As a breastfeeding mom, I’ve heard all sorts of advice—some helpful, some... not so much.

One topic that constantly comes up is night weaning. When my baby was almost six months old, his pediatrician told me he should be sleeping through the night by then and that I should start weaning him off nighttime feedings.

The doctor even suggested letting him cry it out to break the habit.

Naturally, I wanted to hear from other moms—was this truly necessary?

Is Night Weaning Really Necessary?

When I reached out to the mom community, I was reassured that nighttime nursing is completely normal. Many experienced moms shared that they never did sleep training or forced weaning. 

One mom said, “I nursed my babies at night until they were around two years old—no cavities, no issues.”

Another mentioned that a Scandinavian study found babies at six months still wake an average of 2.5 times a night to feed, so my baby waking up wasn’t out of the ordinary.

Why Did My Baby Still Wake Up?

Every baby is different. Some naturally start sleeping longer stretches early on, while others continue to wake for comfort, hunger, or both.

Here are some reasons why night wakings might still happen:

- Comfort & Bonding: Nursing isn’t just about food; it’s also about warmth, security, and connection.

- Developmental Changes: Growth spurts, teething, and new milestones can all cause more night wakings.

- Hunger: Even though my baby was starting solids, breast milk was still his primary source of nutrition for the first year.

But What About His Teeth?

One reason my pediatrician gave for night weaning was that breast milk could break down my baby’s teeth, leading to decay. After doing some research and talking to other moms, I found that this isn’t entirely accurate.

What can increase the risk of cavities is if food particles from solids are left in the mouth.

To minimize this, I made sure to wipe my baby’s gums with a damp cloth after meals and before nursing at bedtime. Once he had teeth, I started brushing them before sleep.

Now at 29 Months, How is He Sleeping?

Looking back, I’m so glad I followed my instincts instead of rushing into night weaning. As my son grew older, his sleep naturally improved.

Now at 29 months, he sleeps through the night most of the time. Some nights, he even wakes up on his own, grabs his bottle, drinks, and goes back to sleep—without even waking me up! 

It’s a huge difference from those early months when he needed constant comfort.

Should You Wean Your Baby?

Honestly, I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer. If night feedings work for you and your baby, there’s no rush to stop.

If you’re feeling exhausted and need to make a change, you can do it gradually and gently. One mom put it perfectly:

 “If it doesn’t resonate with you as a mama, you don’t have to follow outdated advice. Follow your heart.”

At the end of the day, I know my baby best. I trusted his needs, and he naturally transitioned to sleeping through the night on his own. Motherhood is a journey, and I’ll always go with what feels right for my little one and me.

By Fathi Aidiya Farisa