Throughout the months you have been getting up frequently at night to feed your baby; it is essential to know that, as the child grows, such trips at night should be discouraged. Setting the night feeders free—also known as night weaning—remains one of the most important milestones with your baby. The following guide will provide you with information as to when and how it is best done while guaranteeing your baby a comfortable transition.

When is the appropriate time to night wean your baby?

In developmental terms, it is important to understand that babies at the age of four to six months are capable of sleeping through the night without having to feed during the night. By then, they have a large tummy which can easily meet the required calorie intake during the day. Babies who are about 12 to 13 pounds can sleep six to eight hours at a go in their early stage. However, the specifics as to when exactly you want to start night weaning is completely your decision, and so is your baby. These changes may come on gradually and some babies will by themselves start waking up less for feedings while in others, you will have to intervene.

Of course, the results could be random, and you would need to consult your pediatrician prior to beginning the journey. If you feel stretched out at 4 to 6 months or are not comfortable with night weaning, it is alright to hold off or decrease feedings.

Experimental Method: Gradual and Cold Turkey Weaning

Some parents may try to eliminate the night feeding altogether “cold turkey” but most of the experts advise differently. Your baby has gotten used to being fed during the night for the past months. A slower process like going to bed half an hour to an hour later than usual or reducing the time of each feeding session by 30 minutes will also work. This method is also less likely to cause distress from the full feeling on the breasts and even has a lesser chance of causing mastitis in breastfeeding mothers.

Tips for Breastfed and Bottle-fed Babies

Finally, as for night weaning if your baby takes the bottle at night or if your baby is still breastfed, it's going to be helpful to all. If you are breastfeeding your baby, make sure he is consuming enough during the day; exclusively breastfed babies should feed between eight to twelve times within 24 hours or every two to three hours during the day. Gradually reducing one feeding per night also helps ease your baby off from night feeding and allows your body to adjust to the new feeding patterns.

For bottle-fed babies, warn parents to make sure their babies are taking enough throughout the day, probably around 24-32 ounces of milk in the next 24 hours to make sure that they don’t wake up in the middle of the night famishing. Once the baby is able to start eating solids, the child may slow down with taking milk and this will make it easier to withdraw from night feedings.

Night Weaning Techniques

Here are a few additional tips to help with night weaning:

• Offer a dream feed: It is also worth a shot to try to feed your baby right before going to bed. Regardless of whether it may help her sleep longer, you ought to skip it if it revs her up.
• Give baby time to settle: It is also important to note that if you hear your baby moving in her crib at night it is not necessary to feed her immediately. Sometimes, the babies wake up at night to feed but sometimes they wake up and do not require food and can be able to go back to sleep.
• Stay consistent: Once you begin the process of night weaning, there is no going back unless you want to confuse your baby. Feeding the baby on some nights while withholding may not be the best thing to do, it will complicate the process for the baby.
• Minimize nighttime interaction: If indeed you have to feed your baby at night, ensure that you feed the baby in the dark with minimal interaction and noise.

Weaning and Sleep Training

Contrary to what many parents believe, it is possible to night wean and sleep train all at once. When your baby is physiologically and psychologically ready for sleep training which usually is at 4 to 6 months, you can reduce night feedings while training your baby to sleep at night.

The last few words of advice on night weaning

Night weaning is not an event but a process that takes time and each baby comes to it in his own way. Feeding your baby every few hours and gradually decreasing feedings will help the baby adapt. If your little one is not able to accept it, it’s okay to slow down a notch and repeat the activities. Speaking with your pediatrician along the way will help alleviate your concerns and ensure the baby is being provided the best.

In no time at all your baby will be fully night-weaned, and both you and your baby will be able to sleep soundly at night.