🍼Night Weaning🍼
I will start this tip by saying that feeding your baby overnight is very normal and many babies up to and over age 1 still have milk overnight. If it’s working for you, it’s absolutely fine to keep offering milk.
But if your little one is waking more out of habit than hunger, or they’re eating less during the day due to filling up overnight, or the amount of wakes isn’t sustainable, there are things you can do to night wean.
Here’s a step-by-step approach that works for hundred of families I have worked with:
1. Make Sure Baby Is Ready
Signs of readiness include:
* Eating well during the day (solids and milk)
* Waking out of habit more than hunger
* Feeding for comfort vs. a full feed at night
2. Increase Daytime Intake
Make sure your baby gets plenty of calories during the day:
* Offer more solids if they’re eating well
* Breastfeed more frequently during the day
* Add a bedtime snack (like yoghurt or porridge)
3. Choose a Method
Pick a night weaning method that feels right:
⭐️Gradual Approach (Gentle):
* Shorten each night feed over several days (e.g., if they usually breastfeed for 10 mins, go down to 8, then 5, etc.)
* Replace feeding with rocking, cuddles, or another soothing method
* Have a consistent nighttime routine and response
⭐️“Don’t Offer, Don’t Refuse” (for older toddlers):
* Stop offering feeds at night, but if they request, you can feed briefly
* Great for gentle, child-led weaning
⭐️Partner Support:
* Let your partner support the baby back to sleep if baby wakes (a good one if you are a breastfeeding mum!)
4. Set Expectations (For older babies and children)
* Talk to your toddler, “At night, we’ll sleep and have milk in the morning.”
* Use a consistent phrase at night like: “It’s sleep time. Milk in the morning.”
5. Be Ready for Some Protest
* Your baby might resist change – that’s understandable
* Offer lots of comfort in other ways (rocking, singing, back rubs)
* Stay consistent and loving
6. Expect a Few Nights of Adjustment
Most babies adjust in 3–7 nights if the approach is consistent. Some regress during teething, illness, or big changes — that’s normal.
