If your baby is waking up to eat multiple times per night after the newborn phase (3 months), she's not only waking up from hunger. She's also waking up because she's relying on feeding to fall asleep, because she's actually overtired, or very likely, a combination of the two.

After the "fourth trimester," assuming bottle feeding or a well-established breastmilk supply, a baby doesn't need to eat more than every 3-4 hours at night, and many babies are eating only once or not at all by this age. 

If you are happy to feed multiple times per night, carry on!

But if you would like to cut back, it is safe to do so. 

If your baby wakes up during the night and it has been less than 3 hours since the start of the previous feeding, simply don't offer milk. You can either soothe in some other way or you can let your baby cry it out, with or without timed checks. All are safe options. 

The first time your baby wakes up at least 3 hours since the start of the previous feeding, go in promptly and offer a feeding. If you'd like to wait longer than 3 hours, that's perfectly fine, too. Most babies at this age can easily go 4 hours at night without eating. 

After that feeding, put your baby back in his crib and then wait at least 3 hours again before feeding. Handle the crying in the same way as you did before. 

If you are a breastfeeding parent and have a partner or other support person around at night, I suggest having that person go in to do any soothing you would like the baby to receive at night wakings where you will not be offering a feeding. Your baby may be upset at first if he's accustomed to seeing you, but if you are the one to check on him and you don't offer the breast, that's probably even more upsetting for him.

Once your baby is accustomed to eating only every 3 hours or more per night, you can start gradually reducing the duration or volume of one feeding per night. Leave the other feedings alone. Only when one feeding is eliminated should you move on to reducing the next one.

In this way, you can gently and gradually reduce the number of night feedings you offer until your baby is entirely night weaned, if you like, or else is at a number of night feedings that feels manageable to you. 

Have more questions? Night weaning can feel daunting. I can help. 

​Schedule a free consultation and we can walk through the steps involved to get your family sleeping peacefully at night. 

If you want to become a daily exerciser, commit to exercising every day. No matter what.
Make it so easy that it feels almost ridiculous. Start with just two minutes of stretching right after you get out of bed, even while you're still in your pajamas.

Don't worry that that is too easy. You’ll naturally want to do more as you get stronger. Promise. 

I was a kid who hated being active and preferred instead to read in bed for hours. At age 18, I decided to become a daily exerciser and I’m still at it, 30 years later. I did it even when I was a single parent to two young children, working full time and commuting daily 45 minutes each way by train.

Oh, and by the way, I’m still awkard and uncoordinated. Doesn’t matter. I’m a daily exerciser.

PS My client Arianna hated the idea of exercise because her mother always used to tell her to exercise to lose weight. Her mother frequently criticized Arianna's weight as a child -- naturally causing her to gain more and more weight -- and so exercise felt like a punishment. In our work together, we uncoupled exercise from weight and just this morning, Arianna celebrated 40 days in a row of doing a morning yoga routine. She feels more energetic and less pain every day as a result of her hard work. Best of all, she is proud of herself and what her body can do. 

PPS Are you tired of beating yourself up for not exercising? Let's create a doable exercise routine for you that fits your life and makes you feel strong and energetic. Schedule a free coaching session to get yourself started. 

PPPS Quote by Mel Robbins.