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The noun dreamcatcher designates a small hoop with a webbed centre of threads decorated with feathers, beads, etc., believed to capture good dreams for its owner. These objects were originally made by Native Americans.

However, the noun dreamcatcher originally designated, in American English, a mattress, a pillow, pyjamas, etc., advertised as ensuring a good night’s sleep.

These are, in chronological order, the earliest occurrences of this use of dreamcatcher that I have found:

1-: From an advertisement for the New Castle Store, published in the New Castle News (New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA) of Monday 25^th October 1943 [page 18, column 1]:

Young Dream Catchers

1-PC. FLANNELETTE PAJAMAS
All-over prints and solid colors with print trims. Some with gripper closing, some with elastic backs. Sizes 2 to 8. $1.00
2-PC. GIRLS FLANNELETTES
Butcher boy styles with contrasting collars, and yokes, embroidered ruffles and chenille trims. Sizes 6 to 16. $1.69

2-: From an advertisement for John Caccese Furniture Store, published in The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania, USA) of Thursday 16^th January 1947 [page 4, column 7]:

Innerspring Mattress $36.25
Regular $42.95 Value

Made by one of America’s foremost manufacturers, this deep, restful innerspring mattress is a real dream-catcher. The innerspring unit is buried in layers of fleecy cotton felt. Covered in long-wearing “ACA” ticking for years of comfort.

3-: From an advertisement for Kann’s, published in the Times Herald (Washington, District of Columbia, USA) of Thursday 3^rd April 1947 [page 27, column 2]:

DOWN AND FEATHER BED PILLOWS
ORIG. $9.01
$6.99

A dream-catcher, filled with all new material, 40% duck down, 60% duck feathers. Blue and white striped ticking. Size 20×26’’.

4-: From an advertisement for Kirven’s, published in The Sunday Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, Georgia, USA) of Sunday 26^th October 1947 [page 5-B, column 5]:

soft rayon
‘Dream Catcher’
by Cyvette
6⁹⁸

A night-sleeping pajama for day-dreaming . . . soft rayon and subtle pink or blue, plus dainty Val lace, are combined to make one of the prettiest pajamas you’ve ever worn. Sizes 34 to 40.

5-: From an advertisement for The Addis Co., published in The Post-Standard (Syracuse, New York, USA) of Friday 11^th March 1949 [page 3, column 1]:

our JERSEY GOWN is a sweet sleeper
A tubbable, lovable dream catcher in sleek jersey. A comfortable, prettily styled gown with shirred bosom and flowing skirt in fine quality rayon jersey. White, blush, blue, buttercup. Sizes 32 to 40.
3.95

6-: From an advertisement for Tots and Teens, published in the Elmira Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York, USA) of Wednesday 18^th October 1950 [page 12, column 5]:

Peggy Teen says…
Nights have been so nippy lately that I went shopping at TOTS and TEENS for FLANNEL NIGHTIES and PAJAMAS the other day. They have the darlingest P.J.s ever! A real hot red that makes you warm just looking at it, is combined with patchwork pants and trim for a sure-fire dream-catcher. It’s only $3.25 in sizes 8-16.