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If we say that childbirth was the easy part of becoming a parent, most women would disagree. While childbirth is extremely painful and challenging, it ends when your baby arrives. But that’s when the real unending challenges begin. From sleepless nights to extreme exhaustion, parents have a tough time adjusting to the no-routine day and night when a newborn arrives. However, what parents look forward to are the milestones that their baby achieves. It’s a moment of pride and happiness to see that your little one is growing up fast and crossing several milestones — night weaning being one of them. So, what is night weaning, and what should you know about it? Scroll below to find out:
What Is Night Weaning?
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Night weaning is the process of transitioning your baby from waking in the middle of the night to eat to eating in the morning only. Your baby will have their first feeding session in the morning and continue to have several feedings during the day. The last nursing session happens right before bedtime, and your baby is not woken up during the night.
Babies naturally stop waking up during nighttime feedings as they grow older. Their stomachs begin to grow and hold more food, making it easy for night weaning. Usually, nighttime feedings reduce after six months. They gradually become lesser until it stops completely (1). If you want to start weaning your baby off night feedings, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Eliminate Discomfort
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If your baby is uncomfortable during the night, they are likely to wake up from their slumber. Then, the only possible way to put them back to sleep would be to nurse them. So, here are a few things to look out for:
- Teething: If your baby is teething, the pain could be worse at night. Therefore, give them pain relief medication after consulting your baby’s pediatrician to help them get a good night’s sleep.
- Temperature: Check your baby’s room temperature. If their room is too hot or too cold, it could cause them discomfort.
- Solid Foods: If your baby has just started consuming solid foods, it’s best to avoid it at night. Your little one could have problems digesting the food, and it could lead to gas, stomach pain, or general discomfort.
- Allergies: Your baby might be allergic to external environmental factors like dust, pollen, or hay. Ensure that their room is safe from these allergens that can cause severe discomfort to your little one.
- Illnesses: A diaper rash, cold, ear infection, or even acid refluxes may interfere with your baby’s sleep. Therefore, keep an eye out for any such illnesses that your baby might have.
Maximize Your Baby’s Day Time Feeding
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Nurse your baby more during the day. Instead of nursing your baby every three hours during the day, try to do it every two hours. This way, your little one takes in more milk during the day, and it’s more likely that they’ll sleep through the night.
Make sure that there are no distractions during the daytime feeding sessions. Your baby might get distracted easily and not consume enough milk during the day. Therefore limit distractions by feeding them in a dark room, lying down while feeding them, and eliminating any external noise.
Gentle Ways Of Night Weaning
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After feeding your little one, place them back in their crib and move away. Wear clothing that makes it hard for your baby to access your breasts at night. Most of the time, your little one might not be hungry at night, but breastfeeding helps them fall asleep. So, if you’ve fed your baby sufficiently during the day and evening, they are probably not hungry at night.
Your baby might be looking for comfort at night, and your partner can help you here. He can lay next to the child and comfort them back to sleep. Sometimes a baby just needs the warmth and hug of a parent.
Night weaning takes time and patience. It might happen quickly for some parents or take longer for others. So, don’t lose hope. Your baby will stop feeding at night when they are ready, and you can try out the methods mentioned above to accelerate the process. Did you have a hard time trying to wean your baby off nighttime feedings? Let us know in the comments below!
