before you head to bed so you’re not fumbling in the kitchen at 11pm.

• Burping isn’t always necessary. Many babies stay so relaxed during a dream feed that they don’t swallow much air. If bub seems comfy, you might not need to sit them up and risk waking them fully.

• Keep the vibe sleepy. Avoid bright lights or cheerful chit-chat. Whisper-mode only.

• Don’t stress about finishing the feed. Some babies will only take a small top-up, and that’s fine. The aim isn’t to get them stuffed full, just to tide them over.

• Be consistent. Like most baby sleep strategies, one night isn’t enough to judge. Give it 4–5 nights before deciding if it’s worth continuing.

• Know when to stop. If your baby is 6–7 months or older and already sleeping through—or if the dream feed starts causing more wake-ups—it may be time to let it go.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, dream feeds aren’t about doing things “right” or “wrong”—they’re just another tool in the baby sleep toolbox. Some families swear by them, others abandon the idea after a week and never look back.

The only way to know if it’ll work for you is to try it and see. Whether you’re feeding at 11pm, 2am, or both, remember this: you’re doing an amazing job, even if you’re doing it through bleary eyes and with a cold cup of tea in hand.

So, do dream feeds work? Sometimes. And when they do, it feels like winning the parenting lottery. But if they don’t, that’s okay too—your baby will get there in their own time, and so will you.