Night Feed Weaning
- Shereen Nielsen
- Apr 14
- 7 min read
As an Infant and Child Sleep Consultant, one of the most common questions I hear from parents is: “When is the right time to reduce or drop night feeds?”
While many consultants or healthcare providers may suggest a night weaning timeline based solely on age, it’s important to understand that readiness is not just about how many months old your child is. Developmental, emotional, and nutritional readiness all play an important role, and as you can understand, these vary for each child.
That said, it can be helpful to understand general age-based patterns as a starting point. As a rough guide:
General Night Feeding Expectations by Age
By 12 weeks: Most babies still require 3–4 night feeds between 7pm–7am.
After 12 weeks: 2–3 night feeds are common.
6–9 months: Typically, 1–2 night feeds may still be needed.
9–12 months: one or no feeds.
It’s also worth noting that around 50% of children over 12 months still wake at least once per night to feed. But these statistics don’t tell the whole story. They don’t account for factors like underlying medical or nutritional issues, comfort needs, or misaligned sleep expectations.
Before creating a plan to reduce night feeds, take the time to assess more than just your child’s age. Consider:
Their current feeding schedule (milk and solids)
Weight gain and growth patterns
Sleep patterns and settling ability
Emotional readiness and sleep habits
Daytime Nutrition: The Foundation of Night Feed Weaning
Your child’s intake during the day plays a major role in night waking and feeds. If they’re not getting enough calories or hydration during the day, they may continue to wake at night to make up for it.
Under 6 Months - milk is the sole source of nutrition at this stage. Ensuring adequate daily milk intake (whether breast or formula) is essential before expecting longer night stretches.
From 6 Months Onward - milk remains the primary nutrition source, but solids should be slowly introduced.
From 8 Months - babies are typically offered three solid meals per day in addition to regular milk feeds.
Because I try to avoid using a specific age, or age group, to plan for reduced night feeds, here is a safer way to assess when night feeds can be reduced:
4kg+ – Can usually manage 4-hourly feeds overnight (equating to 2 feeds).
6.5kg+ – Can often go down to one night feed safely.
7kg+ and on solids – May be ready to sleep through the night with no feeds, assuming:
Eating at least ½ cup of food at two meals per day.
Consuming protein at lunch.
Both child and parent are emotionally ready.
Milk Intake Guidelines
You can ensure that your child is achieving adequate milk intake with the following information:
For Breastfed Babies:
On average, breastfed babies take in 750 mL/day (range: 570–900 mL).
Around 7 months, average intake is 875 mL/day (93% of total energy).
By 11–16 months, this drops to around 550 mL/day (50% of total energy).
Signs your breastfed baby is getting enough milk:
At least 5 very wet nappies in 24 hours
Regular soft bowel movements
Bright eyes and good skin tone
Content between feeds
Steady weight gain
For Formula-Fed Babies:
12 weeks: 150 mL/kg/day
3–6 months: 120 mL/kg/day
6–12 months: 90–100 mL/kg/day - by 9 months, 600 mL/day is recommended alongside established solids.
A Safer Way to Night Feed Wean
Night feeding is never just about hunger. While it might seem straightforward to assume that a child wakes in the night primarily due to an empty stomach, the reality is far more complex and layered. Although I have provided a general age range and a guide around milk intake during the day to help you determine when you may realistically expect your child to be ready to reduce or drop their night feeds, there are many more factors to consider before choosing your path forward.
Firstly, it's essential to recognise that night feedings can serve multiple purposes beyond mere nutritional needs. Infants and young children often seek comfort and security during the night. The act of feeding can be soothing for them, providing not just sustenance but also a sense of closeness and reassurance. This emotional component is particularly significant in the early months of life but also through developmental phases, when separation anxiety can be at its highest.
As children grow, their sleep patterns evolve, and they begin to experience various developmental milestones. These milestones can influence their sleep and feeding habits. For instance, during periods of rapid growth, known as growth spurts, children may require additional nourishment, which can lead to increased night feedings. Additionally, as they approach new skills such as crawling or walking, their sleep might become more disrupted due to the excitement and energy associated with these achievements.
Beyond the physical needs, emotional and psychological factors play a vital role in night feedings. Children may wake up not just out of hunger but due to feelings of wanting to be close and bond with their preferred parent.
Overall, when considering a child's ability to night wean, the aspects you should focus on are:
Child’s age and weight
Weight gain and growth trajectory
Milk and solids intake during the day
Hydration needs
Emotional needs and bonding
Parental sleep goals and readiness to make changes
How to Night Wean
Having examined the factors to determine if it's the right time for your child to begin night weaning, there are some methods to help reduce their night feeds. I recommend two gentle strategies:
1. ‘No Less Than X-Hourly’ Feeding
This method spaces feeds out by a set number of hours (e.g., 3–4 hours). For example, if you choose to use a 3-hour rule, you should:
Resettle your child if they wake before 3 hours has passed since the last feed.
Offer your child a milk feed at or after 3 hours.
Repeat this pattern through the night.
No less than 3 hourly feeds equals 3 feeds overnight, while no less than 4 hourly overnight equates to 2 night feeds. Either choosing the 3 or 4 hourly plan helps space feeds more evenly. This helps to send a consistent message to the circadian rhythm that nighttime is not for feeding and helps change the expectation that your child has when they wake overnight.
2. Nominated Feed Time Plan
This is best for children already on two or fewer feeds per night.
With this approach:
You will choose one nominated time for a feed.
If your child wakes before the nominated time, you should resettle them back to sleep without the feed
At the first natural waking at or after the nominated feed time, you should offer them their feed and then resettled until morning.
This method creates predictability and sets expectations around when a feed is coming.
Which Strategy Do I Use?
Now you should have all the necessary information to identify the appropriate conditions for beginning night weaning and how to implement the plan. However, as a starting point, you might be curious about which approach would be best for you and your child.
Use these rough guidelines to choose your starting point:
Waking 3+ times a night & over 4kg → Start with 3–4 hourly feeding plan.
Waking 2x per night & over 6.5kg → Choose between:
Nominated feed time; or
Start with 4 hourly feeding, then transition to one feed.
Waking once a night, over 9 months & 7kg, eating solids well → Begin transitioning to no night feeds.
Weaning Off Night Feeds Gently
When a consistent sleep pattern develops in a child's nighttime routine, they often start sleeping for longer periods at night. However, some children may still wake up for a milk feed if they have come to expect it and know that you provide it. If you have already made progress in reducing night feeds and now wish to further decrease them or stop them completely, you can use one of these gentle methods:
1. Gradually Extend Feed Times - each night, you will delay each feed by a further 30 minutes. You will continue to resettle your child back to sleep with your preferred settling method.
2. Reduce Milk Intake - This is quite a common approach but is my least favourite approach. It can still encourage a child to wake and require a feed to return to sleep. Additionally, they can exhibit more significant emotional output when we remove the milk when they are half way through a feed.
Breastfed: Start at 10 mins per feed, reduce by 1 minute per night.
Bottle-fed: Reduce by 20–30ml per night until at 30–40ml, then drop the feed.
3. Cold Turkey - This method isn't suitable for everyone and can be quite difficult if implemented quickly, especially if your child has more than two night feedings. It tends to be most effective when a child is established on one night feed, is over 12 months of age and you wish to drop this nap in one fowl swoop.
Eliminate all night feeds at once.
Use consistent sleep support to resettle instead of offering milk.
Only recommended for emotionally ready families and children.
It's important to remember that every child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Some children may naturally wean off night feedings at an earlier age, while others may continue to need them for a longer period. You should consider your child's temperament, health, and specific needs when making decisions about night feeding.
In conclusion, while the general guidelines regarding age and milk intake can serve as a helpful framework, the decision to reduce or eliminate night feedings should be made with a holistic understanding of your child's needs. Taking into account the various factors will ensure you are making informed choices that support your child's well-being and foster healthy sleep habits.
Of course, if you need some personalised assistance with your child's night feeds, my one on one consulting can provide valuable insights tailored to your individual child. You can start with a free 15 minute Discovery Call to connect!
Shereen xx
I'm Shereen Nielsen, a certified Sleep Consultant specialising in infants and children from birth to 15 years old. With over eight years of experience, I've assisted over 4500 families in achieving better sleep. Additionally, I serve as a lecturer and mentor, guiding aspiring sleep consultants on their path to certification through my internationally recognised online Sleep Consultant Course.
Phone: +61419820474
Email: hello@shereennielsen.com
Website: www.shereennielsen.com
Facebook: @shereennielsen.sleepconsultant
Instagram: @shereennielsen_sleepconsultant
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