As a new parent, one of the most common concerns you might have is about your baby’s night feeding schedule. How many night feedings are normal? Is your baby eating too often or not enough? How do you know if your baby is waking out of hunger or something else?
Understanding Night Feedings
Night feedings are a normal and necessary part of your baby’s development, especially in the first few months. Remember, each baby is unique, and there’s a wide range of what’s considered “normal.” If you have concerns about your baby’s feeding schedule or growth, don’t hesitate to consult with me for an assessment on both feeding and sleep. I can provide personalized advice and support to ensure your baby is healthy and thriving.
The Science of Baby Sleep
It’s important to understand the science of baby sleep at night. Babies wake during REM or transitions between sleep cycles, which occur every hour overnight. This means that not all night wakings are due to hunger.
How Many Feeds Are Normal?
Based on my experience working with thousands of families, this is highly variable. It is often more helpful to look at the clues around how the feed looks at night. Finding reliable research on how many night feedings a baby needs can provide a more detailed and scientific perspective; however, there is still a lot of discrepancy.
Summaries Based on Age
0-3 Months: Most babies wake up 2-3 times per night for feedings. Depending on the growth and development of a breastfeeding relationship, you may be waking your baby every 3 hours to feed overnight. There is a lot of variation depending on growth and established feeding patterns at this age.
3-6 Months: Many babies can start to sleep longer stretches at this age. We usually see a range from 1-3 night feedings, often with a longer stretch of sleep at the beginning of the night.
6-9 Months: Many babies may start to sleep through the night, while others may still wake 1-2 times for feedings. Typically, 0-2 night feedings.
9-12 Months: As we get closer to the one-year mark and an increase in weaning, it would be normal to see 0-1 feeds overnight.
12-18 Months: Most babies don’t need night feeds, and we typically see 0-1.
Following Your Baby’s Needs
These are all just averages! There will always be outliers, and I encourage you to follow your child and their physical needs. If you are ever concerned about not feeding enough or feeding too much overnight, please reach out for a consult with me or a pediatrician to discuss concerns.
Signs of Hunger Waking
When a baby is waking out of hunger, we tend to see these things:
- Random/Different Wakings: As baby wakes through REM many times a night, the body does a check seeing “Am I hungry?” Most babies waking out of hunger are unpredictable – some nights at 12 and 4, and another night at 3 AM (or some variant).
- Escalating Call or Cry: Upon waking, they start out fussing or whining, making noise, and eventually, within 10-20 minutes, escalate in intensity to a loud call saying, “Hey, anyone there? I am hungry!”
- Active Feed: Eyes open, drinking effectively the way they would in the daytime, full feeding and not getting sleepy.
- Settles Well: After the feed is finished, the baby is satisfied and settles quickly and easily.
Transitioning Away from Night Feedings
If you are wondering whether your baby is ready to night wean or looking for more consolidated sleep, it is always okay to look at other ways of settling your baby that don’t always include feeding. I am HERE to help find a solution that feels right for you and your family.
I hope this helps you navigate the journey of night feedings with your baby. Remember, each baby is unique, and what works for one family might not work for another. Feel free to reach out for personalized support and guidance.
References
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020). HealthyChildren.org – Feeding & Nutrition. Retrieved from healthychildren.org
- Mindell, J. A., Sadeh, A., Wiegand, B., How, T. H., & Goh, D. Y. (2010). Cross-cultural differences in infant and toddler sleep. Pediatrics, 125(6), e1444-e1453.
- Taveras, E. M., Rifas-Shiman, S. L., Oken, E., Gunderson, E. P., & Gillman, M. W. (2008). Short sleep duration in infancy and risk of childhood overweight. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 162(4), 305-311.
- Mao, A., Burnham, M. M., Goodlin-Jones, B. L., Gaylor, E. E., & Anders, T. F. (2004). A comparison of the sleep–wake patterns of co-sleeping and solitary-sleeping infants. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 25(5), 324-331.
- Henderson, J. M. T., France, K. G., Owens, J. L., & Blampied, N. M. (2010). Sleeping through the night: The consolidation of self-regulated sleep across the first year of life. Pediatrics, 126(5), e1081-e1087.
