When did you stop the night feed?

Janice - posted on 08/30/2011

Most babies continue to NEED to eat every 2-4 hours through roughly 12 weeks including at night. I've only read a few other posts but I agree that for some reason our culture has began making ridiculous demands on newborns. Although many babies do began having less night feeds as they grow most babies do not completely stop needing at least one feed a night until after 6 mo. Physically, as babies approach a year they do not NEED to eat during the night but it does become a habit and it is a parenting choice whether you continue to feed your child in the middle of the night or help them learn to self soothe w/o eating.
I have heard of a few newborns who begin sleeping six hour stretches at 6-8 weeks but this is definitely not the norm for most babies and shouldn't be expected.
Good luck. The first few months is tough going with out sleep (mine had colic 4-12 weeks, Aahh) but you learn to deal and its over before you know it.

Amanda - posted on 08/29/2011

wow, I don't understand why adults put such high expectations on little babies! we sign on as parents to do what ever we need to to make them happy! I don't think babies should have to stop feeding, waking, and needing comfort between certain hours if the night! parenting is a 24 hour a day job, not a 12. my little one is 9 months old today and I can't imagion letting her cry it out when her little belt is empty! I know I can't sleep if I am hungry or thirsty. my momma was always there for me at any given time of the day or night. it did not do me any harm to know someone was always there for anything I needed!.. sorry if this offends some people, but it is just my opinion as an individual

Alissa - posted on 08/19/2009

My one year old still wakes up to feed 1-2x a night. I'm hoping she'll stop waking me up on her own....eventually. :)

Cyrese - posted on 08/17/2009

My daughter stopped at 3 months, but recently we started co-sleeping again and she's back at the 4am feedings. She's 7 months now so she's pretty savy and finding my breast and feeding herself now. :)

Katie - posted on 08/17/2009

THE night feed?? My son is nine months old and still wakes up every two to three hours to eat.

Amber - posted on 08/12/2009

Im not sure what or why everyone is telling you this. every baby is different 1st of all. and newborns up to about 3 months need to nurse either on demand or every 2-3 hours during the day and about 4 hours at night. it also depends on your baby, for example my daughter was 10lbs at birth so by 2 months she was only waking up once at night and since 3 months shes been sleeping all night with no feedings. some babies are able to do this and stay hydrated while others need that night feeding. just follow your babies cue when she wants to nurse, dont force to drop any feedings until she is ready.

Rebekah - posted on 08/12/2009

10 months for my son. My 2 month old daughter is up at least twice in the night. Breastfed babies generally take longer to sleep all night. Be patient and it will happen when your baby is ready.

Meagan - posted on 08/12/2009

My son is 2months and wakes up 2-4 times a night to eat. That is normal and ok. The best thing to do is let your baby be your guide. When they stop waking up hungry, then that's when to stop the night feeding

Adrienne - posted on 08/12/2009

My daughter still nurses at around 4am and she is 14 months old. I am letting her self-wean. She has never been a good sleeper and wakes often during the night but does not always nurse. Your daughter may "grow out of it" and sleep through the night. Every child is different and there is no "textbook" child out there. It is a pain to get up during the night but remember they do grow up so quickly.

Jessica - posted on 08/12/2009

My daughter is 17 months old and I started to actively night night wean at 14 months. She goes to sleep at 8 or 9 pm but still wakes at 2am and cries off and on for 3-15 minutes because she wants the breast and is mad I won't give it to her. It's getting better slowly. Then by 4 or 5am I'll nurse her, which is a marathon style until she waked up at 8.

Joy - posted on 08/11/2009

I breastfeed my son throughout the day and give him a bottle of formula around 7-8pm. We started doing this mainly because my milk supply is lower at that time of day and he would eat for hours on end and not be full...but we also did it because breastmilk is more easily digested so the formula allows him to sleep a little longer. He started sleeping between 7-9 hours a night at 10 weeks...BUT it only lasted for 3 weeks and now he has been getting up for mid night feeds again. I'm guessing its a growth spurt! I would let your baby "be the boss"..its still early and eventually she will sleep through!!

Breanne - posted on 08/11/2009

I personally wouldn't stop unless it's affecting you so bad that you can't parent during the day. My guy is almost 10 months and will nurse sometimes 3-4 times a night. I co-sleep so it's easy for me but I love the fact that he nurses at night, I know he's getting the nouishment he needs and maybe he's just thirsty, I know I get thirsty at night and I'd hate to be denied a drink. If you think, three years is nothing, even four or five, once they grow up they won't need you as much anymore so just enjoy it.

Emily - posted on 08/09/2009

We stopped at 11 months - 1 month is WAY too early, she has a tiny little tummy and still needs to eat every few hours. She's also growing faster than she will at any other point in her life! If she's only waking up once (at 3am) consider yourself darn lucky!!!

Terri - posted on 08/09/2009

My 9 month old still wakes up several times a night to feed. I think all babies are different.

Crystal - posted on 08/09/2009

My son is about to yurn one year and he still wakes frequently at night to nurse. We co-sleep so when he wakes I just nurse him on my side. It's much easier and we both fall right back to sleep.

Amanda - posted on 08/09/2009

I agree with all the women saying to follow your instincts and do what you think she needs. Also, don't even consider stopping until after 4-5 months. Now that my daughter is 6 months and starting to eat solid foods, she is starting to sleep longer hours. Usually when I hear her at night I give her about 1 minute. If she puts herself back to sleep, I let her, if not, I give her the breast- sometimes she just makes a noise during her sleep cycle. But again, you're a few months away from that.
I can TOTALLY sympathize with needing to get a chunk of sleep all at once. Can you pump and have your partner give a bottle at 3 so you can keep sleeping- even once or twice a week can really help.
Good luck

Chelsea - posted on 08/09/2009

Quoting Heather:

my pediatrician just told me it was time to stop the night time feeding. my daughter is 9months 2 weeks. It is very hard and not fun at all for either of us. He told me that a good rule of thumb is babies over 6 months usually wake out of habit and not hunger, any younger and they are waking for hunger and still need to eat. I would give your little one until at least 6 months, she is still very small and needs to eat frequently. Do what you know is right, not what others tell you to do!

Heather,

Your pediatrician is ill informed.  Some infants at your daughters age get as much as 25% of their calories at night.  By denying your infant both food and comfort from your breast you are telling her that you aren't there for her.  Please go with your instincts and nurse her when she wants to be nursed.  Think about what is best for your daughter.  Pediatricians are NOT trained in parenting what she told you is her personal opinion and honestly most pediatricians gives this advice unsolicited.  Your doctor doesn't really know you or your daughter.  He or she sees you both very infrequently.  Be your daughters advocate and do what is right.  

Melissa - posted on 08/09/2009

I didn't stop until he was nearly 2! It didn't really worry me though. They are babies for a such a short time you just do what you have to do!

Annette - posted on 08/08/2009

mine started sleeping thru the night w/o nursing at about 3 months

Heather - posted on 08/08/2009

my pediatrician just told me it was time to stop the night time feeding. my daughter is 9months 2 weeks. It is very hard and not fun at all for either of us. He told me that a good rule of thumb is babies over 6 months usually wake out of habit and not hunger, any younger and they are waking for hunger and still need to eat. I would give your little one until at least 6 months, she is still very small and needs to eat frequently. Do what you know is right, not what others tell you to do!

Aleks - posted on 08/08/2009

With my first, it was probably closer to 1 year old. My second who is over 5 months still wakes up at least 2 times a night for a feed!!! However, both my children were/are breastfed, oldest only got formula ( soy, as had dairy intolerance ) after he turned 1, and that was for his breakfast cereal. And am planning to do the same with my second ( also dairy intolerant )... Every baby is different and things also depend on whether baby is breast or bottle fed.

Tori - posted on 08/07/2009

my boy stopped BFing at night at 18 months. Since 20 months, he has slept 7am-7pm without a peep. It seems hard at the beginning, but you get used to it, and when it's over, it seems like if all went by so fast. Hang in there! My boy BF every 3 hours at night until 18 months, and with patience he is a beautiful sleeper now.

Virginia - posted on 08/07/2009

my daughter stopped waking up at 2 months, by herself, i didn't push her to it..i hope my son will be as merciful to me and my mental health :)
in my opinion leave it to the kid...if it wants night feeding - it probably needs it

SARAH - posted on 08/07/2009

its different for everyone... i breastfeed my little boy all day and last thing at night, about half past ten, i give him a formula feed. i started doing this when i worried he was always on the breast and thought it was not satisfying him properly... but he sleeps through after the feed, from about 11.30pm til 7am. then i start breastfeeding all day again. its not a solution for everyone though.

Lucy - posted on 08/07/2009

My little girl slept from 10pm-5am at 12 weeks old, however she is 17wks now and doesn't always do this, take last night from example she went to bed at 10.30pm but then woke at 1am, 3.30am, 5am, 6.30am and 8am for feeds! I think she's just hitting that 4 month growth spurt as she did have quite a few weeks of sleeping 7 hours, like i say though this wasn't until she was 3months old.

Felecia - posted on 08/07/2009

Hello I hope all is well!!

Well like I think every one agrees EVERY baby is different!

My daughter is now 9 months and some nights she will sleep through out the night with out feeding but other nights she may wake up 1 or 2 times to breastfeed!

Her doctor told me if she didnt start sleeping through out the night by 6 months with out eating than I needed to put her on formula along with breastfeeding!! I lie to him LOL She has gained weight very well and she is so smart so I must be doing some thing right!!!! You know your baby better than any one can tell you!! BUT 1 month is way to early to tell! maybe every one is thinking of formula babies when they tell you this!! Formula fed babies do most the time sleep through out night very early but formula stays in the babies belly longer breastfed babies digest alot faster so they need to eat alot more!! :) I hope this helps :) Good luck and God bless xo

Nyoka - posted on 08/07/2009

hi there! every baby is different! im not braggin but my son is 4 1/2 months old and has stopped the 3 am feed.. every baby is different and has different eating patterns..
dont force it as they will sleep through when they are ready!! good luck

Chelsea - posted on 08/06/2009

Oh my whoever told you that this 3am feed will stop soon is very very wrong. My 10 month old still wakes up 2 times a night to feed. The majority of infants continue to wake at night until up to a year. You are very lucky that your infant only wakes up once.

Becky - posted on 08/06/2009

I think every baby is different. I knew a lot of people that said their babies slept thorugh the night at one month. My baby is 7 months and finally sleeping from 8pm - 5am, up to eat and then sleeps for a few more hours. At 6 months that feed was at 3. It just depends on your little on. Just don't force it. When they are ready, they will sleep. Although my pediatricain told me my boy should have been sleeping through the night at 4 months.

Joanie - posted on 08/06/2009

My first baby slept from 10p-6a when she was 7 weeks old. And she has slept well ever since. My second started doing the same aroun 8 weeks, but then hit his 4 month growth spurt and started waking again. It was a long couple of months but at 6 months we decided he was big enough and didn't need to eat at night anymore so I stopped feeding him at night. It's a personal choice if you want to let him cry it out or go in and comfort him without the breast, or just let him eat at night as often as he wants. But you're a long way from worrying about that. Be happy if you get 5 consistent hours of sleep :)

Minnie - posted on 08/06/2009

'Everyone' is not knowledgeable about child development or the biology of breastfeeding. It is very normal for your daughter to need to nurse for at least the next two years during the night. Children do not begin to willingly, gently, and consistently put themselves to sleep when they wake until about three years of age. Nursing is about a lot more than nutrition- but that does NOT mean she does not need nutrition and fluids during the night. I know I still do.



So I am allowing my daughter to self-wean, and that includes night feedings. I will always oblige her if she wants to nurse during the night. I don't see why it's ok for a child to get comfort from any inanimate object save her mother's warm living breathing breast.



http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsuck.ht...

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepth...



I have nursed two babies and have yet to have a nursling not nurse at night. Prolactin levels are higher at night than during the day, which one should conclude that babies are meant to nurse quite frequently during the night.

Kristina - posted on 08/06/2009

My son's first birthday is in a few more weeks and I still give him one night feed. Because he is getting his sixth tooth, I am starting to feel uncomfortable with him feeding at night because I don't want to risk him getting tooth decay. When I was a toddler I had to have my four front teeth removed because I was given a bottle at night. I heard that babies who are breast fed have less dental problems in general than bottle fed babies but I stil don't want to risk it. I think what I am going to do is give him some water if he seems thirsty during the night.

Stephanie - posted on 08/06/2009

I didn't stop until my son was 1. I finally had him sleeping through the night at 13 months and stop nursing at 15 month. It's really up to you when you wand and feel okay about stop nursing at night.

Shanika - posted on 08/06/2009

I think it differs for each child. I was told by some moms their babys stopped as early as 3 months. My son actually didn't stop till 7 months. He would get feed at 10/11p then sleep through until 6/7am to be fed again. I think you will just have follow her schedule for a while. I've had some moms also say they put their babys on a feeding schedule so that they would sleep through the night

Katherine - posted on 08/06/2009

No one has mentioned baby size! Babies start out at different weights! My loittle guy is a chunk at 18lbs at only 4 mos old!! He needs LOTS of nourishment! SOme nights he nurses 3 or 4 times, others (like last night) NOT AT ALL. It depends on whether or not he's growing that day, how much he gets into his belly before bedtime, and I'm sure other factors I can't even imagine! Just know that you will probably be up for at least one nightly feeding until your baby is getting most of their nourishment from solid foods, so possibly quite a while!

Siobhan - posted on 08/06/2009

1 Month is too young. they usually need to feed through the night until at least 6 months.

Arlene - posted on 08/06/2009

lol, i let my LO guide me!! at one month he was up 3-4 times a night to feed...as the months go on, they dropped because he was sleeping longer between feedings...if she only wakes up for 1 feed at 1 month..then great for you!! my LO stopped all night feedings at 5 months....(maybe it could have been sooner, but it was me who didnt want to give them up ;)

Jessica - posted on 08/06/2009

I stopped after we got through the 4 month growth spurt. When Jake was about 5 1/2 months old I realized he was using me as a dummy and wasn't really hungry. I just stopped offering the boob and just gave him a hug and a rock until he relaxed and got dozy. I had to be strong but I found the transition easier and faster than feeding him. I just made it a rule that I wouldn't feed him if he woke any time before 5 am and after a couple of weeks I stretched it to 6 am. Now he sleeps til 6.30 - 7 am. He's now 8 months old and rarely needs comforting between 7 pm and 7 am. I did make it a rule that if he woke before midnight I would offer the boob and he stopped asking for that around the same time. Remember all mums and bubs are different. Stay true to your instincts and try to relax and enjoy each stage.

Chantelle - posted on 08/06/2009

My 1 year old still wakes up more than once in the night to feed, but we are co-sleeping so it's not really an issue for me. I just help him find the breast, and then I go back to sleep :)



Bear in mind that babies tummies are very little and breast milk is very quick and easy to digest (as nature intended!). Your baby will need night feeds for at least a few more months, as they start to reach toddlerhood and eat more solid foods their tummies get bigger, and so they can go longer without needing to feed. kellymom.com has lots of great info on breastfeeding and infant development, I found it a great help when Matthew was younger.