Question
My baby, who is 6 months and 20 days old, drinks about 160 milliliters of formula milk each time at 11 PM to 12 AM, 2 AM to 3 AM, and 5 AM. I’ve heard that it’s not good for babies of this age to drink milk at night. Can I break the nighttime milk habit? How should I do it?
Answer
A 6-month-old baby typically consumes about 800 to 1000 milliliters of milk (breast milk or formula) daily (24 hours). From around 4.5 months to 6 months, it’s advisable to start introducing solid foods gradually. Now is the time to stop nighttime feeding. It’s recommended to gradually extend the time between night feedings while maintaining the total intake. Additionally, it’s important not to feed the baby between meals, allowing the baby to feel hungry and giving the stomach a rest. Even if the baby didn’t eat well during the last meal, don’t give food immediately; wait until the next mealtime.