Night weaning, or eliminating nighttime feeding sessions, is not a standardized process because every baby will have unique feeding and sleeping. It’s normal to wonder about night weaning, especially while enduring those sleepless spells: would weaning off the breast or bottle improve sleep? Is it something you must teach your baby, or does it happen naturally?
Night weaning isn’t a sleep hack
Night weaning at the parent’s lead won’t necessarily lead to better sleep; attempting it too early could lead to earlier wakings. Plus, the nutritional value and comfort of overnight feeds don't arbitrarily stop being valuable at a particular month. Be wary of unnecessary “milestone pressure” as if it’s something your baby should accomplish to be “a good baby.”
Every baby is different
A baby who can sleep without waking to feed by 7 months is not better than a baby who wakes to feed at 13 months. There are no “bad” babies!
There are valid reasons to night wean
However, it’s understandable if you, as the parent, are struggling with the night feedings. Not every parent has the same level of support, and waking up to feed can feel disruptive to your mental health. This is why feeding-related choices are personal and must be approached with individualized nuance and care, as there may be situations when night weaning for your own health is the best choice for you and baby.
Here are some general guidelines on night feedings:
Most experts agree that night weaning is premature before six months of age.
As your baby graduates the newborn stage, they get more of their total sleep at night rather than during the day, so waking to feed during these longer stretches is typical.
Many babies naturally drop nighttime feeding sessions on their own as they consolidate their sleep. Many 5-6 month-old babies will go 5-6 hour stretches without waking to feed. By 8 months old, many babies only wake once to feed. Between 9-12 months old, many babies stop waking to feed on their own.
Some babies continue to wake to feed even at 12 months and beyond.
Night feedings are not linear, meaning babies don’t drop feeds in a neat, orderly fashion. It’s normal for babies to have spurts where they wake to feed more, followed by spurts where they wake to feed less or sleep through the night.
Increased bouts of night feedings are often related to illness, separation anxiety, mental leaps, and growth spurts.
Night weaning has a wide range of normal
Some parents follow their baby’s lead with night feedings, weaning gradually as the baby's sleep evolves. Other families choose to initiate night weaning, with a green light from baby’s pediatrician. In most cases, initiating night weaning is approached gradually, but there are some situations where “cold turkey” may be best.
When and how you should night wean is ultimately a decision between you, your baby, and your pediatrician, but starting before six months old is not typically advised.