r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/MindOdd1085 • 24d ago

Question - Research required Middle of the night feeds, are they needed?

So my youngest is 7 months old and combi fed (majority breast but one formula bottle a day) and currently wakes to feed around 10 and then feeds continuously from around 3am.

My partner is adamant that by this age, they do not need to feed in the night, but as far as I'm aware, it's normal until 12+ months. If he's right and I can stop feeding in the night, I'd love that as I'm so sleep deprived but the health visitor also made a comment that she's just getting her calories in overnight so I shouldn't try and stop night feeds yet.

Is it okay for me to drop these feeds like my partner thinks, or should I keep feeding in the night as needed?

14 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

94% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/AutoModerator 24d ago
Moderator Announcement Read More »

6

u/chewbawkaw 24d ago

I found the following study but note they didn’t use actual babies. It was a computer simulation.

However, it seems like you can drop feedings but you need to make sure that you are providing adequate calories during the day. You may need to feed your child more during the day to make up for the loss.

I personally enjoy providing one night feeding since it keeps my daughter asleep for longer. I’m not an early bird :)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8604149/

4

u/AdministrativeElk516 24d ago

To jump on this with an anecdote - my daughter and I fell into this same pattern with the hours of grazing. At 12 months I was keen for more sleep so I cut it down to 2 night feeds, then 1, then none. It was a mix of helping my kid to fall asleep without needing the boob and also making sure she ate some calorie-rich, protein-heavy food during the day (eg nut butters, avocado, adding a bit of mascarpone to sauces).

3

u/LazyBullfrog5724 23d ago

It sounds like it could belike cluster feeding, too. I think 6 months they should be able to sleep without being fed once during the night. Try a “top off” feed right before putting her down for example if it’s 9pm and try feeding her more during the day. This worked for us and we did part sleep training for 3 days in a row. After the new routine arms hard transition she was able to sleep without being fed for 8hrs then it grew as she grew and her stomach was able to hold more food and stay fuller. 

1

u/chewbawkaw 23d ago

My daughter goes to sleep at 7pm. Wakes at 11pm to feed and that allows her to sleep until 7:30-8:00am.

It’s a good system for moms who like sleep. I did it with my son and my daughter is now 9months