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Should I stop night-time feeds?
My baby is a little over three months old and is still not sleeping through the night. I feed her before I go to bed but she still wakes at night to feed. Now I am wondering if I should try to cut out these middle-of-the-night feedings. A friend suggested I start her on cereal and that I shouldn't wake her before I go to bed. I don't agree with either suggestion. What do you think?
Babies can receive up to one-third of their nutrition at night-time feeds. This is especially important for babies of working mums who may take in less milk during the day, making up for it when their mum is at home. Breast-feeding your baby before you go to bed is a great idea. Most babies drift peacefully back to sleep after feeding, and ‘topping her up’ may give you an extra couple of hours’ uninterrupted sleep.
There is no research to support claims that starting solid food helps babies to sleep through the night. In fact, in some babies, especially those younger than four months of age, starting solids can cause digestive disturbances that may keep them awake.
Night-time feeds ensure your hormone levels remain at a more constant level, helping to maintain a good milk supply. Exclusive breast-feeding, where your baby meets all his nutritional and sucking needs at the breast, coupled with night-time feeds can help to delay the return of your menstrual period and fertility.
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