What is Night Weaning? How to Night Wean Your Baby?

Many exhausted parents wonder if it’s possible to stop night feedings without affecting their baby’s daytime breastfeeding relationship. If you’re considering night weaning, you’re not alone.

Kelly Ford-Jones, mother to eight children (including 10-month-old triplets!), shares her personal experience. When she had her first child, Dylan, she was determined to follow the books and “do everything by the book.” As soon as her parenting guide suggested that Dylan should begin sleeping through the night, she began cutting back on his nighttime feeds.

“I felt like I was constantly working towards the next milestone,” Kelly said. “When Dylan was around five months old, I decided to start sleep training and stop nighttime feedings, since the pediatrician said I didn’t need to continue. But I was obsessively tracking his feedings, worrying that he should be learning to sleep through the night.”

What is Night Weaning?

Night weaning refers to the process of stopping breastfeeding or bottle feeding during the night (usually between 8 PM and 6 AM). This is distinct from introducing solid foods or weaning from breast milk entirely. It’s simply about reducing or eliminating nighttime feedings as your baby grows.

Why Do Parents Want to Night Wean?

Azura Goodman, a registered nurse and lactation consultant from Hamilton, Ontario, works with many parents looking to night wean. She explains that there are various reasons why parents might choose to stop night feedings.

“Parents might be returning to work, or they may notice their mood being affected by sleep deprivation. When you’re sleep-deprived, your patience and temper can wear thin. Some parents may also be dealing with perinatal mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, or OCD. Others simply know they aren’t getting enough sleep,” Goodman explains.

However, it’s important to note that “sleeping through the night” doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping for eight continuous hours. Babies between 4-6 months may still need 1-2 nighttime feedings, though some “unicorn sleepers” can sleep through the night without sleep training.

When Should You Consider Night Weaning?

Amanda Jewson, a sleep consultant from Stratford, Ontario, advises parents not to compare their baby’s sleep habits to others, as each baby is different. She recommends waiting until your baby is at least four months old before considering night weaning.

“Between four and six months, many babies still need to feed once or twice during the night,” she says. “After six months, if the baby is growing well, we can start aiming for 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep.”

Goodman and Jewson both emphasize the importance of consulting your baby’s pediatrician before stopping night feedings. Goodman notes that if your baby is getting plenty of nutrition during the day and only comfort nurses at night, then night weaning may be an option. Weight gain and developmental progress should be on track before you consider stopping nighttime feeds.

How to Night Wean?

The best way to night wean is gradually. Cutting out one feed at a time over a few weeks is easier for both parents and babies.

“If you can wean gradually, it’s best,” says Goodman. “This approach helps prevent breast engorgement, which can lead to clogged ducts and even mastitis. Allowing your body time to adjust to longer stretches between feedings makes the process smoother.”

However, life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes, babies may need to stop nighttime feeds suddenly due to circumstances such as illness or a family emergency. In such cases, Goodman suggests ensuring your baby is well-fed during the day and then transitioning them to sleep without a nighttime feed.

It’s also important to remember that night weaning doesn’t always follow a linear progression. Goodman points out that babies who are sick, teething, or going through changes like travel or a holiday may experience temporary nighttime wake-ups during the adjustment period.

Understanding the Challenges of Night Weaning

Night weaning can be difficult because sleep and feeding are often closely linked in babies. Many babies fall asleep while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. As Jewson explains, “Just as adults have bedtime routines that signal it’s time to sleep, babies also develop sleep associations.”

If your baby is used to falling asleep while nursing, they may wake up at night looking for that same comfort. For me, with my first baby, Colum, the key to night weaning was teaching him to fall asleep without breastfeeding. I would feed him one last time before bed and then put him down while he was still awake. It was a challenging process, but after a few weeks, he started falling asleep more easily and waking less often.

Tips for Reducing Nighttime Feedings

If you want to reduce the frequency of nighttime feedings, Goodman recommends feeding on demand during the day, following your baby’s hunger cues. Some parents try “dream feeding,” where they feed their baby before they go to sleep, to top off their baby’s tank before bedtime.

Parents who bottle-feed can follow a similar approach by ensuring their baby gets enough to eat during the day. Measuring breast milk or formula allows you to monitor how much your baby is eating and ensures they are adequately nourished without overfeeding.

For parents returning to work, Goodman suggests pumping throughout the day and having a caregiver offer the expressed milk at night. This ensures your baby gets their nutritional needs met during the day, which may help reduce their nighttime wake-ups.

Is Night Weaning the Same as Sleep Training?

No, night weaning and sleep training are not the same thing, though they often go hand-in-hand. Many babies have a “wake, nurse, doze off” pattern, which means to successfully sleep train your baby and get more sleep yourself, you’ll likely need to night wean as well.

It’s important to note that night weaning (and sleep training) isn’t an easy process. As Jewson notes, “Parents want a simple way to stop night feedings without their baby crying, but that’s not likely to happen.”

She encourages parents to stay in the room with their baby during nighttime wake-ups, offering comfort and reassurance through touch, talking, or even singing. It’s a trial-and-error process, and sometimes having the non-breastfeeding parent step in to soothe the baby can be helpful.

Is Night Weaning Right for Your Family?

If the thought of uninterrupted sleep makes you want to try night weaning and sleep training, it’s important to consider whether it’s the right choice for your family. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some families thrive with co-sleeping and night feedings, and there’s no shame in that.

As Goodman puts it, “As long as parents feel supported, their relationship with their child is strong, and everyone gets the rest they need, it’s okay. Independent sleep will happen eventually—or maybe not—but you’ll have the opportunity to make changes when the time is right.”

By the time Kelly Ford-Jones had her third child, she had learned to trust her instincts and adapt her approach to night weaning based on her children’s needs. “I don’t think night weaning or scheduled sleep times made my babies sleep better or worse,” she reflects. “It depends on their personality.”

Kelly’s 10-month-old triplets still wake for nighttime feeds, and she cherishes those quiet moments with them. “I’m not in a playgroup or in the car. I get to enjoy each baby one-on-one during those wake-ups,” she says.

Conclusion

Night weaning is a personal decision for each family, and it’s essential to be flexible and patient during the process. Whether you gradually reduce nighttime feeds or take a more sudden approach, make sure it aligns with your baby’s needs and your family’s lifestyle. Above all, trust your instincts and don’t feel pressured to follow anyone else’s timeline.

Remember, it’s all about finding what works best for your baby and your family—there’s no “perfect” way to do it, just what feels right for you.