The use of postnatal steroids to treat developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm babies remains controversial due to the potential for acute side-effects and chronic neurological sequelae. There is debate around which is the most appropriate steroid, delivery method, timing and dose for facilitating the weaning of babies from mechanical ventilation. Many randomized trials have investigated the use of steroid treatment in preterm infants, but there are few definitive answers as yet. Most centres currently use dexamethasone as the steroid of choice for managing BPD. In this article we review studies comparing the effectiveness of varying doses of dexamethasone and summarize what we know to-date.