When should I stop night feedings?

Understanding Night Feedings: When to Stop
Deciding when to stop night feedings is a significant milestone for both parents and babies. This transition can vary widely depending on individual circumstances, including the baby’s age, feeding method, and overall health.
Age Considerations for Night Weaning
For formula-fed babies, many experts suggest that night feedings can typically be phased out between 2 to 4 months of age. By this time, most babies are capable of consuming enough calories during the day to sustain them through the night. For breastfed infants, the timeline shifts slightly, with recommendations often starting around 12 months. However, it’s important to note that there is no rush to night wean; each baby develops at their own pace.
Signs Your Baby is Ready
Parents should look for signs that their baby is ready to stop night feedings. These can include longer stretches of sleep, a decreased interest in feeding during the night, or a consistent pattern of eating well during the day. If your baby is consuming larger and more frequent meals during the day, especially with the introduction of solids, they may be ready to consolidate their nighttime feedings.
Strategies for Night Weaning
When you decide to begin the process of night weaning, there are several strategies you can employ. One effective method is to gradually extend the time between feedings by 15 to 30 minutes every few nights. This approach helps the baby adjust to longer sleep intervals without the expectation of a feeding. Additionally, ensuring that your baby goes to bed with a full tummy can reduce the likelihood of waking up hungry. This can be achieved by offering extra feedings in the evening or implementing a “dream feed” just before you go to bed.
Addressing Learned Hunger
It’s also essential to consider the concept of “learned hunger.” Some babies may wake up out of habit rather than genuine hunger. In such cases, gently encouraging your baby to self-soothe back to sleep without feeding can be beneficial. This might involve comforting them in other ways, such as patting or shushing, to help them learn to fall back asleep independently.
Conclusion: A Personalized Approach
Ultimately, the decision to stop night feedings should be tailored to your baby’s needs and your family’s circumstances. While guidelines provide a framework, every child is unique. Parents should feel empowered to make this transition at a pace that feels right for them and their baby, ensuring that both get the rest they need.

When should I start cutting my night feedings?

There’s no hurry to phase out night feeds. You can choose what works best for you and your child. For breastfed children, night weaning might be an option from 12 months. For formula-fed children, you can consider phasing out night feeds from 6 months.

How do I know when to stop feeding my baby at night?

To reduce to a single feeding per night, I advise parents wait until baby is within 11 to 13 pounds. To eliminate to no feedings, I advise babies be at a minimum of 14 pounds, though there is no rush to eliminate the single night feeding before 5 to 6 months of age.

When should I stop bedtime feeding?

I recommend removing bottles from your bedtime routine by 12-13 months. By this time, your child’s nutritional needs are being met through solid foods at meals and snacks during the day.

At what point do babies not need to eat at night?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics [2], most formula-fed babies no longer need night feedings between 2 – 4 months of age. However, we find that as babies get closer to 4 months old, some are ready to consolidate but not give up night feedings without sacrificing sleep.

How to tell if baby is waking from hunger or habit?

It all depends on your specific baby. To determine if your baby is waking due to hunger, consider the duration of their longest sleep stretch. If they’ve slept for 5+ hours but now wake every 2 hours, it’s likely not hunger-related, and other soothing methods can be employed.

Will my milk dry up if I only nurse at night?

breastfeeding at night can be important for keeping a mom’s long-term milk production steady and strong and may actually mean less pumping during the day for working moms?

What age can a baby go without eating at night?

Baby sleep at 6 to 12 months
For babies aged 6 months to a year, night feeds may no longer be necessary and some babies will sleep for up to 12 hours at night. Teething discomfort or hunger may wake some babies during the night.

What age do babies drop night feed?

By 6-8 months your baby is fully ready and capable to be completely done with eating at night. Dr. Sears suggests that some parents really enjoy feeding their babies at night and will happily continue offering night feeding sessions until the child stops waking up on their own.

Will baby naturally drop night feeds?

It’s possible. Some babies do naturally stop eating at night, while others need a bit of help. Important Note: For babies 3 months and younger (who are staying on their growth curve), you can typically allow one longer stretch of sleep in the night. That one stretch shouldn’t go longer than their age in weeks plus one.

What is the 5 3 3 rule for babies?

The 5 3 3 rule is a sleep training method where you have your child sleep for 5 hours, then wake for 3 hours, then sleep for 3 hours again.