When to Wean Baby from Nighttime Feeds

Eventually, all babies stop feeding in the middle of the night, but sometimes they need a little encouragement. According to Jenelle Ferry, M.D., neonatologist and director of feeding, nutrition and infant development at Pediatrix® Neonatology of Florida, most babies are ready to drop nighttime feeds when they are about 5-6 months old and have begun to eat solid foods.2 At this age, she said, they are more likely to meet the “sleeping through the night” definition from the AAP but still need a feeding after 6-8 hours. As babies approach the 7-8 month mark, many babies can do without any nighttime feeds at all, but “babies will all do this at their own pace and there is a wide range of normal,” said Dr. Ferry.

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