How Long To Continue Breastfeeding At Night

"At what age will my baby be ready for weaning at night?" - a fairly common question, to which, however, a definite answer can not be given.

Each baby is individual, has different needs and therefore at different times gives up night feeding. But somewhere between 4 and 6 months, most babies get enough calories during the day to maintain them for 5-6 hours at night.

However, it is not uncommon for younger babies to sleep more than these hours without waking up to eat, and for older babies to continue waking up to breastfeed.

Different pediatricians do not answer this question in the same way. Some believe that infants do not need feeding at night after 3 months, while others claim that babies need 1-2 meals up to 9 months. Who are you?

The most important thing is not to pay attention to what others say about your child's habits and what is "normal". These people do not live with you and do not stay up all night with you and the starving child, so they have no reason to question your baby's eating and sleeping habits.

If you have recently returned to work and have less time with your baby during the day, he may want to breastfeed more at night to have closer contact with you. Babies who are accustomed to eating several times a night tend to wake up from the habit, and it will take time to change this routine.

If you enjoy breastfeeding at night, there is no reason to stop - it will eventually happen. On the other hand, if you feel tired and exhausted, and the baby is physically ready for change - maybe it's time.

Keep in mind that after the first few months, the baby will begin to connect the breasts with much more than just a way to satisfy his hunger. They will become a place of comfort, security, warmth, closeness. These needs of the child are as real as the physical ones and are necessary for his overall development.

Some parents still believe that breastfeeding at night or sleeping with your baby is a habit he will not get rid of. Remember that waking up babies and young children is temporary! They grow this period, even when we do nothing.

The child's internal sleep schedule at night can vary considerably. Few parents feel comfortable leaving the child to lead when it comes to night weaning. For others, these moments seriously impair their quality of life.

If you are one of these parents and you feel that night care interferes with your daily duties and work (because you are on the edge of your strength), it is obviously time to stop or at least try to reduce night feedings. It is difficult to maintain your own health and well-being if you are chronically sleep deprived. So the decision to end a night's diet depends in part on how it affects you.

You should not blame yourself or think that you are a bad parent if you want to stop breastfeeding at night. However, the baby has already grown up and started to become a small child, for whom feeding at night is not a necessity, but rather a creation of comfort.

But in the end, you should feel comfortable yourself!

How to encourage your baby to eat less at night?

Start the weaning process slowly and gradually. Breastfeed for a shorter period of time on each breast at night. Try to prolong the intervals between meals by patting and soothing him to fall asleep.

Eliminate the discomfort. If you suspect that teeth are erupting, you can relieve the pain before going to bed (consult a pediatrician for products that you can use for this purpose).

Pay attention to the room temperature and find the baby's comfort level (some of the children wake up if it gets too hot or too cold).

If you have started with the introduction of solid foods , try to avoid them in the evening, so as not to burden the not yet fully developed digestive system of the child.

When sick , babies often increase waking up at night and wanting to breastfeed. In case the child wakes up, watch him often. This can be caused by ear infections, colds, reflux, food allergies.

Increase breastfeeding during the day . Feed your baby more often to drink more milk during the day, as he grows and becomes more active, he may try to make up for missed feedings during the day at night.

Minimize distractions - breastfeed in a quiet room (close the blinds, close the door, set tasks for older children), try to breastfeed lying down to rest. Sometimes babies get too distracted during daily meals and do not get enough milk. They compensate for this with more frequent night meals.

Feed the baby well before bedtime. Some mothers prefer the last late feeding to be from only one breast, so that the infant can absorb the higher-fat milk that is available at the end of breastfeeding (this can help to prolong sleep between feedings). If the baby wakes up at night, offer the other breast so that he can get higher fat milk again.

Gentle methods for night weaning of small children

• If the child sleeps with you, it is good to limit your intimacy so as not to encourage breastfeeding - for example, you can sleep with your back to him.
• Restrict access to the chest. Wear clothes that make it difficult for the child to access the chest at night.
• Your partner can also get involved by waking the child to calm him down or offering him a drink when he wakes up. The father can even sleep in another room with the child and this will lead to fewer awakenings than if the infant continues to sleep with the mother.

• Talk to the child. Older children can be explained that in the evening, when it's time to sleep, the milk also goes to sleep. They probably won't fully understand it and accept it at first, but if you repeat it to them every night before bed, they will soon get used to it.
• Just say "NO" or "later". For a child over 18 months, feel free to say no. If the child wakes up and wants to breastfeed, tell him calmly: “No, not now. In the morning. Mom is sleeping. You have to sleep too.

Avoid weaning at night during the transition. For example, if you are about to return to work or take a family vacation. If you have recently become less accessible to your baby during the day, be sure to give him extra time to be together so that he feels close to you and calm. This will make him less likely to seek comfort in the middle of the night.

The babies will be weaned and will sleep at night one day. This stage of maintaining nighttime breastfeeding will pass. The time in your arms, chest and bed is relatively short in a child's life, but the memories of those moments of closeness last forever.

More information about breastfeeding and weaning can be found in the topics:

• "Night breastfeeding - why it's so important"
• "How to wean a child"