When and How to Wean Night Feeds
If you’re reading this, you’re likely trying to figure out the best time and method for dropping night feeds. As any parent knows, whether it’s a bottle or the breast, feeding is often the quickest way to get a baby back to sleep during the night.
I totally understand! In the middle of the night, when you’re not fully awake, opting for a feed to get your baby back to sleep might seem like the easiest choice.
But if you’re at a point where you can’t remember the last time you slept through the night, it might be time to consider making a change. This blog post will explore typical night feeding patterns, offer tips for making the transition smoother, and present various strategies for weaning off night feeds.
Typical Feeding Patterns by Age
In general, up until at least 4 months old, the majority of babies need night feeds in order to grow and develop properly. Some babies may genuinely still need a feed until 7-9 months old. After 9 months, if your baby is still waking up for feeds, it’s likely out of habit rather than hunger.
That being said, all babies are different, so check with your pediatrician and what you know about your baby to decide when it is appropriate to wean night feeds.
Here is what the typical number of feedings is by age:
0-8 weeks: 3-4 feeds, waking every 2-4 hours
8-16 weeks: 2-3 feeds, waking every 3+ hours
4-6 months: 1-2 feeds, usually around 1-2 AM and 4-6 AM
6-9 months: 1 feed, usually around 4-6 AM
9+ months: 0-1 feed
Some babies naturally wean themselves from night feeds as they grow, especially if they have a consistent schedule and independent sleep skills. Others may need more intervention to drop a feed.
It’s important to remember that there’s a wide range of normal! Some families eliminate night feeds around 4 months, while others continue until after baby’s first birthday. What’s crucial is finding what works best for your family. Don’t feel pressured to wean if it’s working for you, and also know that wanting a full night’s sleep is completely valid!
Set Your Baby Up for Success
Before deciding when and how to wean off night feeds, ensure your baby is set up for success:
Ensure an Age-Appropriate Schedule: Make sure your baby follows a schedule suited to their age and sleep needs. An undertired or overtired baby will have more difficulty settling back to sleep without a feed. A well-timed schedule helps your baby be the right amount of tired, making it easier for them to fall and stay asleep.
Teach Independent Sleep Skills: Babies who can fall asleep on their own will find it easier to self-soothe when they wake up during the night. Often, babies will naturally drop unnecessary night feeds as they learn to sleep independently and we can avoid night weaning all together.
Choose a Realistic Approach: Select a method you can consistently follow for a couple of weeks. Consistency helps your baby know what to expect. If you’re not seeing progress after a week or so, check if your baby is eating enough during the day, is on a good schedule, or if there are other issues like pain or discomfort.
Wean One Feed at a Time: If your baby is still having multiple night feeds, focus on dropping one feed at a time. Wait about a week before trying to drop another feed. This helps your baby adjust their daytime calorie intake and minimizes the time both of you spend awake at night.
How to Wean
Once you’ve determined that both you and baby are ready to drop night feed(s) and here are some options to consider.
Gradual Approach:
When your baby first wakes, give them a few minutes and assess to see if they can resettle on their own.
If they need help, either:
Offer less milk than usual. So, if you are bottle feeding, reduce the amount by an ounce every few nights. For breastfeeding, offer one side or shorten the feeding time. After feeding, rock your baby to sleep. Gradually reduce the amount of milk given over time.
Soothe baby back to sleep without feeding. This could look like rubbing baby’s back, holding their hand, stroking their eyebrows, rocking, bouncing back to sleep, etc.
Modified Approach:
When baby wakes, set one or two 10-15 minute timers to give baby some time and space to try to fall back asleep. In between the timers, do a check-in and help baby get calm and regulated.
After the timers, help baby back to sleep doing as much as necessary, but as little as possible.
If baby will not fall back asleep within 10-15 minutes, go ahead and feed.
Accelerated Approach:
Allow up to an hour of protesting for your baby to self-soothe and get back to sleep. You can also use three 20-minute timers, two 30-minute timers, or one 60-minute timer. In between the timers, do a check-in and help baby get calm and regulated.
After the timers, if they haven’t settled, help them back to sleep.
With both the modified and accelerated approaches, if you don’t see some progress within a week or so, reassess and be sure to rule out other causes for night wakings, such as discomfort or scheduling issues.
Support if You Need It!
Weaning off night feeds can be challenging, especially in the middle of the night when you’re exhausted. If you’re not ready to tackle this process, that’s okay. However, if you are, remember that the effort is worth it in the long run!
If you have questions about setting your baby up for success—whether it’s optimizing their schedule, teaching sleep skills, or exploring specific strategies for dropping night feeds—feel free to book a consultation here.
