How to wean a night-fed baby. How to wean your baby from night feeding. How to wean a baby from night feeding: a sequence of actions

05.11.2020

At what age to start weaning

It is rather difficult to wean an infant from feeding at night, especially from the position that the baby, waking up at night and not receiving the usual portion of food, will remain hungry. Any of the mothers always hesitantly approaches this issue for this very reason. However, you should not rush to set a time limit, in order to transfer the baby exclusively to daytime feeding, it is necessary to assess the situation together with a doctor who is watching the development of the baby.

According to experts, a healthy child, whose development is normal, reaching the age bracket from six months to nine months, is already quite capable of sleeping for twelve hours, therefore, without needing additional night feeding. However, those infants who are lagging behind in weight gain may need to eat longer at night.

Breastfed

Those babies who have already managed to form the necessary feeding / sleep associations, as a rule, approach four months of age. Older babies no longer need the mother's breast to fall asleep calmly. To make this transition more comfortable for the baby, you need to gradually lead him to the fact that he should fall asleep on his own, and receive breasts only for nutrition. It is not difficult to build it up if you change some order of actions. For example, if before the baby was first changed, and then fed and he fell asleep safely, clinging to his mother's breast, you must first feed, and only then change the diaper and put it. It will not help the child to rebuild and zoning the room into the sleeping and feeding sectors, where something will differ in the setting, lighting, location relative to the entrance, etc.

As the baby grows, it is necessary to think about one or two full feedings per night instead of more breastfeeding at the request of the baby. The optimal period of overnight supplementation falls on the period from twelve o'clock in the morning to five in the morning. At other times, you can recommend giving the baby water, preferably without using a nipple.

It is hardly worth approaching a child right now if he whimpered at night. It is quite possible that he will not wake up and will continue to sleep if his mother does not disturb him herself.

Before you begin to wean your baby from night breastfeeding, you need to tune in. After all, a full night's sleep is necessary for both adults and children to give rest and nutrition to the brain, which is no less important than providing food to the body. For this it is worth making some effort and gradually stop the nighttime meals of your child.

You can read about how to wean a baby from breastfeeding in general in the corresponding article:

For artisans

A small child can wake up at night for many reasons, not just hunger. For those children who are artificially fed, the assimilation of the milk mixture is more difficult, therefore it is very important for them not to overload the digestive tract. And this, in turn, obliges to pay attention to night feedings and their necessity. If at first it is difficult for a baby to give up a bottle of food at night, you can gradually introduce water into the mixture, which will eventually completely replace it - the child will probably stop demanding food at inopportune hours, but it will be better to eat during the day.

Whether to add water to the baby

Babies one and a half years old or more

Those children who are older often also cannot get rid of the night bottle with milk, juice and other sugary drinks. However, it should be noted that a baby after a year and a half hardly has a feeling of hunger and thirst at night. It's just a need for a nipple, which helps the baby fall asleep, associating with the mother's breast, relaxes the baby, sending it to sleep.

In this situation, you can do the following:

to replace the bottle with a nipple, get a baby sippy;
dilute drinks with water.

When the child feels the difference in the quality of the night time and the way of getting a drink, he will no longer have the desire to drink at night.

An older child can even drink on his own if necessary. It is only required to explain to the baby that when he wakes up, he can use the sippy himself and put it in the reach.

Signs of a baby's readiness

Thinking about weaning the baby from the breast / bottle at night, you need to observe him and identify the baby's readiness for such changes. Basically, by six months, babies, starting to receive additional complementary foods, having entered a certain mode of the day, do not wake up at night themselves. Until this time, few babies will refuse to eat at night. However, already closer to twelve months, in order to ensure normal healthy sleep, both for the child himself and for his parents, night feedings should be stopped completely. The little man is already completely ready for this, which can be determined by the following signs:

the child has not eaten the nightly portion of food, and in the process of feeding he behaves abstractedly;
his diet is complete and varied;
the baby wakes up at night strictly at certain hours;
the child needs to kiss the breast or receive a bottle less and less during the day;
weight gain is normal;
no health problems.

Having determined the readiness of your child to stop night feedings, you need to act immediately. Otherwise, the need to get food at night will turn into an addiction.

If the issue of stopping food at night is already on the agenda, or after determining the readiness of the crumbs to give up nighttime snacks, the mother is trying to establish his prolonged sleep, you can recommend putting into practice some of the methods:

Gradual replacement of feeding with water. Each time add a little water to the bottle, increasing its amount. Over time, the child simply does not want to get up at night to get a portion of clean water, and he would rather sleep than quench a nonexistent thirst. This simple method will allow you to first reduce the number of night meals, and then completely reduce them to nothing.
Reducing the duration of feedings at night, thereby making it clear to the child that he needs to sleep at night and eat during the day. The main idea of \u200b\u200bthis method is to teach the baby to understand that the breast is not a dummy.
A gradual increase in the breaks between night meals, when the mother can distract the baby from eating and lull him to sleep, showing her imagination. It can be stroking the tummy of a baby to a lullaby.
You can try to feed your child at night with porridge or milk formula. Then the baby will stay full longer. But it should be noted that many children find it more difficult to digest denser food at night, otherwise, on the contrary, they will sleep more restlessly and wake up more often.
Apply the baby to the breast more during the day. If they want to wean the baby from the breast only at night, and are not going to stop feeding it in a natural way, it is necessary to satisfy the crumbs in the mother's breast as fully as possible during the day.
Laying the baby differently than usual. Learn to put your baby to sleep without using a breast or nipple. There are many options for this: sleeping while walking in the fresh air, assigning the baby to dad to lay down. After all, he does not smell like milk.
Restriction of nighttime access to the mother's breast. Often, a baby who wakes up at night is not hungry, but simply makes up for the need for closeness with his mother. If the baby is not given the breast right away, he can immediately fall asleep, simply burying himself in her side.
Arrange a separate sleep. You don't need to put your baby in your bed. You can only take him to you for a short while, when he woke up, calming him back to the crib again.
Use explanations if the child already understands them. The kid should give various reasons, supporting them with examples about the dangers of night food. This can be done during the game, as well as when going to bed or waking up in the morning, until this rule is firmly fixed in the child's mind. If it is difficult for a kid to refuse a night banquet, then he needs to be distracted in any way without disturbing what was said. Often drinking water comes to the rescue, after drinking a little, the child can calm down, since the feeling of hunger will temporarily dull.

But no matter how you take certain steps in this direction, you should only when it becomes clear that the baby is already ripe for this. All children are different. Some painlessly overcome the process of weaning from night food, while others, on the contrary, suffer greatly from such deprivation. Do not put pressure on the baby if he behaves restlessly during the day and does not agree to give up breast at night. Perhaps you should wait and give him a little more time.

Nighttime breastfeeding or formula feeding is a tiring period in every young mother's life. The constant lack of sleep sooner or later affects the condition of the woman. She becomes nervous, immunity decreases. The baby requires increased attention from the mother and during the day, because he is so active! Of course, mothers get tired and they are interested in how to wean the child from snacking at night and when the children will start sleeping until the morning without waking up.

A little about the nutritional features of the child

Wise nature has ordered that a newborn baby and a nursing baby should eat every 2.5-3 hours or even less. Physiologically, the intestines of a baby are arranged this way, because food is quickly processed, and a lot of energy is needed for development and growth! That is why he eats so often. Naturally, the child continues to eat in the same mode at night.

All moms should be aware that this diet is temporary. Children grow up and their intestines adjust to process new foods. This means that formula and breast milk will be required less and less. The introduction of new foods into the diet begins at about the age of 5-6 months and continues until the age of 3 years. Although much has not yet been tried, and some simply cannot. It turns out that at the age of 6 months you can wean your baby from night feedings?

In fact, not everything is so simple. Even if the child begins to change physiologically, he is still not ready to be weaned from night feeding. Yes, now for 10, 11 hours of sleep the baby eats only 2-3 times. But most pediatricians are unanimous in the opinion that at this age, it is too early to wean a child from night feedings... Now the baby is teething. He may experience stress, discomfort. Mom's care at night is also necessary more than ever. And also according to the vaccination schedule, the child receives vaccinations. This is a great stress for the child's body.

During such periods, there should be no sudden changes in diet. Now the future health of the baby is being laid. It is important for him to receive breast milk or adapted milk formula in sufficient quantities at night too. New products are just being introduced to the menu, but they have not become mainstream.

Pediatrician recommendations on how to wean a baby from night feedings

Pediatricians recommend starting wean off night feeds gradually... By no means suddenly! This is stressful for the child. The process should be step-by-step, gradual. AND it is better to start at the age of 12 months or more... The child is already eating well enough and varied. Shortly, 1.5-2 hours before bedtime, it is enough to feed the baby well. It can be porridge, kefir with cookies, a steam cutlet, a piece of boiled or stewed fish. The emphasis is on nutrition. A variety of tasty and healthy food during the day, moderate drinking is the basis for a child's refusal to eat at night.

Additionally, parents should create a comfortable environment for falling asleep. Ventilate the room before bed, turn off the TV, remove toys. Let nothing distract your baby. You can drink milk, water before going to bed. At the same time, pediatricians warn that parents did not teach children to fall asleep with a bottle... This child will also need to be weaned off. And this is not easy!

Some parents use a pacifier... Its use is controversial among pediatricians. Some say that an irregular bite is formed, the development of speech is slowed down. Others believe that the lack of a sucking reflex can be made up for with a dummy, so the baby will be calmer. Indeed, the baby is less capricious, falls asleep easier. There is only one unpleasant moment. You will need to wean off the nipple! In any case, it is not worth delaying with a dummy and it is advisable to stop using it when you reach 2 years of age.

Dr. Komarovsky on how to wean a child from night feedings

The popular children's doctor Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky largely agrees with most pediatricians and believes that night feeds up to 6 months are very important for a child. If breastfeeding, then due to night lactation, a sufficient amount of milk is produced and in this case, refusal from night feedings means reducing the amount of milk and leaving the baby hungry. It's another matter if the baby is artificial. The formula is more satisfying than breast milk and easier to fill, but the baby also needs a night snack.

A child from 1 year old and older receives a variety of food, is active during the day. If there is no reason to worry about the baby's health: he is developing normally, gaining weight, eating well during the day, then you can start to wean off eating at night. Komarovsky warns that the family should first of all have a comfortable psychological environment, the conditions to which the baby is accustomed. If the family moves, the mother goes to work, the baby goes to kindergarten, then you cannot categorically introduce changes to the night mode.

At the age of 2 years, it is easier for a baby to explain that they do not eat at night. Older brothers, sisters, grandmother, grandfather, dad can help with this. They will tell you that when the sun rises, everyone will have breakfast. Someone will drink tea with a sandwich, someone will eat porridge. All adults do that. Not right away, but the child will understand and it will become a habit.

How to wean from night feeding with formula

It is easiest for mothers of children who are bottle-fed. The mixture can be replaced with water over time, first adding more of it than usual when preparing a mixture, and after 2 weeks or a month, leave only water. And just water, without jam, sugar and juice. The latter will lead to early tooth decay. Not always a man wakes up at night from hunger. Sometimes he wants to be with his mother, to feel her next to him. This is this kind of communication. The baby wants to be sure that his mother is next to him and loves him. Therefore, there is no need to rush to give a bottle. You can try to pet the child, do a simple massage.

It is more difficult to wean a baby from night feedings when he is breastfeeding. Vigorous physical activity and a balanced high-calorie diet in the daytime, a bath with almost warm water and a dinner 1.5 hours before bedtime will help put a baby to sleep without breast. Dad's help is needed. Let him rock the baby, tell a fairy tale, and for the first time mom will sit next to him. Gradually, you can transfer the child to your crib. He's probably used to sleeping with his mom! If you have a favorite toy, put it next to it. Over time, of course, he will get used to it, but parents will need to be patient.

It happens that parents send a child to their grandmother for a few days. Indeed, he is weaned from night feedings and from the breast completely. But what is going through with this! Despair, disappointment in their parents, being in a strong stress state, the baby suffers. Still, you need to try to go through the process of weaning from breastfeeding at night with mom and dad.

How mothers wean babies from night feeding

Mothers will consult with a pediatrician, read additional literature. They are so resourceful that they themselves come up with effective ways. Their experience shows how to wean a baby from night feedings. The presence of certain conditions helps to achieve the desired goals:

The process should be gradual. This is the main condition.
The baby is well fed shortly before bedtime.
Walking in the fresh air, vigorous activity is a must!

These are general requirements, but all children are actually so different. Some people switch to complementary foods faster and more easily tolerate the termination of night food. Others fall asleep quickly because they are tired for the day, and still others are overexcited. For some, a bath helps, and for some children it is refreshing and it is difficult for them to fall asleep after it. Only a mother knows her baby so well that she herself will understand when and how to wean her baby from night feeding with formula or breastfeeding. And he will apply his own methods and practices.

It will be much easier for young parents if they familiarize themselves with some proven recommendations:

Patience, love and a desire to help, not to harm, but to help will push you to choose your own method. Moms will intuitively understand what is best for the baby. How they will wean a child from night feedings is an individual process, but the main recommendations of pediatricians should be used.

When a young mother does not have problems with the production of breast milk, it is a joy, since the newborn baby will receive all the necessary nutrients to ensure the full growth and development of the body.

Physiology is so arranged that the moment of cessation of lactation comes. Most often this is due to the growing up of the child and the need to transfer him to adult food. One of the steps is to stop night feedings. For young mothers, this task is difficult.

Ways to Stop Night Feeding

The importance of night feeds for the mother and newborn should not be underestimated. Among the benefits of feeding at night are:

nutritional value;
ensuring stable lactation due to the production of the hormone prolactin;
the formation of close contact between the child and the mother;
the production of prolactin, carried out during night feeding, prevents the re-maturation of the egg (ovulation), which reduces the likelihood of pregnancy;
if a nursing mother has a breast milk deficiency, then night feedings can solve this problem.

At night, children with appetite are applied to the mother's breast. If the mother ignores night feeding, then the newborn becomes moody, often cries, and his sleep is disturbed. It is important to understand that the procedure for stopping night feeds is implemented gradually, as this is stressful for the baby.

The recommended period for completing lactation is 1 year from the date of birth of the baby, read how to do this correctly. By this time, the daily intake of nutrients is compensated by the introduction of juices, soups and cereals into the diet. It is recommended to gradually wean the baby from feeding at night from 6 months, when the baby receives a supply of nutrients and calories throughout the day.

By the time the baby is six months old, night feedings will become inappropriate, as they disrupt sleep and wakefulness. If at this age the baby expresses dissatisfaction with the lack of feedings at night, then this should be regarded as a common whim.

Important! Baby crying at night does not always indicate that the baby needs food. The child may be worried about digestive upset or other problems. Breastfeeding too often leads to overeating.

The following rules will help to wean from feeding at night:

In the penultimate feeding of the baby, it is recommended to underfeed, and before going to bed, feed it in full. Thus, the baby remains full throughout the night.
It is recommended to bathe a newborn later than usual. After the baby is bathed, it is recommended to feed him. Before going to the bath, parents can give their child a light massage. All these actions will provide the baby with a sound sleep.
In the room where the baby sleeps, it is recommended to maintain a comfortable temperature and humidity. The suitable temperature for falling asleep is 19-20 degrees, and the humidity is 50-70%. To avoid hypothermia, the baby should be dressed in pajamas or covered with a warm blanket.
The length of the baby's sleep is of great importance. A child under 3 months of age sleeps at least 17 hours a day. Starting from six months, the daily sleep duration is 14-14.5 hours. Children aged 1 year sleep at least 13 hours a day. If daytime sleep prevails in the child, then the baby will be awake at night.
From the very moment of the birth of the baby, parents accustom him to the daily routine. If the child knows at what time he should be awake and at what time he should sleep, then it will be easier for a young mother to wean him from night feeding.

There is a universal technique for stopping night feeds that allows you to implement such an idea without unnecessary stress for the mother and baby. If a young mother decides to take such a step, then she is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

First of all, the mother is advised to increase the frequency of feedings during the daytime and devote more time to tactile contact with the baby. If during the day the baby receives a sufficient amount of maternal attention, then at night he will behave calmly.
Often, mothers prefer to put their child to bed before they go to bed themselves. Before going to bed, the woman is advised to wake up the baby and feed him. This will reduce the frequency of night feedings.
If a woman has taught her baby to fall asleep together, then she needs to wear clothes that hide the mammary glands. If the baby has constant access to the mother's breast, then this reduces the chance of success in stopping night feeds. An alternative option is to place the baby in a crib.
A change of scenery helps to cope with the task at hand. For this purpose, it is recommended to move the crib to another room.
Lack of tactile contact at night between mother and newborn helps to solve the problem of night feeding. If the baby began to cry and be capricious at night, then it is recommended to calm him down, it is recommended to his spouse or close relative, who can shake the child and give him some water. After 2-3 days of this practice, the baby gets used to the absence of mom at night.
The daily nutritional intake of a 6-month-old child compensates for the age-related needs for nutrients, so if the child requires food at night, the mother can safely refuse him without risk of harm.

What to do if the child is one year old, and he is still asking for mother's breast? In this case, it is recommended to use the following tips:

The husband of a nursing woman is directly involved in this matter. The process of putting the baby to bed is recommended to be shifted to the father of the child.
Mom should constantly talk to the baby, explaining to him that the children sleep at night and eat only during the day. Over time, the baby will begin to understand the situation and will stop asking for the mother's breast.
It is recommended to soothe the newborn on the first night in all possible ways. Parents can carry it in their arms, talk to him, read fairy tales to the child, distract him with some activity. The kid is offered to drink some water.
The regime of a one-year-old child is built in such a way that during the day the baby releases all his energy. Active games in the fresh air are useful, which contribute to a comfortable fall asleep in the evening.

Replacement for night feeding

In order to prevent this process from becoming stressful for the child's body, a young mother can use tips to help fill the feeding gaps:

If the newborn is fed on breast milk, then the last feeding before bedtime is recommended to be replaced with artificial formula. Baby food contains more calories to keep your baby full all night.
If the child woke up at night and is naughty, then the mother can give him some baby tea or water.
Waking up at night is not always a sign of hunger. If the baby woke up, the woman was advised to pick him up, shake him, talk to him in a calm tone. When the newborn calms down, he is put back in the crib.

Important! If the age of the child makes it possible to completely stop feeding at night, then parents are not advised to look for an alternative to night feeding. The baby should develop the habit of sleeping at night.

The ban on nocturnal breastfeeding is introduced gradually, for more details on weaning a baby from the breast at night, read the article at the link. It is very important to monitor your child's behavior. If children's whims reach hysterics, then the mother is advised to postpone such an idea and seek advice from a breastfeeding specialist.

Common mistakes

Fired up with the idea to quickly stop night feedings, young mothers often make a lot of mistakes.

There is a whole list of actions that make the situation worse:

Having abandoned nightly breastfeeding, the mother should insist on her own, even if the newborn expresses dissatisfaction. Young children are very sensitive and can manipulate parental feelings.
When talking with a child, it is strictly forbidden to use other children as an example. Young children very quickly absorb information, which later leads to the development of complexes.
Even a small child deserves an explanation of the reasons for not eating at night. The young mother is recommended to calmly talk with the baby, trying to convey to him that such actions will benefit him.

It is recommended to resolve the issue of stopping feeding at night, together with the attending physician. The guide in this case is the behavior of the child. If the baby expresses obvious dissatisfaction, and also began to move away from the parents, then the mother is advised to postpone the question of stopping night feedings until better times.

How to wean a baby from night feeds? This question haunts mothers who dream of a normal rest. A tiny person requires constant attention, care and psychological support.

Breastfeeding or bottle feeding at night is gradually exhausting, provoking chronic fatigue and irritation. It is important to seize the moment when you can refuse night feedings with the least harm to the baby. Find out how to make this process as comfortable as possible.

Child's age up to 6 months

The smallest should not be deprived of breast milk or formula. Without night feedings, the development of the crumbs is disrupted, the child is starving, crying, cannot sleep. Up to six months, the crumb simply cannot withstand such a long break, a breast or a bottle is required.

Children - "artificial" get the nutrient mixture by the hour, but you should not deprive them of food at night. The baby also wants to eat at night, like the baby who is breastfed. Until a certain period, mommy will have to interrupt sleep, get up, give baby food from a bottle.

What to do:

you can not disrupt the natural process, deprive the baby of mother's support. The kid should not starve;
up to 6 months, pediatricians strongly advise feeding the baby at night if the baby wakes up, cries, looks for a breast or a bottle with his mouth.

Take note:

night feeds for mommy are no less important than for a little man. It is at night that the largest amount of breast milk is produced, the volume of nutrient fluid is laid for the next day;
baby doesn't suckle? The amount of milk will decrease quickly enough, the baby will starve during the day;
wait another six months until the grown-up baby gets stronger, it will be less likely to ask for breast at a time when sleep is sweetest.

Baby in 1 year

By this time, the digestive system had strengthened, the intestines had normalized, painful colic had gone. Food that enters the stomach is better digested, and a larger percentage of nutrients are absorbed.

Another important point is that by the year the children are already receiving complementary foods, regardless of the type of feeding. Vegetable puree, fermented milk products, cereals, curd in combination with milk give the crumbs more energy, maintain the feeling of fullness longer. During the day, the child eats more, the breaks between feedings increase. The moment is right to give Mommy a chance to sleep at night without interruption.

Important! After 7 months, most babies are teething, the baby often worries, cries, refuses to breast or bottle, is naughty. Refusal to feed at night is additional stress for the little man. Pediatricians advise to keep food at night if the teeth of the crumbs are cut with unpleasant symptoms. The sucking process, the warmth of mother's breast distracts, soothes the baby. Do not deprive your child of the "natural sedative."

Age after year

The kid is more active during the day, most of the kids not only crawl, but also take their first steps. Natural fatigue ensures deeper sleep at night. It is much easier to wean a child from a snack in the dark than at 8-9 months.

Pay attention to the recommendations of pediatricians and experienced mothers. Adopt two or three methods, tune in to the result, but do not force events. Abrupt refusal of breast milk or formula at night is a serious stress for the baby.

More food during daytime

Meals should be balanced, with a full range of vitamins and minerals, and sufficient calories. The task is to give the daily calorie intake in the daytime, so that in the evening, before going to bed, the little one does not have a desire to have a snack.

An hour before bedtime, offer the child kefir or cottage cheese. Some moms give milk cookies to keep you full all night.

Communication with mommy

After one year old, the child does not so much satisfy the physiological need for food at the expense of breast milk, as he loves to bask around the mother, to feel affection and protection. Pay more attention to the grown man during the day, occupy him so much that by the evening the baby is tired and sound asleep.

Little man woke up at night? Do not offer a breast or a bottle of formula, pat the little one on the head, massage, sing a lullaby. After two years, put your favorite toy next to bed so that the child feels warm and soft in the crib.

Replacing night feeding with water

The method is more suitable for the kid - "artificial". A simple trick will help prevent stress, make refusal from formula less painful. Dilute baby food with water, gradually reduce the percentage of the mixture.

After a couple of weeks, instead of baby food, only water should remain in the bottle. During the day, you also need to diversify the diet, as for babies.

We connect dad

Most pediatricians and psychologists advise involving a man in the process of weaning from night feedings. Let dad often put his one-year-old son or daughter to bed, sing songs, and mom also sit side by side, but will not take the little one in his arms.

Gradually, mom moves away from the crib so that dad can fully pay attention to the child, and mom is out of sight. Pay more attention to the baby during the day, and dad should support the going to bed. It is good if a man also calms the baby at night.

Important! Many modern dads are no worse than mothers to cope with parental responsibilities, are interested in methods of raising children, the rules of caring for an infant. Trust the man, do not limit communication with the baby, and the child will listen to dad as well as you.

Method for children aged two years and older

Some moms continue to breastfeed after a year and a half. Most babies by the age of two do not ask for breasts at night, but there are exceptions.

What is the reason? Most likely, the daily diet is not balanced enough, the child does not have enough calories to ensure fullness for the whole night.

Sometimes children try to attract the attention of their mother in this way, behave like little ones, if they cannot achieve what they want differently. Perhaps the baby lacks affection, participation, the atmosphere in the family is tense, the parents often quarrel with the child.

On the page, see an overview of children's inhalers and read about their use for coughs and runny nose.

What to do:

change the psychological climate, surround the little one with care and affection, but do not allow to be pushed around;
explain that he is old enough not to ask for a breast or bottle of formula at night. Tell that mom and dad sleep at night, do not eat until morning, and he should also eat well during the day and rest quietly at night;
if there are older children in the family, connect them. Let them also tell a two-year-old baby that only small children eat at night, and “adults” no longer need mother's milk. But you can't laugh or tease your little brother or sister about this (check how the elder explains the rules);
be sure to equip the child with his own sleeping place, if up to this point the little man slept with you. Buy a nice bed. If possible, choose a model in the shape of a car, a boat (for a boy) or a fairy house (for a little princess).

What not to do

Wean your toddler out of nighttime snacks gradually. If you do not follow the rules, the desire to force events, you can inflict psychological trauma on the baby, worsen the condition of the digestive system.

consider the age of the child. Up to 6 months, refusal to feed at night will not bring benefit, but harm: the baby is simply hungry, therefore, he asks to eat;
changes in daily life. Never combine refusing to feed at night and moving, changing surroundings, or going to work. Stressful situations are superimposed on each other, the little man is experiencing strong emotional overload. Often not only psychological problems arise, but also health deteriorates, immunity suffers;
during the period of illness - no major changes. A small organism is already weakened, and a change in feeding regimen will increase the load on the fragile digestive system. Even after a year, when the stomach and intestines work more steadily, with rotavirus infection, intestinal flu, diarrhea or constipation, you should not deprive your baby of breast milk. Remember: a natural product is not only energy, but also a mass of nutrients that normalize the composition of the intestinal microflora;
joint sleep with an older child. After six months, gradually accustom your baby to the idea that he is sleeping separately. If from birth the baby slept in the parent's bed, erect a partition from the blanket so that the child cannot easily reach the mother's breast. An excellent solution is a side-bed for newborns and older children. The toddler is not far from the mother, but in its own sleeping place. A useful device prevents many of the problems that inevitably arise when sleeping with parents;
changes in nutrition if the child is underweight. With a lack of body weight at 9-12 months, you cannot refuse night feedings, even if the baby does not wake up at night. If the toddler does not eat the entire volume in a day, be sure to supplement it in the middle of the night. You should not specifically wake up the baby if the sleep is deep, healthy, but if the little one is spinning at night, sleeps poorly, feed him. As body weight returns to normal, feed your baby less and less at night until you stop breastfeeding or bottle feeding altogether. A prerequisite is a varied menu during the day with enough calories plus an active lifestyle so that the baby is tired and slept soundly;
the mammary glands are smeared with green or mustard during weaning. The radical method that some mothers still use today often injures the child and provokes stress. If a two to three year old child reacts more easily to such an unsightly sight, then at 1 year old the baby can be very frightened if he sees his mother in such a strange form or feels a sharp taste.

Now you know what pediatricians and experienced moms advise for gently weaning your baby from night feedings. Combine several methods, make the process gentle, minimize stress. After a while, you will be able to sleep at night without interruption as soundly as your baby.

Video - tips on how to wean your baby from night feeds:

Instructions

A deep night's sleep on an empty stomach is certainly impossible. So try to feed your baby well before bed. Nutritious cereal baby porridge - rice or oatmeal - is best suited for this. Don't worry that these foods can be hard on your baby, as some pediatricians say. There come times when a restful sleep, parents and grandparents becomes more important than this. Later, a year and a half or two, when the clock sleep will be normalized, you can easily adjust the child's diet and its calorie content by changing the evening porridge to a vegetable dish.

Before going to bed, prepare a bottle of plain drinking water to help calm your baby if the night's awakening does occur. At the same time, it is not recommended to give a child to drink with sweet juice or compote. They can only increase thirst. If your baby recognizes the pacifier, you should not give it up at the same time as the mother tries to wean the baby from night feeding a year.

Quite often, young mothers confuse hungry night crying with crying when the child is worried about something: a tummy, a barrel, something in a dream, teething, or the baby is just hot. Sometimes, in order to calm down, the baby just needs to hear the tender mother's voice and feel the touch of her hands. Therefore, before feeding at night, find out if all the reasons for concern have been eliminated.

If the baby is used to eating regularly at night, the situation cannot be quickly changed. This is due to the fact that the child's body is used to receiving food with sufficient regularity, and at certain hours, gastric juice begins to be secreted in his stomach, which is the reason for awakening. Most likely, it will take the mother several months to “delay” the feeding hours into the morning. Use plain water to calm your baby.

If all attempts are in vain, consider whether it is too early for the baby to be deprived of the night feed. Perhaps the mother should be patient a little longer, to supplement at the right time with breast or milk formula. Indeed, very often children themselves stop waking up at night and begin to sleep soundly to the delight of all household members.

Sooner or later, every young mother is faced with the fact that night feeding of her baby ceases to give her pleasure. Therefore, it is useful for women to know a few simple techniques for weaning a baby from night feeds, which are suitable for both breastfed babies and artificial people.

Instructions

To wean your baby from night feeds, try to increase the number of feeds throughout the day. During the day, the baby should consume the same amount of milk that he previously consumed in a day. Feed your baby as closely as possible before bed.

Often times, a child needs food at night because he lacks the mother's attention during the day. It happens that a mother, doing household chores, for some time forgets about her baby. If this happens systematically, the child begins to wake up at night and demand a breast or a bottle of formula. With this, he gets the attention of his mother, which he lacked during the day. The same can happen when a mother is often separated from her child, for example, if she went to work early, leaving the baby with a nanny or grandmother. In this case, the child also eats a lot at night.

When your child goes to bed too early, try waking and feeding him before going to bed on his own. After that, your baby will sleep harder, longer and more calmly, and you will ensure yourself a longer rest. This method does not always help, but as a last resort, you will need to get up at night by 1-2 times less.

For a one year old, try putting him to bed in a separate room. In this case, the baby's attention will be directed to learning a new environment, and he will quickly forget about food. It is very good if an older brother or sister will sleep in the room where you put the child.

It is necessary to wean the child from night feedings gradually. You can give him some water instead of mixture or breast.

Tip 3: How to wean a one year old baby from night feeding

Free feeding involves latching the baby to the breast as many times and at the time as the baby requires, including at night. But sooner or later, mom will be faced with the question of how to finish feeding at night.

Instructions

Night attachments to the breast with free are not excluded: growing up, the child must abandon them himself. Help your little one, but do it in several steps. Each of them may take, perhaps, or more time. If your child slept with you, try moving him to bed first. For many, this distance helps to sleep better and wake up much less often. To make the baby not very comfortable, try feeding while sitting at night.

If your baby wakes up at night, help him fall asleep on his own. To do this, go to the crib, but do not take the child in your arms, do not swing, do not put it with you. Just talk to him in an even, soft voice, lightly stroke his tummy, back to calm him down. Do not leave until the baby begins to doze again. It's even better if dad or someone else from your family, for example, grandmother, comes up to the crib at night. Let them try to shake the baby, offer him a drink. Only come to the rescue when they are unable to put the child to sleep.

To replace nighttime breastfeeding, find a drink that your baby will love. It can be children's tea made from chamomile and fennel with the addition of linden blossom, mint, lemon balm. These teas help to calm babies and improve sleep. You can offer the baby to drink plain water from your favorite mug or bottle.

Tell your baby that all people, toys and animals sleep at night, about how good it is to sleep well and soundly. Practice going for a walk or active bathing before bed to make your child tired. In this case, the baby will sleep better at night, of course, provided that he is full.

Helpful advice

Remember that if you do plan to continue breastfeeding your baby, it is best to leave at least one nightly attachment, which will help maintain lactation longer.

Cancellation of night feeds is a rather long and difficult process that requires a lot of strength and patience from parents. The basic rules to follow when weaning are: try to be consistent in your actions, do not rush things, and most importantly - listen to the inner state of the baby.

Instructions

In order for the child not to experience hunger, he must eat well before bed. Offer your baby a nutritious, but not very heavy meal. For example, a casserole made from cereals and vegetables or milk porridge. Do not stand meat or sweets at night, they will not only make the digestion process more difficult, but also make sleep even more restless.

Choose a drink in advance that you offer your child at night. Better to use plain drinking water or fruit drink. Do not give your baby fruit juices, compotes or jelly, they cannot quench their thirst. And the child will instinctively want to wake up again in order to drink a delicious and sweet drink. Give your baby a drink from his favorite cup, sippy cup or bottle.

If your baby is on and sleeps in the same bed with you, try moving him to a separate bed. Distance helps some people sleep better and get up less often at night. Start feeding your baby while sitting down to make him feel uncomfortable, perhaps stopping him when he wants to wake up again.

It is better if dad or grandmother comes up to the child at night to calm him down and give him a drink. Join only when they are having trouble putting the baby to sleep. Very often, children cry in their sleep not at all from hunger, but from fear or internal anxiety. Try to stroke the baby, whisper words of consolation in his ear. And only if the child continues to cry - offer him a drink.

An important factor in the quality of the baby's sleep is sufficient physical activity during the day. Do not neglect gymnastics, fun outdoor games and long walks in the fresh air. A tired baby will fall asleep much faster, and his sleep will be calmer and stronger. Gradually, the need for night feedings will disappear.

How valuable are night feeds for a baby

No matter what inconveniences night feedings are associated with, not in all cases should be given up completely. Their frequency depends on how well the hormone prolactin is produced in the body, thanks to which lactation is maintained. Just try lengthening the time between feeds to gradually reduce the number.

To gradually teach your baby to eat in the daytime, make sure that each next time he eats a little less. After some time, the baby will feel that it is not worth waking up in order to swallow a couple of drops of milk. If all these measures are unsuccessful, try to determine the cause of the night awakenings. Some kids just don't get enough during the day. At this age, the child should already receive full-fledged complementary foods, and you can revise his menu, for example, make the portions denser, more voluminous.

How to prevent your child from waking up at night to eat

Pay attention to how your child eats at night. Children may not even wake up completely at the time. If this is your case, try to wake your baby up every time he whimpers for milk. Get ready for a scandal with loud crying. This must be endured and forgotten, like a bad dream - most babies do not like night wakes so much that they stop being capricious at night. A woken child can be given milk to drink not from the breast or nipple, but from an ordinary mug. If the child is not, for this it is necessary to involve not the mother, but the father, the grandmother, any of the sympathetic relatives. Some babies need not so much food as their sucking needs.

When you can reduce the number of night feeds, gradually reduce the amount of food you eat at a time. Replace breastfeeding with a bottle with a nipple, and replace the milk in the bottle with boiled water. Not getting the expected pleasure, the baby stops asking for food at night.

So that nothing distracts the child