Most babies can start going longer stretches without night feeds between 4–6 months, but many still eat at night well into their first year, and it’s normal.

Quick Scoop

  • Many doctors say you can stop actively waking a healthy baby to feed at night around 3–4 months, if weight gain is steady.
  • From about 4–6 months, lots of babies are able to sleep a 6–8 hour stretch without needing calories.
  • Bottle‑fed babies often drop night feeds earlier (around 6 months), while breastfed babies commonly need at least one night feed closer to 9–12 months.
  • Some unicorn babies naturally stop eating at night by 4–5 months; others still want 1–2 feeds past their first birthday and are still considered normal.
  • The real “when do babies stop eating at night?” answer: somewhere between 4 and 12 months for most, depending on weight, growth curve, and temperament.

What “ready to drop night feeds” looks like

You don’t have to hit all of these, but they’re common signs your baby may be ready to reduce or drop night feeds:

  1. Age and weight
    • Around 4–6 months and about 12–13 pounds (5.5–6 kg) is when many babies can metabolically go without night feeds.
 * Before 3 months, most babies truly need frequent night calories.
  1. Daytime intake
    • Taking full feeds in the day (not snacking constantly) and growing steadily on their curve.
 * Able to go 3–4 hours between feeds in the daytime without meltdowns.
  1. Night patterns
    • Waking at the same times every night like clockwork (habit) rather than random long stretches and short stretches (true hunger).
 * Sometimes settling with a cuddle, pat, or pacifier without always needing a full feed.
  1. Growth and health
    • Pediatrician is happy with weight gain, diapers, and general health.

Typical timelines (not rules!)

Here’s a rough sense of what lots of families see:

  • 0–3 months
    • Multiple night feeds are standard, often every 2–3 hours.
* You may allow one “long stretch” but still offer feeds regularly the rest of the night.
  • 3–4 months
    • You can usually stop waking baby for feeds if weight gain is good, but baby may still wake on their own to eat 1–3 times.
  • 4–6 months
    • Many babies can do one long 6–8 hour stretch, and some drop to 1–2 night feeds.
  • 6–9 months
    • A lot of bottle‑fed babies stop night feeds around here; many breastfed babies are down to 0–1 feeds.
  • 9–12 months
    • Most babies can sleep through without feeds, but plenty still have one overnight feeding, especially if breastfed.
  • 12+ months
    • Night feeds are usually more about comfort and habit, though still very common and normal in many families.

Remember: some babies drop the last feed at 5 months; others at 10–12 months, and both can be completely fine.

What parents are saying in forums

Recent forum and Reddit‑style discussions echo the same theme: there is huge variability.

“My littles self‑weaned overnight at 7 months and 5 months. It’s very normal though for babies to wake to feed overnight into their first year. I think most drop the last feed somewhere between 6–12 months.”

Other common stories you’ll see:

  • One baby slept 12 hours by 4 months, while a sibling still needed a night feed at 11 months.
  • Parents who tried to night wean at 6 months but had to pause because weight gain dipped or baby got sick.
  • Families choosing to keep one comfort feed overnight because it worked best for everyone’s sleep.

The big takeaway from these real‑world discussions: “normal” covers a wide range , and most parents adjust based on their baby rather than a strict age rule.

Safe ways to reduce night feeds (when ready)

If your pediatrician says your baby can cut back on night feeds, common expert tips include:

  1. Stretch time between feeds
    • Wait 10–15 extra minutes before feeding if baby wakes at “usual” times, trying soothing first (rocking, patting, shushing).
  1. Gradually reduce amount
    • For bottle‑fed babies, slowly reduce ounces in night bottles.
    • For breastfeeding, shorten the length of each night nursing session over several nights.
  1. Boost daytime calories
    • Offer more frequent feeds during the day or slightly larger feeds, so baby makes up calories while the sun’s up.
  1. Keep nights boring
    • Low lights, minimal talking or play, simple feeds, then back to bed, so night feels different from day.
  1. Go slowly and watch baby
    • If you see more night waking, poor naps, or weight concerns, slow down and talk with your pediatrician.

“Latest news” and expert trend

Recent pediatric sleep content and parenting sites still give largely the same guidance in 2024–2025 as a few years ago: there’s more focus on flexibility and mental health than on strict “sleep through the night by X months” rules.

Current trends emphasize:

  • Respecting each baby’s temperament and feeding needs, not forcing early night weaning.
  • Coordinating night weaning with parental burnout levels and safe sleep practices.
  • Keeping pediatricians in the loop to be sure night weaning is safe given weight and medical history.

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Tiny TL;DR

Most healthy babies can start dropping night feeds somewhere around 4–6 months, but it’s very common for them to keep at least one night feeding until 9–12 months, especially if breastfed.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.