Night Weaning After 6 Months: When It's Safe and How to Do It Gently

ByTarin Hussain
Updated: 25 Dec 2025, 3:30 pm

By the time your baby reaches 6 months, many parents start wondering if those midnight feeds can finally take a break. At this age, most little ones have grown enough that their tummy can hold more milk or food during the day, and their body no longer needs calories in the middle of the night to keep growing well.

Pregatips
Night weaning after 6 months can feel like a big step. You’re used to those middle-of-the-night feeds, and the thought of changing that routine might seem impossible. But around this age, most babies actually don’t need to feed as often at night. Their tummies can handle more food during the day, which means they can sleep longer stretches at night without waking up for milk.
In this article:
Understanding how to start, what signs to look for, and how to make the process smooth can make night weaning much less stressful than it seems.


Signs Your Baby Is Ready to Drop Night Feeds


Every baby is different, but here are the common signs that show your little one is physically ready after 6 months:

  • Consistently good weight gain and staying on their growth curve.
  • Taking decent amounts of milk or formula, plus solids during daytime hours.
  • Able to go at least 5 to 6 hours at night without a feed already on some nights.
  • Waking more out of habit or for comfort rather than real hunger (short feeds or falling asleep quickly while feeding).
  • Around 6 to 9 months, many babies naturally reduce to one night feed or none at all. By 9 to 12 months, most have dropped night feeds completely.
If your baby is over 1 year and still waking multiple times for milk, it’s worth consulting your paediatrician to rule out any other reasons.


Why It’s Best to Start Night Weaning After 6 Months


Before your baby hits 6 months, those night feeds are really important. Their tummies are tiny, so they can’t hold a lot of milk at once. This means they need to eat more often to keep growing and support their brain development.

After 6 months, growth slows a little, solids start providing extra calories, and babies can comfortably take more milk during the day. Trying to night-wean too early can lead to frustration, poor weight gain, or unnecessary crying.

Waiting until your little one shows the signs that they’re ready makes night-weaning a much smoother process for both of you.


How to Prepare Your Baby for Night Weaning


A calm and successful night-wean actually starts long before bedtime. You can set your baby up for longer stretches by doing a few simple things:

  • Offer plenty of milk and solids during the day so their tummy is truly full. Most 6-month-olds still need around 700 to 900 ml of breastmilk or formula, plus two to three solid meals.
  • You can also try cluster feeding or adding an extra feed in the early evening to boost calories before bed.
  • Give a top-up feed (sometimes called a dream feed) around 10 to 11 pm, even if your baby is drowsy.
  • Keep daytime feeds distraction-free so the baby actually drinks well instead of snacking lightly.


How to Reduce and Stop Night Feeds


The golden rule here is to take it slow as stopping suddenly can upset your baby. If you’re breastfeeding, it can also cause painful engorgement or affect your milk supply.

These are some gentle ways to make night weaning easier:

  • Shorten each night feed gradually: For breastfeeding, cut one or two minutes each night until it’s just a quick comfort suck. For bottles, reduce 20 to 30 ml every couple of nights.
  • Stretch the time between feeds: If your baby usually wakes every 3 hours, try soothing them for 15 to 30 minutes before feeding. Gradually make this gap longer. Patting, shushing, or gentle rocking works well.
  • Use the “feed later” method: Decide on minimum feeding times, like no feed before 2 am and none after 5 am. If your baby wakes earlier, soothe them back to sleep without feeding. Slowly move the allowed feed time later until it merges with morning.
  • Let your partner take some night wakes: Babies can smell milk and may insist on feeding from you. Having the non-breastfeeding parent settle the baby can make the process easier.
  • Reduce one feed at a time: If your baby has 2 night feeds, start with the first. After a week or two, work on the second.


Effective Soothing Techniques When a Baby Wakes at Night


It’s normal for most babies over 6 months to wake a few times at night. Before giving milk, try these first:

  • Pause for a minute or two. Many babies settle on their own.
  • Gentle patting or a hand on their chest while shushing.
  • Pick them up for a quiet cuddle, then put them back down when they’re drowsy but still awake.
  • Use white noise or a soft lullaby.
  • Offer a dummy or comfort toy if they have one.


Common Mistakes to Avoid


  • Starting night weaning during teething, illness, travel, or big changes: Babies settle better when life feels calm and predictable.
  • Being inconsistent with the plan: Feeding on some nights and not on others sends mixed signals and confuses the baby.
  • Rushing in at the first noise: Give your baby a moment to try linking sleep cycles on their own before stepping in
  • Cutting daytime milk to “save” it for night feeds: This often backfires and reduces overall intake, which makes nights even harder.


How Long Does Night Weaning Take?


Most families see improvement within 3 to 10 nights if they stay consistent. Some babies adjust quickly and drop their night feeds within a week, while others need a little longer and may take a month. Both patterns are completely normal, so don’t feel like you’re falling behind if it takes more time.

Night weaning after 6 months can be one of the kindest things you do for yourself and your baby. You are working towards longer sleep for everyone and helping your little one learn that they can drift back to sleep without needing milk every time.

Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.

FAQs on Night Weaning After 6 Months: When It's Safe and How to Do It Gently

  1. Does night weaning affect daytime naps?
    Yes, night weaning can affect daytime naps for some babies. They may become overtired, which can make naps shorter, or they may become clingier during the day.
  2. Will night weaning affect my baby’s growth?
    No, night weaning does not affect growth as long as daytime nutrition remains adequate for age.
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr Mannan Gupta, Chairman & HOD, Obs & Gynae, Elantis Healthcare, Delhi