Detectives have charged a man over an attack on a six-year-old boy as he slept in his Sydney home.

Police said the child was attacked shortly before 3am (AEDT) on Saturday by an intruder at a house in the inner western suburb of Dulwich Hill, and was left with minor injuries.

Officers said they arrived to find the child's father restraining a 64-year-old man.

The man was taken into custody and treated for minor injuries, before being charged with a number of offences including aggravated breaking and entering, committing serious indictable offence and possessing house breaking implements.

He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.