Some parents choose to continue nighttime feedings even after their pediatrician says they are no longer necessary - and that's okay! If you enjoy nursing in the middle of the night past 6 months of age and find that both you and your little one are getting enough sleep and that your little one is continuing to eat well during the day, then by all means you can continue with your routine. If however you find that both you and your baby are not getting the recommended amount of sleep that you need and/or your baby is taking in so many calories at night it is interupting his/her daytime feeding, then you might want to consider putting an end to your baby's on-demand nighttime noshing.
The solution is to either gradually wean your baby off these middle of the night snacks or to quit cold turkey. If you are chosing to wean gradually you can cut back on either the number of ounces or the amount of time you spend nursing over the course of several nights. And should your baby wake out of habit in the middle of the night once you've eliminated his/her nighttime feedings, you will want to offer some type of gentle sleep coaching support.
If your family needs individualized pediatric sleep support, please do not hesitate to contact Rest Well Baby (www.restwellbaby.com) to learn more about our gentle sleep coaching services and to schedule a FREE 15 minute initial phone call anywhere in the United States. We are passionate about helping tired families get the sleep they need!
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Wishing you all a restful night's sleep! www.restwellbaby.com