Most parents survive the newborn phase fairly easily, with all its sleeplessness and on-demand feedings. (Don't get me wrong, it's still rough but we expect that with a newborn!) But after 6-12 months of interrupted sleep it can really start to wear on you!
This is the time that I hear from a lot of parents because they don't feel like they can continue functioning at their current level of sleep deprivation much longer. One of the most common questions that comes my way is:
How do I know if my baby still needs a feeding overnight?
First, let's talk about generalities. By around 6 months of age, many healthy babies will be able to go all night without a feed.
This is true for a couple of different reasons (introduction of solids during the day and increased efficiency during daytime feeds) but what it comes down to is that your baby is now capable of consuming all his necessary calories during his waking hours.
Of course, if we are making generalizations, your baby may not fall within this 'normal' range and that's OK. I am not advising every parent of a 6 month old to stop feeding them overnight regardless of their unique situation.
That is a very personal decision, and it needs to be one that Mom, Dad, and their pediatrician make, not me. However, if you are wondering if your 7 month old is capable of going all night without a feed, the answer is most likely yes.
So if my 7 month old is capable of getting all his calories in during the day, why is he still waking every 3 hours at night to feed?
Great question! The answer: It is a habit or a comfort. Here are 3 different scenarios of what might be occurring:
A. Your baby is only able to fall asleep with the help of a feeding and therefore if he wakes briefly overnight (which all babies do), he needs another feeding to fall back asleep. Check out my blog about sleep associations here.
B. Maybe your baby already knows how to fall asleep independently. If so, this means this feeding is probably a habit. Your baby may wake at almost the same exact time each night because his body is now programmed to expect that feeding. His body does not need it, but he still feels hungry.
C. Your baby is legitimately hungry because they have been taking in lots of overnight calories for a while now. Because of their bulk of overnight calories, they are distracted and uninterested in eating during the day. This creates a vicious cycle that makes them feel hungry at night when they should be sleeping.
Still unsure whether your baby is eating out of COMFORT or HUNGER?
Your baby may be feeding out of COMFORT if:
-He continues to cry or needs more comforting when laid down awake after a feeding
-He wants to feed every couple of hours
-He has to be asleep (from feeding) when laid back down
-He only feeds a little and then falls right to sleep
-For nursing moms, you can tell he's only pacifying and rarely swallowing. Sucks may feel quick and fluttery
Your baby may be feeding out of HUNGER if:
-He falls back asleep on his own after feeding
-He wants to feed after a long stretch of sleep
-He feeds a large amount
-For nursing moms, you can tell he's actively eating and swallowing the whole time
Ready to tackle your baby's
night wakings?
Introducing the affordable sleep course for overwhelmed moms who want to stop stressing about sleep and confidently sleep train their little ones.
So How Do I Stop My Baby From Unnecessary Night Feedings?
⇒First, you need a sleep coaching method in place. You will need to use this each time you lay your baby down (bedtime, and any overnight wakings).
⇒Second, you need to choose a way to cut back or remove the unnecessary feedings. Gradual weaning, delayed approach or a cold turkey.
If using a gradual weaning approach, you will work on decreasing the amount of time you nurse or the number of ounces you feed your baby each night. This is a good approach if your child is taking in lots of calories overnight currently.
If you use the delayed approach, you will wait a period of time (10, 15, or 20 minutes) before responding to any night wakings with a feeding. This is a good approach if you know your child is pacifying more overnight instead of eating and if the wakings are very frequent.
If using a cold turkey approach, you will simply not be responding to any night wakings with a feeding. This can be a good approach to use if your child has multiple feedings but really only needs 1 overnight. Or if your child is especially stubborn and you know you need to be more clear and consistent with removing the feed.
Need more help navigating this process? I help tired moms who are overwhelmed by conflicting sleep advice to confidently sleep train. And I do it by providing affordable, personalized, and experienced sleep support. Start here by scheduling a free call.
