Are you wondering how to go about to dreamfeed your baby? Or what's the point with doing it?
I've heard so many times that moms should dreamfeed their babies to help them sleep longer periods without waking up. In my view, that's not the point at all! Instead, this technique has one very positive benefit; it may improve mom's sleep! A very good reason indeed!
So what does it mean to feed a baby "in his dreams"? Well, it is simply to feed your baby while he is still asleep. Obviously, it can be done wit both breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
Why would you dreamfeed a baby? Well, it is only meaningful for babies that wake up a few times at night for feeding.
By dreamfeeding your infant right before you go to bed, chances are that your baby will remain asleep for a few more hours. This way mom gets a few nice hours of undisturbed sleep before she has to attend to the baby the first time that night.
For many moms, having to wake up for feeding already after one or two hours after going to bed is pure torture!
And only the fact that you know that you might have to wake up soon can cause insomnia - making the problem even worse.
So dreamfeed and increase your chances of a few first hours of good night sleep.
Maybe you're wondering why not to simply wake the baby up for feeding?
Well, it can make your baby both very sad and wide awake.
You take your baby up in your arms and sit down comfortably somewhere close to your baby's bed. Make sure that there are no loud noises or sharp lights around that can wake your baby up.
Have your breast or bottle ready.
Start gently to poke your baby's mouth with your nipple (or the bottle's nipple). Sometimes it is easier to get the baby to start eating if you express a drop of milk and leave it on the nipple.
If your baby doesn't react, try to carefully open your baby's mouth a little bit and insert the nipple. You can then move the nipple a little bit inside your infant's mouth to trigger the suckling reflex.
For babies younger that 4 or so, it can also be effective to stroke the palm or his hand or foot. (Don't ask me why, but it works!)
If your baby still doesn't start sucking, try changing your position a bit to disturb the baby's sleep. (Although not enough to wake him up.) The offer the breast again or insert the nipple into his mouth.
Unless your baby is in deep sleep, this will work eventually.
In my experience, the first few times are the hardest to get the baby to start eating. After a while the child some how learns how to eat while asleep.
If it doesn't work at all, try again tomorrow and maybe at a slightly different time. Babies, just like other people have periods of deeper and lighter sleep and dreamfeeding is certainly going to be easier if your baby is not in a period of deep sleep. Try observing your baby. If very still and completely relaxed, chances are he is in deep sleep. If he is moving ever so slightly or making noises, he might be in a lighter sleep and thereby easier to feed. (And also easier to wake up, so be careful.)
If your baby does wake up, don't panic. Just feed him as you would usually do when he wakes up at night and he is likely to go back to sleep.
If your baby wakes up every time you try dreamfeeding him or if he simply won't eat while asleep, give it up! Babies are personalities right from the start - some simply won't accept to be dream fed. But most will...
