Welcome to part 2 of the night weaning newsletter series!

Last week I gave you some signs to look out for to decide if your little one is ready for night weaning and if you decided that it's time, I'm going to give you some tips on where to start!

Before starting the night weaning process it's important to note that night feeds can also be sleep associations. So you will need to work on disassociating the feeding from falling asleep at bedtime to help reduce night feeds. Then, and this is an important one, you need to work on teaching your little one to self-settle.  Once you have worked on self settling, then you can approach the night feeds.

 

1. Reduce overnight feeds to no more than 2 feeds with no less than 4 hours apart.

2. Keep the first feed no earlier than 11pm, and the second no earlier then 3am.

3. If your baby awakes overnight between those set feeding hours and you assume it isn’t hunger, then assist your baby to resettle with one of our settling techniques. (Settling technique are available from our sleep programs here.)

4.Once you’re consistent with the above, then you can reduce the early morning feed by restricting consumption quantity from the breast or bottle. 

5. If they are still waking habitually, continue to utilise the same settling method you’ve used before to remain consistent. 

6. When they are down to one feed a night, push this back a little later by utilising settling techniques over assuming hunger first.
 

Hopefully these tips will begin to help you night wean your baby. It is certainly a not a one size fits all method and it's important to understand that night weaning is a process that can take anywhere from a few days to a few months depending on your baby and their needs.

As always, if what you are doing is working for you and your baby then keep doing what you are doing. You will know when the time is right. We are here to support you wherever you choose mama!