How to wean night feeds and help your baby sleep through the night
For the first few months of your baby’s life, nighttime feeds are a completely normal (and necessary) part of their routine. In those early weeks, newborns wake frequently to eat because their tiny tummies can’t hold much milk at once. But as your baby grows, their sleep patterns shift, and their nutritional needs evolve. At some point, you may start to wonder: Does my baby still need these night feeds, or are they waking out of habit?
The truth is, there’s no universal “right time” to drop nighttime feeds—every baby is different. Some will naturally start sleeping through the night earlier, while others may need more parental guidance to get there.
If you’re feeling unsure about when or how to begin the night weaning process, this blog will walk you through signs your baby is ready, step-by-step weaning strategies, and how to handle any setbacks along the way.
When should you drop nighttime feeds?
Before you start night weaning, it’s important to assess whether your baby is truly ready. Some babies continue to need night feeds for longer, while others wake out of habit rather than hunger.
Here are some key indicators that your baby may be ready to drop nighttime feeds:
1. Your baby is waking up but not eating much before falling back asleep.
If your baby wakes at the same time each night but only nurses for a few minutes or drinks just a small amount of milk before falling back asleep, it could be a comfort feeding rather than true hunger. If this describes your baby at night wakings, it’s a good sign that they are actually using the feed to resettle or drift off to sleep- not to fill a nutritional feed. Babies who are genuinely hungry will take a full feeding before drifting off again.
2. Your baby is waking at predictable times, regardless of how much they ate during the day.
If your baby had plenty of milk and solid food (if age-appropriate) during the day but still wakes at the same exact times every night, this is often a sign that the waking has become a habit rather than a true need for nourishment. For example, a day of really good eating should not lead to the same exact night wakings as a day of poor to average eating. If it does, that shows you a clear signal that the wakings are not hunger-induced.
3. Your baby is older than 6 months and eating well during the day.
Many babies are physically capable of sleeping through the night without feeds between 6-9 months old, provided they are getting enough calories during the day. If your baby is 4-6 months old, they may still need one or two night feeds, but this varies from baby to baby. Either way, once you are out of the newborn stage, your baby shouldn’t need to eat as often as every 2-3 hours overnight because their tummies have grown and they have become more efficient eaters.
4. Your baby falls asleep nursing or drinking a bottle and struggles with independent sleep.
One of the most common reasons babies continue waking frequently for night feeds is because they rely on feeding as their sleep association. If your baby is used to nursing or bottle-feeding to fall asleep, they may wake up expecting the same conditions each time. Night wakings themselves are completely normal but if the only tool your baby has to go back to sleep is through feeding, then those night wakings will persist until they learn a new way to fall asleep.
5. Your pediatrician has given the green light.
Before making big changes to your baby’s night feeds, check with your pediatrician to ensure they are developmentally ready. Factors like weight gain, growth charts, and overall health play a role in determining when night weaning is appropriate. Also, if your baby has any feeding concerns, you’ll want to make sure you’re working with the appropriate professionals before moving ahead with night weaning.
How to gradually wean night feeds
If you’ve determined that your baby is ready to drop nighttime feeds, the next step is to choose a gentle, gradual approach that allows their body and sleep habits to adjust over time.
Step 1: Increase daytime calories
One of the best ways to set your baby up for successful night weaning is to ensure they are getting enough calories during the day. If your baby is on solid foods, focus on nutrient-dense meals along with their regular milk intake. If they are exclusively breastfed or formula-fed, try offering extra feeds during the day to make up for the calories they’ll no longer be getting at night.
Some parents find that adding a dream feed (a feeding given around 10-11 p.m. before you go to bed) can help extend sleep stretches while their baby transitions away from night feeds. You can learn more about dream feeds and what I recommend here.
Step 2: Gradually reduce the amount of milk at night
Instead of cutting out night feeds all at once, a more gradual approach tends to work best—especially for babies who are used to multiple feeds per night. Depending on if your baby is bottle fed or breasted will dictate how exactly we go about reducing volume overnight.
For bottle-fed babies: Start by reducing the amount of formula or breastmilk offered at each overnight feed. I recommend decreasing the amount by 1-2 ounces every few nights. For example, if your baby normally drinks 6 oz, decrease it to 5 oz for a few nights, then down to 4 oz, and so on until that feed is gone.
For breastfed babies: You can try reducing the time spent nursing at each overnight feed. I recommend decreasing the time by 1-2 minutes every few nights. For example, if your baby normally nurses for 10 minutes, decrease it to 8 minutes for a few nights, then 6 minutes, and so on until that feed is gone.
You can choose if you decrease all the feeds at once or if you work on one feed at time. That piece really depends on your goals with night weaning (whether just cutting out some feeds or all feeds) and on how much your baby is taking in overnight (if your baby is mainly just pacifying at night then you may feel comfortable moving quicker through this process).
Step 3: Increase the time between night feeds
If your baby is waking multiple times a night to eat, another effective method is to gradually stretch out the time between feeds.
For example, if your baby normally eats at 12 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m., try pushing the first feed later by 30-60 minutes every nights Over time, this will help consolidate sleep and break the cycle of frequent wakings as well as decreasing the amount they take in overnight so they can be more motivated to eat during the day.
Step 4: Replace feeding with other soothing techniques
As you reduce the number of nighttime feeds, your baby may still wake up expecting comfort or need more comfort to go back down after their shortened feeding. Instead of offering milk, try other gentle soothing techniques to help them settle:
Rocking or patting their back
Offering a pacifier (if they use one)
Shushing or using white noise
Providing a comfort object (if age-appropriate)
Consider working on independent sleep skills at this point (read more about that here)
Stay consistent so your baby learns new ways to fall back asleep without needing a feed.
Troubleshooting common night weaning challenges
What if my baby cries and protests?
Night weaning can be an adjustment for both baby and parents. Some babies accept the change easily, while others may protest. If your baby wakes and cries, offer comfort without feeding. Stay calm, reassure them, and be consistent. Remember that it’s okay for them to feel frustrated while they adapt to this change.
What if my baby starts waking more often?
Some babies temporarily wake more as they adjust to fewer night feeds. Stick to your plan and avoid adding feeds back in, as this can create confusion. The adjustment phase usually lasts about 3-7 nights.
Should I stop night weaning if my baby is teething or sick?
If your baby is sick it’s okay to pause night weaning temporarily. Resume once they are feeling better. See more about handling sleep during sickness here. However, if your baby is dealing with teething or going through a regression then I recommend staying the course. Babies will go through teething bouts and developmental changes often over the first 1-2 years of life so it’s hard to find the “perfect” time to night wean if we always hit pause for those developmental adjustments. Often, I find babies who are sleeping better overnight and more well-rested handle teething and sleep regressions better anyways!
Final thoughts
Weaning night feeds is a process—it won’t happen overnight, and every baby adjusts at their own pace. Some babies drop night feeds easily, while others need extra time and patience and intentionality. The key is to be gradual, responsive, and consistent while making sure your baby is getting enough daytime nutrition.
And remember: There’s no “right” way to do this. Some parents choose to keep one nighttime feed longer because it works for their family, while others are eager to eliminate all night wakings as soon as their baby is ready. Both choices are valid!
If you’re unsure how to approach night weaning or need personalized sleep support, I’d love to help! Book a free 15 minute discovery call, and we’ll create a plan to help your baby sleep through the night—without those unnecessary wake-ups.
