When and How to Start Night Weaning
Is your baby waking up during the night for feedings, leaving you wondering if it’s time to adjust their feeding schedule or time to reclaim your nights by eliminating those night feeds? Transitioning away from night feeds is a significant milestone in your baby's development and can pave the way for more restful nights for the entire family.
Understanding when and how to effectively drop these night feedings will help both you and your baby achieve longer, uninterrupted sleep. Before you continue reading, it is important to remember that each baby's feeding needs are distinct, so consulting with your pediatrician before implementing a night weaning plan is crucial to tailor it appropriately for your child's needs.
When to Start Night Weaning
Many parents wonder about the right time to reduce or eliminate nighttime feedings. It is important to understand that the timeline to drop night feeds depends significantly on individual development and health. Typically, pediatricians suggest that babies can gradually start to skip nighttime feedings around 4-6 months of age if they’re showing stable weight gain and are healthy along their growth curves. However, the complete cessation of nighttime feedings might not be feasible until they are closer to 9-12 months old. Keep in mind that readiness can vary, and some babies might benefit from night feeds for a longer period, especially if they have higher needs due to growth spurts or other health considerations.
Key Indicators Your Baby Might Be Ready to Drop Night Feeds:
Age and Weight: Babies at least 4-6 months old who have doubled their birth weight and are steadily gaining may be ready to go longer periods without eating at night.
Longer Sleep Periods: If your baby starts to sleep for longer stretches of 5 to 6 hours at a time, it’s a good sign they might be ready to extend those stretches without a feeding. Know that it is still normal for a baby younger than 3 months to continue to wake up for a feed every 3-4 hours.
Increased Daytime Eating: As your baby grows, they should begin to consume more calories during the day, which can naturally decrease their need for nighttime calories.
Another huge factor in determining if your baby is ready to drop night feeds is YOU. You have to be ready yourself to drop some or all of the night feeds. Dropping night feeds can bring on a whole new set of emotions, especially for nursing moms. Be sure that YOU are also ready to put in the work to drop these night feeds. You can choose to drop all or some, all depends on you and what your baby needs nutritionally.
Preparing for Night Weaning:
Preparation is key to successfully dropping night feeds. This transition should be gradual and sensitive to your baby's needs.
Here’s what you can do to set the stage for success:
Increase Daytime Feeding: Make sure your baby is getting enough to eat during the day to help meet their caloric needs. You might need to make sure they are getting full feedings or offer a few extra feeds during the day to help shift those nighttime calories to the daytime.
Establish a Proper Bedtime Routine: A consistent routine can help signal to your baby that it’s time for extended sleep. This might include a warm bath, a quiet story, or soft music. Offering the feeding at the start the routine or after bath can help ensure your baby is getting a full feed before that long stretch of nighttime sleep.
Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment: Ensure the room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature to help ensure their sleep space is conducive to sleep.
Effective Techniques to Drop Night Feeds:
Transitioning away from night feeds can be approached in several ways. The key is to choose a method that you feel comfortable with and that suits your baby’s temperament.
Gradual Reduction Method: Reduce the quantity of milk or formula during each night feeding gradually. This can be done over several weeks to allow your baby to adjust smoothly. Example: reduce 1 ounce or reduce nursing time by 2-3 minutes of their normal amount for a few days, then repeat it again for a few more days, etc.
Pause and Delay Method: Gradually increase the intervals between feedings. If your baby normally feeds every three hours, extend it to every four hours, and then slowly to every five hours over several nights or weeks.
Soothing Alternatives: When your baby wakes up during the night, try soothing them back to sleep with gentle rocking or gentle caresses/patting instead of feeding right away. If that doesn’t work then you can feed. This helps delay the time you feed them as well.
Practice Independent Sleep: If all of these fail to help your little one wean off of night feeds then it may be time to drop those associations and take the steps needed towards independent sleep. Our DIY Sleep Plan is here with all the answers and step by step instructions on how you can accomplish this huge milestone using methods that align with your family values and maintain that parent-child attachment.
Consistency is key! Maintaining a consistent response to nighttime awakenings helps your baby learn what to expect at night, easing the transition from waking to sleeping,, and properly weaning off night feeds.
Which feeds to drop first?
When dropping night feeds, it is important to understand that you can drop all of them or some of them. The decision is up to you and what your baby’s nutritional needs are. If your baby wakes up once at night for a feed then that is an easy one to decide which one to drop. But if your baby wakes up every 2-3 hours and the only way they go back to sleep is through a feed or comfort feeding then you will need to gradually drop night feeds by dropping a few at a time. I recommend to start dropping every other night feed if possible. You can use other soothing methods such as rocking, patting, holding, pacifier, etc. Try to drop feeds after 5:00 AM as well if possible to ensure their first feed of the day is a full feed.
Night weaning for breastfeeding moms
Breastfeeding adds a layer of personal connection and physical demand that can make night weaning a bit more complex. If you're a breastfeeding mom looking to night wean, here are some key considerations and steps to help you through the process:
Consult with a Healthcare Provider: Before beginning your night weaning journey, it's crucial to talk to your pediatrician or a lactation consultant. They can provide guidance based on your baby's growth and your milk supply, ensuring that night weaning won't negatively impact your breastfeeding journey.
Gradual Reduction: Start by gradually decreasing the amount of time your baby breastfeeds during each nighttime feeding session. If your baby typically nurses for ten minutes, try cutting back to eight minutes for a few nights, then six minutes, and so forth. This gradual reduction helps your baby adjust slowly and can also prevent potential discomfort from engorgement.
Daytime Nutrition: Ensure your baby is getting enough breast milk during the day. You might need to offer more frequent feedings or ensure that each feeding session is effective and that your baby is fully emptying the breasts. This can help maintain your milk supply and ensure your baby's nutritional needs are met.
Handling Milk Supply Concerns: Night weaning can sometimes lead to a decreased milk supply if not managed carefully. To mitigate this, consider adding a pumping session during the evening before you head to bed or in the early morning hours to help maintain your supply. If you're concerned about milk production, consult with a lactation specialist who can offer personalized advice.
HACK: Have the non-feeding parent go in to attend to the baby first. This allows you to extend the time you usually feed them, practice putting them back to sleep using other soothing methods, and get some ZZZ’s while your partner or spouse helps with those night wakings.
Managing Setbacks and Challenges:
It’s normal for babies to experience setbacks when transitioning away from night feeds, especially during times of illness, growth spurts, teething, or even when traveling. To effectively manage these challenges, maintain patience and consistency with the new routine as much as possible, offering extra comfort or temporarily reverting to more frequent night feeds if necessary. Once the challenging period passes, you can gradually reintroduce the established feeding routine. This flexible approach ensures that setbacks are just temporary bumps in the road towards achieving longer, more restful nights for both you and your baby.
Can Night Weaning and Sleep Training Be Done Together?
Yes, integrating night weaning with sleep training can be effective. For babies who are developmentally ready for sleep training, reducing or eliminating night feedings can naturally be part of the process. In my DIY Sleep Plans and VIP Sleep Coaching, I provide detailed guidance on how to merge these strategies effectively, taking into account your baby's age, specific developmental needs, and preferences.
Night weaning is a significant step towards longer, uninterrupted nights for both you and your baby. By observing readiness signs, preparing adequately, and applying gentle and consistent methods, you can guide your baby toward sleeping through the night. It's a process that benefits everyone in your family by helping everyone get the rest they need to thrive.
Are you ready to start night weaning and make sleepless nights a thing of the past? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, or join our free supportive WELL-RESTED FAMILIES community here.