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Hi, I’m Hillary, and I help parents optimize their baby’s feedings for whole-night sleep—without relying solely on sleep training. Many parents believe that sleepless nights are just a part of the deal when welcoming a new baby. It’s a common misconception that frequent nighttime awakenings are normal. But I’m here to tell you there’s another way.
By understanding the essential connection between feeding and sleep, you can pave the way for better nights for both you and your baby.
Setting Realistic Expectations
In the first six weeks, it’s typical to expect two overnight feedings, totaling around 7-8 feeds in a 24-hour period. As your baby grows, their stomach can hold more volume, setting the stage for natural nighttime weaning. It’s important to have realistic expectations: while your newborn may need to eat frequently, your approach to feeding can set the foundation for better sleep patterns as they grow.
The key is not to force larger volumes but to implement strategies that optimize daytime feeds, which can help reduce the need for nighttime awakenings.
The Importance of Quality Feedings
Not all cues are feeding cues. Babies often exhibit similar behaviors when they’re uncomfortable or tired, so it’s essential to pause and assess if they truly need to eat. Adding volume when your baby is uncomfortable can disrupt their sleep and lead to frustration for both of you. Here are a few tips to help ensure quality feeds that lead to better sleep:
- Timing is Everything: Start feeds at the beginning of your baby’s wake window. Aim to keep feeding sessions to 30 minutes or less to avoid snack feeding. This helps establish a routine and ensures that your baby is awake and alert during feeding times.
- Paced Bottle Feeding: This technique is not just for breastfeeding babies! It helps create a rhythmic suck-swallow pattern, ensuring your baby is fed effectively and isn’t overwhelmed by flow rate. Paced bottle feeding allows your baby to control the flow and take breaks as needed. Check out this paced bottle feeding video to learn more.
- Positioning Matters: For babies under four months, I recommend an elevated side-lying position. This allows for better coordination and helps with reflux. You also want to ensure their head is aligned with their body—try turning your head to the side and swallowing. It’s awkward. A poorly aligned position can lead to awkward feeding and potential choking risk. By ensuring your baby is well-positioned, you’re supporting their ability to feed effectively and comfortably.
- Flow Rate: Ensure the bottle nipple flow rate is appropriate. You want a rhythmic suck-swallow ratio of 1:1 to 3:1 without any clicking noises. This not only makes for a more efficient feeding but also prevents your baby from getting overwhelmed and associating stress with feeding. If the flow is too fast, your baby may struggle to keep up, leading to discomfort and disrupted sleep.
Be Abnormal (and Rested!)
You’ve probably heard that multiple nighttime feedings are normal for babies. But where’s the research that says sleeping through the night is “abnormal”? The truth is, you can meet your baby’s milk volume needs during the day, allowing for longer stretches of sleep at night. It’s not just about adding more feedings; it’s about optimizing the ones you have.
Many parents feel discouraged when traditional sleep training methods don’t work for them or they feel like there is nothing they can do until their baby is 4-6 months old. The great news is that you have better options! The Baby Settler approach combines feeding and sleep strategies that you can implement on day one.
Walk Away with a Detailed, Doable Plan
In my nighttime weaning guide, you’ll find practical strategies for optimizing feeding, understanding volume needs versus wants, and addressing daytime naps, all of which directly impact nighttime sleep. Here’s what you can expect:
- Feeding Insights: We’ll delve into the connection between feeding and sleeping, and I’ll provide actionable steps to assess your baby’s needs. Understanding how much your baby needs during the day can help set realistic goals for nighttime sleep.
- Napping Strategies: Daytime sleep greatly influences nighttime sleep, so we’ll explore how to approach this differently than typical advice. Quality daytime naps can prevent overtiredness, which often leads to more frequent nighttime awakenings.
- Weaning Techniques: Just because some babies wake for night feedings doesn’t mean yours has to! I’ll guide you through the steps to help your baby—and you—enjoy peaceful, uninterrupted nights.
Final Thoughts
When I became a mom, I thought I had it all figured out. But the reality of sleepless nights hit hard. It wasn’t until I connected the dots between feeding and sleep that everything changed. I learned that by optimizing feedings, my babies could sleep soundly through the night, allowing our family to thrive.
This is why I created my nighttime weaning guide—to share effective strategies that really work. You deserve rest, and I’m here to help you achieve it.
If you’re tired of sleepless nights and want to explore how optimized feeding can lead to better sleep for you and your baby, check out my nighttime weaning guide. Together, we’ll make those stressful nights a thing of the past, so you can enjoy those precious moments with your baby.
Find out more at Babysettler.com