Essential Keys Newborn Sleep e-Book Plus Consultation Package 
1-Hour Telephone + 1 E-Mail Consultation Package 
Express Sleep Plan 
Express Sleep Plan Consultation Package 
Your Baby’s Start On Solid Foods: A Comprehensive Guide 
30-day Unlimited Package 
Mastering Naps and Schedules Bronze Package 
The 3-Step System Bronze Package 
The 5-Step System to Better Toddler Sleep Plus Express Sleep Plan 
Expedite Fee Water is wet. The sky is blue. Babies eat at night. These are basic facts of life.
Except that last one isn’t quite so straight-forward, is it? I mean, yes, newborns eat at night (a lot), and even as they grow, babies need to eat at night for awhile – night feedings help to ensure proper growth and development.
But what about unnecessary night feedings? You know – those ‘feedings’ that are actually just nursing or bottle-drinking for comfort? Those ‘feedings’ that last 2.2 seconds before your baby is conked out again? Those feedings that happen 20 minutes after the last feeding ended? Yes, night feedings are necessary, but how can you tell when night feeds are necessary, and when they are not?
Read on and find out!
Baby Night Feedings Are Probably Necessary When…
- …your baby stays awake for long periods if you don’t feed. A baby who fusses or cries persistently if he’s not fed is likely hungry and needs food. This is a pretty reliable sign that your baby’s night feedings are necessary, if you’ve ruled out poor sleep habits.
- …your baby is not eating enough during the day. Some babies get in a bad pattern of eating little and sleeping lots during the day, and then waking often and feeding a lot at night. In this case, a baby technically does need the night feedings – but the larger goal should be to reverse the pattern, so that most feedings happen during the day! You can download our free guide, 5 Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, for more tips on how to reverse that kind of eating/sleeping pattern.
- …after feeding, your baby sleeps soundly in 3-4 hour stretches. A baby who wakes at night, takes a full feeding, and then goes back to sleep and sleeps well was probably a hungry baby who needed the feeding in the first place.
- …your baby is a good self-soother who can fall asleep independently and goes back to sleep without help after a feeding. This may be the best sign that your baby’s night feedings are necessary. If your baby has overcome all his sleep associations, is able to fall asleep without your help, and goes down awake in his crib after a feed (and is then able to put himself back to sleep), you can rest assured that the night feedings likely necessary.
Of course, age is a factor in night feedings, too. Newborns and young infants must feed at night in order to grow and develop properly. And it is perfectly normal for babies to feed once per night up until 12 months old (although we do recommend an attempt at night weaning at 9 months). So keep your baby’s age in mind when looking at the factors above. Not sure when your baby should be feeding at night? Check out our sample schedules by age for night feeding tips.
Baby Night Feedings May Not Be Necessary When…
…your baby is waking out of habit (not hunger) and is using night feeds to soothe back to sleep. Only one point necessary in this section, because unnecessary night feedings are pretty straightforward. (At least, they are straightforward to understand – actually fixing them may be more challenging! 😉 )
Unnecessary night feedings are unnecessary because your baby is using them for soothing and comfort and not for food. The scenario goes something like this: your baby wakes during the night and is unable to fall back to sleep without help. So she cries for you, and you offer a feeding (because you think she may be hungry). She feeds for a short time and then falls asleep mid-feed. You lay her back down to sleep carefully (so as not to wake her up). But then, just a short time later, she’s awake again and crying. So you repeat the process. You may do this 6, 7, 8 times each night (or maybe even more!)
THIS right here – this pattern – is the #1 sign that your baby’s night feedings are probably not necessary. There are exceptions to this, of course, but by and large, this pattern represents a sleep problem that will need to be fixed eventually.
How To Stop Unnecessary Baby Night Feedings
If, after reading this, you feel confident that your baby’s night feedings aren’t necessary, the question remains: what should you do about it? How can you solve this problem?
That’s up to you, of course; there are many ways to sleep train your baby and change her sleep associations so that she is able to fall asleep without help and stay asleep until she is truly hungry and ready to eat. But sleep training can be an overwhelming task. That’s why we created The Baby Sleep Site®, and it’s why we are here to help! If you want personalized help for your baby’s sleep from a trained sleep consultant, browse our list of consultation packages and and choose the one that looks best for your unique situation.
Click here to learn how you can connect one-on-one with a sleep consultant.
Or, if you’d like to know more about how our system of personalized baby sleep help works, Check out our FAQ page here, and get answers.
Questions about your baby’s night feedings? Ask them below! Sleep training tips for other parents? Offer them – we love to hear your insights!
Our VIP Members Area is packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a VIP member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.
Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep is THE newborn sleep book that will help you to not only improve your newborn’s sleep using gentle, sleep-inducing routines – it will also answer your feeding and newborn care questions. You can even buy a bundle package that includes the e-book AND a Personalized Sleep Plan™ PLUS a follow-up email to use for further support!
For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Help Your Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.
Need Baby and Toddler Sleep Help? We Have the Resources You Need!
If you are tired of wading through stacks of baby sleep books that just aren't working, if you are beyond exhausted and just can't solve your child's sleep problems on your own...then personalized sleep consulting is for you. We have been around since 2008 and invite you to tap into our MANY years of experience. Our team of expert consultants will create a Personalized Sleep Plan® just for your family and then support you through every step of implementing your plan. We encourage you to consider our personalized, one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultation packages if you want to see real, meaningful results now. Your consultation package also includes ample follow-up help, designed to help you troubleshoot problems and tweak your plan as needed.Learn More About Services
For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
Learn More About The 3-Step System
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
Learn More About Mastering Naps
For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Help Your Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.
Learn More About The 5-Step System
Join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, and more. As a VIP member, you'll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.
Learn More About VIP Membership
Rebekah says
I need help! Since my baby was 3 months old she has slept through the night from 7pm – 6am, after we sleep trained her. She self soothes very well. She is now a little over 5 months old and for the last week has been waking up at various points throughout the night and will NOT go back to sleep, no matter what methods we use, until she’s had an 8 oz bottle. I’m assuming this is maybe a growth spurt or teething issue (no teeth visible yet) because she was a good sleeper before. I’ve also tried to start her on solids during the day but she doesn’t seem ready.
I don’t feel comfortable letting her cry too long because she truly seems hungry. But how long do I let this go on until she’s passed whatever stage this is, and when should she start sleeping normally?
I should mention that she is not a good napper and still seems to sleep only 30-45 min per nap no matter how I adjust her nap schedule and feeds.
Danielle says
Hi Rebekah,
Thank you for using The Baby Sleep Site as a resource! I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with your baby’s sudden change in night feedings. There is a growth spurt around 4 months-old that could be responsible – we have an article that should answer most of your questions here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-needs/baby-growth-spurts-affect-sleep-feeding/
The other issue we see most often pop up around this age is the 4 month sleep regression, which can be tough. We have another article with a lot of info to help here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-regression-2/4-month-sleep-regression-checklist/
I hope this will help – good luck!
K says
Hi there
I have a 7 week old. We’ve started a bedtime and nap time routine and she is doing pretty good. My only concern is that, while he daytime feeding are always in and around 120-150 ml every 3 hours-ish, her night feedings (midnight and 4 am) are now quite low. She eats slowly and doesn’t want the bottle/falls asleep after 40-70 ml. She doesn’t wake up until 4 hours later so I’m not concerned that she’s doing it so she can wake up/eat more frequently but is she eating enough at night for her age? What do you recommend we do?
Neosha says
@K – Thank you for reading and for sharing with us, and congratulations on your new addition. 🙂 We can definitely understand being concerned if your little girl’s feeding habits have changed, especially if they’ve decreased! We do expect babies to start eating less in the night and more in the day as they get older but encourage our families to seek input from their babies’ healthcare providers, who tend to have more health information about your baby, to be sure their babies are eating enough to meet their health needs. Providers generally look at how your daughter is growing as a whole to determine if she’s eating enough in the night, so be prepared to answer other types of questions when you call, too, such as how she behaves now and in the past week. We hope this helps, K -please keep reading!
Pauric says
Hi guys i need help ive a 2 day old baby boy i just fed him and tried winding him but nothing came up so i put him back down is that ok to do im afraid to go back asleep now if he gets up wind in his cot by himself will he be ok if that happens?
Janelle Reid says
Hi @Pauric, I am sorry to just reply now! I hope everything turned out ok that night and you were able to get some sleep. It can be so stressful in the beginning as you are figuring out your baby. If you want some free tips on life with a newborn, be sure to download our free guide! You can sign up to receive it here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/15-free-baby-sleep-facts-new-parents-must-know/
Congratulations!
Hannah says
Thank you for this helpful article. I have a 3 month old, and I’m fairly happy with his sleep now because we managed to eliminate almost all of his sleep props (i.e. bouncing or rocking him to sleep) but he is really inconsistent with his nighttime feeds. In the evening, I feed him between 7:30 and 8, do our bedtime routine, and then put him down awake. I also put him down awake for naps, so I know he can put himself back to sleep. For a while he was sleeping from 8:30 until 4, but now he’s waking between 1 and 2. I really can’t complain because he’ll sleep until he wakes in the morning at 7, and I know that he needs the feeding right now, but is there a way that I can get him to sleep longer during that first stretch again? I am considering a dream feed, but I’m concerned that it will backfire and he’ll be totally awake because he’s a highly alert and sensitive baby. Thanks in advance!
Janelle Reid says
@Hannah, thanks for writing to us! It can be tricky to know if a dream feed will work or not – it definitely depends on the child! Here is an article with more information that may help you decide: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/dream-feed/
I hope this helps!
Ashley says
Hi! My baby is 5 months old. Up until 4 months he always slept really well, doing about a 8-9 hour stretch, waking around 5am to nurse and then going back down til around 8am. At 4 months he went through a slight sleep regression but also got sick, so I started feeding him when he woke at night. After he was healthy again he kept waking at night expecting to bed fed. We started sleep training this week which is going ok so far. If he wakes earlier than 5 he can usually soothe himself back to sleep. My issue is that I still think he needs the 5am feeding because when he wakes around that time it takes 1-1.5hrs of my husband going in every 15 minutes to soothe him (rub his back, insert pacifier, etc) to get him back to sleep. He does go back to sleep until around 8am, but I feel like if he’s up and crying for that long then he is probably hungry. I’m nervous that if I go back to feeding him at all during the night though that he will start waking again at all hours expecting to be fed, but I also obviously don’t want to be starving my baby if he is indeed hungry!
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Janelle Reid says
Hi @Ashley, thank you for writing to us. I am sorry you’ve experienced a bit of a setback with your son’s sleeping. Here is a link to a 5 month old schedule to give you an idea of how many night wakings would be appropriate: https://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/5-month-old-baby-schedule/ Anything beyond that is likely a negative sleep association to being fed to sleep.
I hope this helps and that is passes quickly! Hang in there!
Sarah says
My daughter is 11 months old right now and has recently started waking up in the middle of the night screaming until she is fed. Comforting her doesn’t do anything, she very clearly wants food. She’s a very good sleeper and can put herself to sleep/back to sleep normally, but lately it has been almost every night. I don’t know if it’s normal/she’s just growing and needed extra food, or if she’s just developed a bad habit. If it is a bad habit I don’t know how to fix it because she is hysterical until fed. I just don’t understand what is happening, she used to sleep through the night.
Janelle Reid says
Hi @Sarah, thank you for visiting the Baby Sleep Site. I am sorry your daughter has suddenly been waking up for a feeding. It could be developmental or it could be a habit. Here is a link to an 11 month old schedule so you can make sure she’s getting all the calories she needs during the daytime hours: https://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/11-month-old-schedule/
If the problem persists and you need additional help, let us know as we have many resources that can help. Feel free to contact us direct here if you are interested: https://www.babysleepsite.com/contact
Hang in there!
Sarah says
Ive been feeding my two mobth old every 2 hours throughout the day and every hour in the evening then over the night do 1 feeding 3 hours apart and one 4 hours apart (so two feedings at night) sometimes more if he wakes up early. But the last week i havent been hearing my alarm go off and hes been sleeping without waking for about 6 hour stretches. Hes getting about 9-11 feedings durring the day so is this ok? I feel so guilty i keep not waking up but he has to be woken up for his night feedings normally. He wants to sleep, does this mean hes not hungry. And its ok to let him sleep?
Janelle Reid says
@Sarah, thanks for writing to us! This article will explain how much breastmilk/formula your baby will need in a 24 hour period: https://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/newborn-sleep-feeding-schedule/
I am not a medical professional so I would just suggest giving your child’s doctor a call and making sure there is no concern with letting him sleep since they know his full medial history and can advise if he needs the extra calories at night for weight gain, or something else.
I hope this helps! Thanks for visiting the Baby Sleep Site!
Emily DeFranceschi says
My 9 month old is waking every two hours (almost exactly) to feed.
He will cry until I let down and then he will take the whole feeding before falling back asleep. I have considered that maybe he is going through a growth spurt or developmental leap, but am also concerned that he is feeding just to soothe. Any advice?
Janelle Reid says
@Emily DeFranceschi, Thank you for your comment. I am sorry to hear you are struggling with your 9 month old’s sleep. We actually have a free guide with some tips on how to get your baby to sleep through the night which you are able to sign up to receive here: https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-through-night-free-ebook/
If you find you need additional help with this issue, we have a lot more resources that can provide specific help for your situation. If you are interested, please contact us directly here so that we can help you find the best package for your family: https://www.babysleepsite.com/contact
Hang in there and thanks for using the Baby Sleep Site as a resource for sleep!
Peggy says
If my three month old sleeps through the night and missed a feeding. Do I try to make up that formula?
Nicole Johnson says
@Peggy Welcome to our sleepy little village! You will likely want to compare what your 3 month old drinks in a 24-hour period to averages and the amount your doctor has indicated he or she should get, but babies generally will let you know if they need more to eat. 🙂 Good luck!
Jessica says
I dream feedy seven month old at 10, then he wakes between 2-3 for another feed, I put him back to bed awake. I am worried this is habit forming. I have tried to not feed him at the 2-3 mark, but he ends up staying awake for hours crying/ fussing intermittently. Please help
Janelle Reid says
@Jessica, Thank you for writing! At 7 months old, we would consider 1-2 night wakings to be normal, and anything beyond that is likely a sleep association. Here is a link to a 7 month old for you to use as a reference to make sure he is getting all the calories he needs throughout the day so he is not waking from hunger at night more than he should: https://www.babysleepsite.com/schedules/7-month-old-baby-schedule/
And here is a link to an article about sleep associations if you think he is waking out of habit, this will help you determine: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/sleep-association/
If you want any help with breaking him of this habit (if you determine it is a habit), here is an article series that will take you through several different approaches to sleep training: https://www.babysleepsite.com/sleep-training/sleep-training-from-no-cry-to-cry-series-part-1/
Hang in there! Thank you for using the Baby Sleep Site as a resource for sleep!