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How long before bed should i feed my baby solids


Starting solids! The when, what, how of solid food.

Starting solids can feel really daunting for some parents. With conflicting information on the internet and then differing opinions from family and friends too, it can become very overwhelming!

Here at Little Ones we want to take the confusion out of starting solids and to help you to find what works best for you and your little one. So we've teamed up with an accredited dietitian and nutritionist to give you to the most current evidence-based nutrition recommendations for your baby.

In this article:

  • When to start solids
  • What foods to offer your baby
  • How to introduce solid food
  • How much should your baby be eating?
  • How to introduce different textures

Disclaimer: The advice and information provided in this article is general in nature and based primarily around the Australian guidelines so might not be appropriate for all circumstances. It is important to understand that the advice is intended as a guide only and is not intended to replace an individualized consultation with a medical doctor or qualified health professional.

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When to start solids

The recommendations around when to start solids can differ from country to country but the general consensus (and recommendation from the World Health Organization) is to start introducing solids at around 6 months but not before 4 months.

At this time your little one will likely be starting to show some signs of readiness for solids.

Signs of readiness can include:

  •  Sitting upright on their own or with minimal support.
  • Able control their neck and head well. This sign of readiness is very important as having good head and neck control is important to reduce the risk of choking.
  • Interested in the people around them eating.
  • Tries to grasp objects (like toys, food etc) and bring them to their mouth.
  • Opens their mouth when they are offered food
  • Brings the food from the front of their mouth to the back of their mouth and swallows, rather than letting it dribble back out of their mouth. 

What foods to offer your baby

There are no set rules around what your baby's first food or first meal should be, but it's a good idea to choose foods from the following three groups:

  1. 1. Iron-rich foods like meat, eggs, fish, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, tofu or an iron-fortified infant cereal. Make sure all foods are given in a way that is texturally appropriate for your baby's age.
  2. 2. Energy-dense foods like meat, eggs, oily fish, avocado, sweet potato, white potato, full-fat dairy products or banana. Little ones at this age are growing very quickly and won't eat very much to start with, as they have very small tummies. Energy-dense foods offer them bang for their buck in terms of energy per gram.
  3. 3. A variety of vegetables or fruit. There is a critical window between 6 and 9 months for introducing the different textures and flavours of vegetables and fruit, so capitalize on this time where your little one will readily accept these foods by offering a wide variety.

Allergenic foods

Any food that contains protein has the potential to cause an allergic reaction, however, there are 9 foods that are most likely to elicit a reaction. These are:

  • cow's milk (dairy)
  • egg
  • peanuts and tree nuts
  • sesame
  • soy
  • fish and shellfish
  • wheat

So the big question is, should you avoid foods that might cause an allergic reaction in your little one until after they are 12 months?

The answer is no. Research suggests that offering these common food allergens earlier, at around 6 months (and not before 4 months), can actually help to reduce your baby’s risk of developing food allergies.

Note: if someone in your little one’s immediate family (sibling or parent) has a food allergy, we would suggest speaking to your doctor to determine the best plan for introducing solids. Often, you will proceed with introducing solid food as usual but sometimes doctors will recommend introducing the common allergens earlier than 6 months, depending on the individual situation.

How to introduce solid food

Start low and slow! Begin with a small amount of food, around 1 teaspoon, so as not to overwhelm your little one for the first few mealtimes. Gradually increase this amount in response to your little one's hunger or fullness cues.

At Little Ones, we generally recommend starting solids at the lunch meal first and introducing one new food at a time. This makes it easier to see how your baby is responding to specific foods (and solids in general!) and gives them plenty of time to digest their food before bedtime. This can help to prevent your baby waking uncomfortable overnight.

Should you offer milk feeds or solids first? 

Milk is still the priority nutrition until 12 months old, but solid food is an increasingly important part of the diet from 6 months old, as it provides nutrients that are important to meet the needs of the growing infant. From 6 months onwards, breast milk or formula alone does not provide all of the nutrients your baby needs - particularly iron.

It’s important to find the right balance between the two, where milk feeds are prioritised, but your little one is also eating solids.

At Little Ones, we generally recommend offering milk before solids until around 8 months of age. From 8 months onwards, your baby should be pretty well established on solids and starting to naturally reduce their milk feeds, so this is often a good time to start switching things around by offering solids before milk at some meals.

How much should your baby be eating?

There is no specific amount that a little one ‘should’ be eating. Just like adults, they will need different amounts depending on how they are feeling, the food itself, how much they have eaten earlier in the day, or how much milk they have consumed in the previous 48 hours.

A baby is considered "established" on solids when they are eating 2-3 meals a day, with approximately 1/2 cup of solid food at each meal. Most babies will reach this point by around 8 months old, but in some instances this can be earlier or later.

What is most important is to try to tune into our little one’s individual hunger and fullness cues, so that we offer them exactly what they need at each meal.

Signs your little one might be hungry:

  • Clenching fists over their chest
  • Flexing their arms and/or legs
  • Moving their hands to their mouth
  • Putting things into their mouth
  • Smacking or licking their lips
  • Increased alertness
  • Moving their head from side to side
  • Leaning towards food or reaching towards food
  • Motioning towards their high chair
  • Opening their mouth wide
  • Making sucking noises

Signs your little one might be full:

  • They are putting their hand to their face
  • They wait until the spoon is at their lips before opening their mouth
  • They are grimacing, pouting or frowning
  • They avert their gaze
  • They turn their head away from food
  • They spit or eject food from their mouth
  • They are fussing or whining
  • They are agitated or squirming
  • They fidget or get distracted
  • They close their mouth or turn their head away

How to introduce different textures

There is a lot of debate about whether to adopt a baby-led or traditional approach to weaning. The World Health Organization and many government recommendations are currently to offer a traditional weaning approach with the gradual introduction of new textures.

At the end of the day, what is most important is that your little one starts their solids journey within a positive eating environment, where you both feel comfortable. If you're not sure how you want to introduce different textures, we would recommend chatting to your doctor before your baby starts solids.

You may decide to follow a traditional weaning approach, starting with purees and progressing through the different textures to finger foods. Or you may want to take a baby-led weaning approach and start with finger foods, or even use a mixed approach. It's totally up to you!

Our Baby Nutrition Program (4-12 months) helps to take out the guesswork out of starting solids, with evidence-based nutritional information, meal plans specific to your baby's age, and our tried and tested, tasty recipes! Our nutrition programs are exclusively available in the Little Ones App.

*This blog is not intended to be used in place of medical advice by your healthcare professional. Please always seek medical advice if you are concerned about your baby's feeding.

_________

Bibliography

Australian Family Physician (2012). Feeding in the first year of life. 

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), Scientific Opinion on the appropriate age for introduction of complementary feeding of infants. EFSA Journal 2009; 7( 12): 1423 [38 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2009.1423.

Fleischer, D. M., Spergel, J. M., Assa’ad, A. H., & Pongracic, J. A. (2013). Primary Prevention of Allergic Disease Through Nutritional Interventions. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, 1(1), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2012.09.003

‌HealthEd (2021). Eating for Healthy Babies and Toddlers/Ngā kai tōtika mō te hunga kōhungahunga 

‌World Health Organization (2021).  Infant and young child feeding. 

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Solid food before bed time???

4 answers /

Last post: 25/10/2010 at 10:52 am

Anonymous

24/10/2010 at 4:33 pm

Hi, I started weaning my little boy last Sunday., he's just under 6 months. He has 8oz of formula 5x a day and last week I introduced two teaspoons of solid food once a day after his second feed.
This seems to be working well, although he's still waking in the nite (he used to sleep through up until about 6wks ago). Shall I introduce another solid feed before bed or is that not good for his digestion? When do I introduce more solid food and lessen the milk and should it still be normal milk or should he now have follow on milk??? It's all confusing...
I have talked to the HV about him waking 7 or 8 x a night but she says its his teeth and to give him Calpol- don't really want to do that every night!
Last night was the last straw for me, he woke every hour until at 4am I gave up and gave him a bottle, which he gulped down in about 2 mins.
So...solid food before bed or is his waking just for attention and should I try leaving him to cry a little longer?
xxx

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Jakki.

25/10/2010 at 9:36 am

Hi Georgette, we've moved your query to our drop-in clinic where we have a lovely Parent Support team who will be able to advise you.

Anonymous

25/10/2010 at 10:45 am

Hi Georgette

Weaning can feel like an uphill struggle at first. You are certainly not alone in feeling confused.

How about taking a look at this link which I think will make things somewhat clearer for you...

Weaning: How to get started - Netmums

To answer your questions specifically...

Shall I introduce another solid feed before bed or is that not good for his digestion?

* I would be inclined to focus on giving DS his solids earlier in the day this will give him the chance to digest it during the day and also if DS were to react to anything new, you would be more aware of any allergic symptoms being present.

When do I introduce more solid food and lessen the milk and should it still be normal milk or should he now have follow on milk???

* You can introduce more solid food at a gradual pace which suits you and DS. Perhaps increasing in quantity first, and then looking at offering solids at additional times, then you can look at offering more of a range of foods.

* There is no need to shift DS on to follow on milk unless you have been advised to do so by your Health Visitor.

* You will probably find that DS will guide you in terms of lessening his milk as he starts to take more solids. Between 6 and 12 months we would expect that he would have about 20 floz per day and then at 12 months this is likely to drop to about 14 floz per day.

In terms of dealing with DS's night waking, if DS is hungry it could be that he is having a growth spurt and as such, really the only thing you can do is feed him to satisfy that hunger and settle him back to sleep.

Your Health Visitor has suggested that teething may be the cause of DS's waking. You can read about managing night time teething here...

Managing night time teething troubles - Netmums

The moment you are experiencing a period of transition with DS, he is starting on solids and also cutting teeth, so things are bound to be a bit all over the place for a while. Don't despair though Georgette, DS will settle back down.

If you find that DS's night waking persists you may like to have a look at the different sleep techniques and consider whether you feel able to adopt and implement one...

Sleep techniques - Netmums

Do let us know how things go.

Ellie

Similar threads

kelly g(23)

25/10/2010 at 10:52 am

Hi both my boys did exactly as your little one is doing! it's a nightare!
how i did it was give him tea earlier, but i would give him a few more spoonfulls during the day, then about 6.45pm i  would give him some baby rice, weetabix or the equivalant to fill him up. this worked.  I sometimes used to give them a bit more at 9pm if he woke and wouldnt settle. later on when they could eat more at meal times i used to wake them up at eleven at night for a dream feed, this worked a treat!
the health visitor told me exaclty the same as you if that was the case my son was teething constantly for 9 months.
My boys are 3yrs &16months and are perfectly healthy and very energetic!!!
hope this helps

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Breastfeeding after 1 month: what to expect

Do you know when breast milk production stabilizes? And how does the frequency and duration of feedings change as the baby grows? You will find answers to these questions in our recommendations for breastfeeding after the first month.

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Congratulations: You made it through the first month of breastfeeding. Your breast milk has reached full maturity 1 , its production stabilizes, and it leaks almost or not at all from the chest. Don't worry, it's not getting less milk, it's just that your breasts are better able to produce and store it now. 2 At the age of six weeks, your baby will begin to please you with his charming toothless smiles, and by two months you will already have 500-600 feedings behind you. With a favorable development of events, problems with latch on by this point will already be resolved, and you can simply enjoy the convenience and benefits of breastfeeding. nine0003

When does breastfeeding decrease?

"Normal" feeding frequency for babies aged one to six months varies considerably, with some needing four feedings a day, others asking to be breastfed 13 times a day. 3

“From the age of one month, the amount of milk a baby consumes per feed increases, so that he can go without food for longer,” explains Cathy Garbin, a recognized international expert on breastfeeding, “A baby’s stomach grows, so he eat more at one time. In addition, mature milk allows him to stay full longer. ” nine0003

Feeding can last from 12 minutes to one hour -
the habits of babies vary so much! 3 But if the child is gaining weight and falls within this range, there is no cause for concern.

What is most surprising, no matter how often the baby eats, he consumes approximately the same amount of milk per day - both at one month and at six, when it is time to start complementary foods with solid food. 4

“However, sometimes the baby eats more and sometimes less, especially when he is unwell. It’s better to just listen to his needs,” Katie explains. nine0003

Is breast milk enough for the first six months?

Yes. Breast milk contains everything a baby needs for the first 90,023 six months of life—exclusively breastfed babies don't even need to drink more water! 5 Until about six months of age, a child's digestive system is simply not adapted to the digestion of solid food, and he will be able to drink cow's milk only after a year.

In addition, breastfeeding during this period prepares the child for further development. It strengthens the muscles of the mouth, develops the jaw and helps straighten the teeth 6.7 . All this will come in handy when the baby begins to eat and talk. And because what you eat and drink affects how your breast milk tastes, your baby discovers new tastes even before he starts eating solid foods. 8

In addition, when your baby is sick, your body produces breast milk that is
rich in antibodies that help fight infection. 9 In other words, milk continues to protect the baby for many months as he grows and becomes more active. nine0003

Breastfeeding is also very comfortable once you get used to it. Claudia, a mother of two from the UK, notes: “No need to sterilize a mountain of bottles, prepare formula, carry it all with you, warm it up - in general, breastfeeding turned out to be very convenient, especially when my babies grew up and we began to leave the house more often. ".

At what age does a breastfed baby start sleeping through the night?

Waking up at night is normal for babies. Most babies between the ages of one and six months consume a fifth of their daily milk requirement at night, so nighttime feedings should not be neglected if you want your baby to get the required amount of calories. nine0009 3

"It really depends on what you mean by 'sleep through the night'," says Cathy. "And it's better than waking up every two hours anyway! I have met infants who, starting at six weeks old, fell asleep at 19:00 and woke up at 7:00, but most continue to wake up frequently at night after this age. All children are different."

In Wales, a study of more than 700 infants showed that almost 80% of children aged 6 to 12 months wake up at least once a night, and 25% of them wake up three times or more. And it did not depend on what type of feeding the child is on - breastfeeding or artificial. nine0009 10

And if nighttime awakenings are unavoidable anyway, breastfeeding is at least comfortable! Maina, a mother of two from Australia, agrees: “You can even take a nap while feeding in the middle of the night - both the body and the baby do their job on autopilot. No need to plan, measure, sterilize anything - ready-made food at the right temperature is right in your chest. I think it's ideal."

My child wakes up more often. Perhaps he is hungry?

Around four months of age, a baby's sleep patterns change as they develop deep and light sleep phases like an adult. Because of this, he may wake up more often at night. “At four months, sleep is more of a problem than feeding,” Cathy admits. “It can be exhausting, but try to adapt and be patient.” nine0003

Some call this " a four-month sleep regression ", but "progress" is more appropriate here. From the outside it may look like a step back, but in fact the child is approaching an important stage of development. He learns quickly, begins to become aware of the world around him, his perception is sharpened and, perhaps, there is anxiety about being separated from his mother. Crying when waking up and being able to eat milk cuddled up to mommy’s chest is a way for a baby to calm down. nine0009 11–13

Resist the urge to “supplement” your baby with formula or start solid foods early
in an attempt to improve his sleep. Breast milk contains
hormones that make you sleepy and help you both relax
. Studies show that breastfeeding mothers actually sleep longer at night than mothers of formula-fed or mixed-fed babies
. 14

How does teething affect breastfeeding?

Teething usually begins around four months of age. When a baby has gum pain, he becomes restless, throws his chest and cries. All this, of course, is unpleasant.

However, breastfeeding can be an excellent sedative.
Studies have shown that babies who are breastfed
during the vaccination period cry less and forget pain more quickly. 15 Breastfeeding during teething can have the same calming effect. nine0003

An unpleasant side effect may be the child's attempts to try out his new teeth on the mother's breast. “Sometimes children flirt and bite their mother’s nipples. This can be felt in advance by how the behavior of the child changes when feeding: before biting, he removes his tongue, explains Cathy, “Usually this is not a problem and only happens a couple of times. It is enough to stop feeding, affectionately say that biting is not good, and the baby will soon leave this fun.

How to continue feeding if you have to be separated from the baby? nine0015

It happens that during the first six months, when the baby is still fully breastfed, the mother needs to be away for several hours - or even longer if she has to go to work or go away on business for a couple of days.

But this does not mean that you should stop breastfeeding. You can still feed your baby healthy breast milk - just express it and have someone give it to your baby when you're away. Here's Kathy's advice:

“Start expressing milk a couple of days in advance, in small batches, 40-60 ml at a time. So you will have the necessary supply for the time of your absence, but at the same time the amount of milk produced will remain the same. nine0003

If you have to return to work, check with your employer about your daily schedule. Many mothers breastfeed their babies in the morning, evening and night, and pump milk at lunchtime to relieve discomfort and create a reserve for the next day.

This usually turns out to be much easier than one might think, and today many companies are well placed to do this, notes Cathy. “Breast pumps make it easy to solve this problem.”

Natalie, mother from the USA, shares her experience: “I feed Dylan as soon as he wakes up, and sometimes again before leaving for work, in order to maintain milk production and not lose contact with the child. At work, I pump twice the next day (in my absence, he eats two bottles of breast milk), and after work I rush home for the evening feed. I don't pump on the weekends - we resume regular breastfeeding." nine0003

Can breastfeeding continue after the introduction of solid foods?

When your baby begins to show interest in food and can sit up on his own - usually around six months of age - it's time to start solid foods. However, it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding, Cathy explains: “A baby’s iron stores during pregnancy are depleted by six months, so he needs additional sources of this element.

Start complementary foods with solid foods, but remember that breast milk remains a more important source of calories and nutrients until the baby is eight to nine months old. By this time, he will be eating much more solid food, but he will still need to breastfeed four to five times a day. By 12 months, the frequency of feeding may be two to six times a day. All babies are different, and many of them at this age are still getting half their daily calorie intake from breast milk.” nine0003

Don't forget that breast milk can be added to solid foods, such as cereals and purees, so that the baby can taste the familiar taste. If possible, use milk expressed just before feeding (not thawed) and add just before serving to keep bacteria and nutrients alive. 16

You may be pressured by others to stop breastfeeding when your baby is six months old, but the longer you breastfeed or pump milk, the better for you and your baby. nine0003

How long can I continue breastfeeding?

“The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding along with solid foods until at least two years of age because it plays an important role in supporting immunity,” says Cathy. feels bad".

At eight months, the baby sometimes breastfeeds four times a day, but by one year old, the frequency of feedings can be reduced to two times a day. You yourself will understand which feeding regimen is more suitable for you and your baby. For example, Jane, a mother of two from the US, breastfed until the age of two: “I breastfed when I was at home - in the evenings and on weekends, when the children wanted to be close to me,” says Jane, “It helped a lot when they were sick . Breastfeeding has become my favorite form of comfort." nine0003

“When my son got a little older and bolder, he still often asked me to breastfeed him - as if to calm down and gain strength,” recalls Amy, a mother of two children from Canada, “When he happened to hit or skin his knee , breastfeeding was a wonderful way to comfort him. ”

If your baby is over a year old and you are still breastfeeding, people around you will probably tell you that this way he will never wean. But if children are not pressured, they usually refuse to breastfeed themselves between the ages of two and four. nine0009 17

“I didn’t intend to breastfeed for so long, but as a result, I still breastfeed my four-year-old daughter and 22-month-old son,” says Suzanne, mother of two from the UK, “I breastfeed my youngest before and after work, and in I express milk on business trips. The eldest daughter likes to breastfeed a little before bed or when she is upset - this is a great way to make contact. When I get tired of it, I remind myself what great benefit and comfort it brings them. I now plan to pursue a baby-initiated end breastfeeding strategy — let them decide when to stop.” nine0003

For more information on what to expect and lots of tips and tricks, see our guide Breastfeeding Problems After the First Month.

Literature

1 Ballard O, Morrow AL. Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatr Clin North Am . 2013;60(1):49-74. - Ballard O., Morrow A.L., "Composition of breast milk: nutrients and biologically active factors." nine0073 Pediatrician Clean North Am. 2013;60(1):49-74.

2 Kent JC et al. Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production. J 2012;41(1):114-21. - Kent J.S. et al., "Principles for Maintaining and Increasing Milk Production". J Obstet Ginecol and Neonatal Nurse. 2012;41(1):114-121. nine0073

3 Kent JC Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics. 2006;117(3): e 387-395. - Kent J.S. et al., "Amount and frequency of breastfeeding and fat content of breast milk during the day. " Pediatrix (Pediatrics). 2006;117(3):e387-95.

4 Kent JC et al. Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation. Breast Med . 2013;8(4):401-407. - Kent J.S. et al., Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation. Brest Med. 2013;8(4):401-407.

5 Almroth S, Bidinger PD. No need for water supplementation for exclusively breast-fed infants under hot and arid conditions. Trans R Soc 1990;84(4):602-604. - Elmroth S., Bidinger P.D., "No need for supplementation of exclusively breastfed infants in hot, dry conditions." Trans R Sots Trop Med Hyg. 1990;84(4):602-604.

6 Victora CG et al . Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):475-490. - Victor S.J. et al., "Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms and long-term effects". Lancet 2016;387(10017):475-490.

7 Peres KG et al. Effect of breastfeeding on malocclusions: a systematic review and meta - analysis. Acta Paediatr. 2015;104( S 467):54-61. - Perez K.G. et al., "The impact of breastfeeding on malocclusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Akta Pediatr. 2015;104(S467):54-61.

8 Mennella JA, Beauchamp GK. Maternal diet alters the sensory qualities of human milk and the nursling's behavior. Pediatrics. 1991;88(4):737-744. - Mennella, JA, Beauchamp, GK, "Maternal nutrition influences the organoleptic properties of breast milk and infant behavior." nine0073 Pediatrix (Pediatrics). 1991;88(4):737-744.

9 Hassiotou F et al. Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clin Transl immunology. 2013;2(4). - Hassiot F. et al., "Infectious diseases of the mother and child stimulate a rapid leukocyte reaction in breast milk." Clean Transl Immunology. 2013;2(4).

10 Brown A, Harries V. Infant sleep and night feeding patterns during later infancy: Association with breastfeeding frequency, daytime complementary food intake, and infant weight. Breast Med . 2015;10(5):246-252. - Brown A., Harris W., "Night feedings and infant sleep in the first year of life and their association with feeding frequency, daytime supplementation, and infant weight." Brest Med (Breastfeeding Medicine). 2015;10(5):246-252.

11 Infant sleep information source. [Internet]. Normal Infant Sleep Development; December 2017 [cited 2018 Feb] - All about baby sleep. [Internet] "The development of normal sleep in a child", December 2017 [cited February 2018]. nine0073

12 Baby sleep science. [Internet]. The-Four-Month-Sleep-Regression-What-is-it-and-What-can-be-Done-About-it. March 2014 [ cited 2018 Feb ] - The science of baby sleep. [Internet], "Four-month sleep regression: what it is and what to do about it." March 2014 [cited February 2018].

13 The Myth Of Baby Sleep Regressions – What’s Really Happening To Your Baby’s Sleep? [Internet]. Pinky Mckay ; December 2017 [ cited 2018 Feb ] - "The Myth of Baby Sleep Regression - What's Really Happening to Your Baby?" [Internet]. Pinky McKay, December 2017 [cited February 2018].

14 Kendall - Tackett K ET Al . The effect of feeding method on sleep duration, maternal well-being, and postpartum depression. Clinical Lactation . 2011;2(2):22-26. - Kendall-Tuckett K. et al., "Influence of feeding pattern on sleep duration, maternal well-being and the development of postpartum depression." Clinical Lactation. 2011;2(2):22-26.

15) Harrison D et al. Breastfeeding for procedural pain in infants beyond the neonatal period. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2014;10. — Harrison D. et al., "Breastfeeding for Relief of Medical Pain in the Neonatal Period." Cochrane Database of System Rev. 2014;10:CD11248

16 Czank C et al. Retention of the immunological proteins of pasteurized human milk in relation to pasteurizer design and practice. Pediatr Res . 2009;66(4):374. - Zhank S. et al., "Retention of immunological proteins in pasteurized milk depending on the technique and practice of pasteurization". Pediatrician Res. 2009;66(4):374.

17 Weaning from the breast. (2004). Paediatr Child Health, 9(4):249–253. - "Weaning from the breast" (2004). Pediatrician Child Health, 9(4):249–253.

Should I feed my baby at night?

Sleep and nutrition

Each child has his own individual rhythm of sleep and nutrition, as well as individual need for them. Just in newborns in the first weeks of life, the ability to distinguish between day and night has not yet been developed. The child is simply not used to going without food for a long time. Indeed, in the womb, he could satisfy hunger at any time of the day or night. Therefore, at least in the first weeks, he will certainly wake you up at night for feeding.

If you are formula feeding your baby, unload yourself and take turns with your partner for nighttime feedings. It is also possible if you express milk in the evening and store it in the refrigerator (from +4°C to +6°C, closed for no more than 2 days). nine0003

After three months, your baby can go without food for longer, so he sleeps longer at night than during the day. Starting at about 6 months, babies no longer need nighttime feedings, as at this age the rhythm of hunger and satiety in a healthy baby stops at daytime.

Before going to bed - milk porridge

Milk dessert with biscuits

Milk porridge at night is more satisfying than milk food. HiPP milk porridges are available both in instant form for easy dilution with water, and in ready-made form, for example, our Good Night milk desserts. You can give milk to your baby first from a bottle and later from a cup. It goes without saying that with the introduction of complementary foods, the child should get used to the spoon, and his diet should contain a sufficient amount of solid food. nine0003

Weaning from night feeding

Night feeding can become a habit that your baby will only reluctantly say goodbye to. If your baby keeps waking up during the night, try offering unsweetened tea or boiled water, but don't feed him.

Learn more