Night weaning: When to start and how to do it gently

As you feed your baby night after night, exhausted and in a sleepy haze, you wonder when you can start night weaning. 

Night feeds are a normal part of the early months, and wanting more sleep does not make you any less devoted to your baby. However, there comes a time when you start thinking about stopping the night feedings. 

Night weaning is more often a gentle process of easing those overnight feeds away once your baby is ready, and it works best when it moves at your baby’s pace as much as yours.

In this guide, you will find when to start night weaning, how to night wean a breastfed baby, a bottle-fed baby or a toddler, and when it makes sense to wait, with advice from Dr. Tracy Tyson, Board-Certified Pediatrician, and Joanna Kreyling, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) at 1 Natural Way.

What is night weaning?

Night weaning means gradually reducing, and eventually stopping, the milk feeds your baby takes between bedtime and the first feed of the morning. A baby is considered night weaned once they no longer need a feed during those hours, while daytime feeds carry on as usual.

Some families even adopt partial night weaning where they drop only the middle-of-the-night ones and keep a bedtime top-up. This kind of partial weaning is an option when round-the-clock nursing feels overwhelming.

When to start night weaning

There is no single age that works for every baby. When your baby is ready depends on how they feed, how much they feed during the day, and how steadily they are growing. 

According to the Raising Children Network, which is supported by the Australian Government:

• Night weaning can be considered for healthy breastfed children from 12 months, and that doing it before 12 months can reduce milk supply. 
• For formula-fed babies, you can think of night weaning when they are 6 months of age.

However, sometimes the decision to night wean doesn’t rest on your baby. If you feel exhausted, irritated, and not able to keep up with the night feedings, then night weaning becomes a valid choice.

What age do babies naturally night wean?

There is no prescribed age for babies to naturally night wean. 

• Most formula-fed babies, between 2 and 4 months of age, or when they weigh more than 12 lb or 5.4 kg, no longer need middle-of-the-night feedings.
• Breastfed babies often take longer to stop night feedings.

Dr. Tracy Tyson shares what she sees in practice:

Cradlewise Note: If you are thinking about stopping night feedings, consult your pediatrician and build a night weaning plan from there.

Signs your baby may be ready for night weaning

There are no tell-tale signs that say your baby is ready to be night weaned, however if you observe closely, you will find a few patterns pointing to it. 

Dr. Tyson points to these clues:

• Your baby falls asleep almost immediately at the breast or bottle without taking a large feed.
• Your baby can be soothed back to sleep in under 15 minutes without a feed.
• Your baby is growing steadily and your pediatrician agrees the timing makes sense.
• Waking up in less than 2 hours is usually more a sign of comfort than hunger, and it says your baby may be ready for night weaning.

Other signs include:

• Your baby doesn’t have a strict hunger clock. Their timing of night wakings become unpredictable from night to night.
• Your baby eats well and takes an adequate amount of feed or solid foods during the day.

When to stop night time bottle

For formula-fed babies the timeline is clearer, because the AAP has given a specific window. Between 2 and 4 months of age, or once a baby weighs more than 12 pounds (5.4 kg), most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed, since they take more during the day and their stomach capacity has grown. However, the AAP adds that this varies considerably from baby to baby.

Raising Children Network adds that formula is digested more slowly than breast milk, so by 6 months a formula-fed baby is unlikely to be waking from hunger. 

How to night wean

A steady bedtime routine, a full feed before bed and plenty of milk and solids by day help you in night weaning. Daytime naps play a part too, as they affect whether your baby sleeps longer at night or wakes often. So check your baby’s wake windows.

Gradual vs cold turkey

Gradual night weaning means changing one thing at a time over days or weeks, while cold turkey means stopping a feed all at once. 

Gradual night weaning approach is usually gentler on your baby. In the gradual approach, pick one night feed, shorten it or reduce the amount a little at a time, and once it is gone, wait a few days before touching the next one.

Some families prefer a faster route. Dr. Tyson shares her view on timing:

In other words, a more abrupt approach comes after 6 months, and only once gentler techniques have not worked. 

Cradlewise Note: Talk with your pediatrician before choosing this route.

How to night wean from breastfeeding

For breastfed babies, night weaning affects your milk supply as much as it does your baby’s sleep. 

Joanna explains what happens when a night feed is dropped:

That is why gradual steps and strong daytime feeds make such a difference. Here is how to put it into practice:

• Move calories to the daytime. Dr. Tyson suggests gradually shortening time at the breast so your baby takes more calories by day and resettles faster at night.
• Share the wake-ups. A partner or another adult can handle some night wakings so your baby learns other ways to settle.
• Keep a dream feed if it helps. A late feed before you go to bed can carry your baby through the first part of the night. Our dream feed guide explains when to dream feed and when to drop it.

Cradlewise Tip: If your breasts feel uncomfortably full after you drop a feed, express only enough to soften your breasts, use cold compresses between feeds, and wear a supportive bra that is not too tight.

What to do when your baby cries at the usual feed time?

She adds: Try changing the diaper, rewrapping in a swaddle, rocking or a pacifier and all above and see if they will go back down without feeding. The next time they wake, I’d feed to avoid any decrease in weight. Every few nights, the time between feeds should slowly start to increase.

The 30-minute window gives your baby a fair chance to resettle, and the feed at the next waking protects their weight gain. If you use a swaddle, stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of rolling.

Cradlewise Note: The Cradlewise app logs when your baby wakes, which can help you spot patterns and choose which night feed to tackle first. The smart crib’s gentle bounce can give your baby a few minutes to resettle before you step in. It cannot tell hunger from habit, so a hungry baby will still wake and need a feed.

How to night wean a bottle-fed baby

Bottle-fed babies often reach the point of dropping night feeds sooner than breastfed babies. 

Start with the soothing-first approach Dr. Tyson describes above, and give your baby a full bottle at bedtime. Then reduce the amount gradually. 

For babies 6 months and older, Raising Children Network suggests that:

• If a night bottle is more than 60 ml or 2 ounces, you can gradually cut it down over 5-7 nights. It helps to resettle your baby after each smaller feed. 
• Once you reach 2 ounces (60 ml) or less, you can stop the feed altogether. 

For babies between 2 and 6 months, your pediatrician can tailor the pace to your baby’s weight.

Dr. Tyson suggests a few tips to help your baby, both breastfed and formula-fed, with night weaning:

• Have a consistent bedtime routine like taking warm baths, reading a book, having dim lights, and putting on gentle white noise. 
• Decouple feeding from sleep onset. Feed first, then change and rock to avoid direct feeding to sleep. This way your baby will not associate feeding with sleeping. 
• Respond differently day vs night. Avoid a lot of talking and louder interactions to let your baby know its feeding time and then back to sleep. 
• Use non feeding soothing techniques often to determine if feeding is needed  or just comfort.

How to night wean a toddler

Toddlers understand more than we sometimes expect, so you can prepare them and let them know the change is coming. 

Joanna Kreyling shares her approach:

• If possible, involve others in this transitional time, including the toddler. 
• Some parents like to make a book or begin telling their children that nighttime bottles or nursing stop at a certain point. 
• Reiterate that you love them and will see them in the morning. 
• Replace the habit with another like reading a book or snuggling a blankie. 
• Adapt the explanation to meet your family’s needs, being sure your toddler hears when the end is coming. For example, I told my toddlers that we only nurse in the daytime after they turn one.

Things to keep in mind while night weaning your toddler

Joanna shares how to stay steady when your toddler throws a tantrum:

• Keep the list of reasons why this is a good thing in the forefront of your mind for when you feel weak: sleep is important for your child’s growth, better sleep means a better mood for both parents and children. 
• Remember, this is not an unexpected or a cruel shock to the toddler if they were prepared for this change. 
• If your child wakes up, keep your responses short and calm. Reiterate that you love them and when you will see them next. 
• If possible, have other adults go comfort the child instead of the nursing parent. 
• It is also helpful to make this change when the nursing parent does not need to work for the next few days. 

If your toddler takes a bottle to fall back asleep, the AAP advises that you never place your baby in the crib with a bottle for comfort, since sugars in liquids can promote tooth decay and pooling liquid can contribute to ear infections.

How long does night weaning take

It depends on how many night feeds your baby has and how quickly you work on it. 

The stepped plans from Raising Children Network run over 5 to 7 nights for a single feed. If you have more than one feed to drop and you wait a few days between each, plan on a few weeks from your first change to a full night.

Setbacks are a normal part of the process. Illness or teething can send night wakings up for a while, and you can pause, comfort your baby and pick the plan back up when things settle. You can take weaning as slowly as you wish.

When you should not night wean

There are phases when it is wise to hold off night weaning. 

• Your baby is not gaining weight steadily. Check with your pediatrician before reducing any feeds.
• Your baby is sick or in a growth spurt. Extra feeds may be exactly what your baby needs right now when they are ill or experiencing a growth spurt.
• A big change is underway. Babies may want more comfort feeds when big changes are happening, such as starting child care.
• Your baby is still very young. For babies under the age windows above, your pediatrician can guide you on what is realistic.
• The current routine works for you. There is no hurry to phase out night feeds if you are comfortable feeding your child overnight.

When to call a doctor

The below signs are red flags and warrant urgent medical attention for you and your baby:

• Your baby is not feeding well; 8 to 12 times a day for a breastfeeding baby and 5 to 8 times a day for a bottle-fed baby or older infant.
• Your baby consistently refuses daytime milk or solid feeds, saving all their caloric intake for the nighttime out of distraction or habit.
• Your baby has less than 4 wet diapers in a 24-hour period, a dry mouth, or cries without producing tears.
• They have less than 3 normal bowel movements per day. 
• Your baby is uncharacteristically drowsy, difficult to wake up, or too weak to fuss or interact during daytime hours.
• High-pitched, continuous crying that cannot be comforted by rocking, patting, or shifting environments. It can mean they are in physical pain rather than just frustration.
• You notice a visible dip in your baby’s mood or suspect they are dropping weight because they are unable to compensate for the lost overnight calories from the daytime feeds.
• If you develop a fever or flu-like symptoms from weaning too quickly, or if a sore area looks more than a clogged milk duct and does not improve within 24 hours.

For the following signs, though not urgent, check with your pediatrician at your next visit:

• Your baby is not growing and gaining weight steadily.
• Your baby still takes full bottles overnight past the 6 months window.

Conclusion

Someday soon, you will wake on your own in the morning and notice that the house stayed quiet throughout the night. However, getting there takes patience and a night weaning plan that suits your family. 

Once night feeds fade, your baby may seem hungrier by day, which is natural. It is also common to feel a mix of relief and sadness as these quiet, close moments change, so be as gentle with yourself as you are with your baby.

Check in with your pediatrician and lean on the people around you.

You may also like:

• How to wean off pumping: A step-by-step guide.
• What is a dream feed? Does it really help your baby sleep? And how do I do it?
• How to get your toddler to sleep in their own bed (without bedtime battles).

Sources:

1. Exclusive breastfeeding. AAP. 2026. Why We Support Breastfeeding for Your Baby’s Health.
2. When to start nightweaning. Raising Children Network. 2024. Night weaning and phasing out night feeds. 
3. What age do babies naturally night wean. AAP. 2022. Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings.
4. When to stop night time bottles. AAP. 2022. Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings.
5. Formula-fed baby at 6 months. Raising Children Network. 2024. Night weaning and phasing out night feeds. 
6. Cry it out method in infants of 6 months of age. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2020. Parental use of ‘cry it out’ in infants: no adverse effects on attachment and behavioural development at 18 months.
7. How to night wean a bottle-fed baby. Raising Children Network. 2024. Night weaning and phasing out night feeds. 
8. Toddler and bottle in bed. AAP. 2013. Sleeping Through the Night.