I was told the same thing at  the 6mth visit and thought "well, that is just not gonna happen". I tried at first by just skipping one of the night feeds and settling my daughter back to sleep without a feed. This went on for a while until she no longer wanted that feed... but at 7 months she got a little sick and was waking a lot throughout the night and most of the time wanted a breastfeed for comfort to get her back to sleep. Of course I gave in to that because she was so sad and I would do anything to try and make her happy and settled when she was sick. She then went back to her old routine of having the dream feed then only waking for an early morning feed (or sometimes not waking at all throughout the night and just waking for her regular morning feed). Unfortunately, she has now just turned 8 months and doesn't drink much during the day (starts a feed but won't stick around long enough to drink much) so has started to wake a few times for a proper feed over night to make up for her lack of milk during the day (very annoying). My advice to you, though, would be to definitely keep going with the dream feed and then hopefully you won't need to give your son any more feeds until the morning.

Best of luck, Gab.

I was always told up to 12months it's ok to feed at night. You can do whats called a rollover feed, at 10 or 11 just before you go to bed.  Then you know they've had something and then you can relax a little. Thry giving water at other feeds when he wakes, or get dad to go in if he's willing. Then he might go, oh water, or it's just Dad, and hopefully he'll go back to sleep.

Good luck.

Well, breastfeeding is recommended until the child is 1yo if possible. Plus, if he wakes up crying at night, chances are he needs the feeding. I know by 6 months you just want to get some sleep, but look at it this way: you'll get more sleep if you feed the baby and then go to sleep, than if he's up crying all night.

Now, one question: aside from the 3 meals a day, is he having any breastmilk/formula during the day?

I know by 6mths you want some sleep, well get it! Give them as much as possible just before bed, then sleep through, let them realize that you need time and sleep too. If you really feel you need to or want to feed them through the night then do it, if not sleep, they will go back to sleep themselves eventually. However getting into a routine that allows you to wean them is best for both you and bub. It will work out but like most things takes time.

or simply admire them until they go back to sleep

Hi, just read your problem and the very sage advice given. I agree 1000%  with all the respondents especially th ecomment about the hard arse nurse lol. She would be horrified with my feeding "record", 2 to 15 months. 1 to 23 months( yep 23) Just as youn sometimes want a nice warm comforting drink- so do babies. Why not give them the double whammy- comfort and perfect nutrition. (what we did b4 nurses) Keep up the good parenting! Noelray.

Bubs is only 6 months old - how could the nurse tell you a night feed is unnecessary?! Do what you feel is right for you and your baby. My two were breast fed during the night beyond 12 months, and were eating and drinking plenty through the day.

Every baby is different, but some babies will actually wake in the night because that's when they're used to being fed rather than actually being hungry. Routine is so very important to babies and sometimes they latch onto the wrong idea of the routine. If Cameron's night time feeds are big, he obviously needs a feed and there's nothing at all wrong with it. Children's nurses should know better than to lump all kids under one category and say that all kids do or don't need something or another.

If Cameron just has a little before drifting off it's more likely to be a case of him waking because his internal alarm clock is telling him that's when he's supposed to wake up. In which case you can ease him into a routine of just staying asleep by encouraging him back to sleep.

My 6 month old has been on solids since he was just a little over 4months. He is having 3 meals a day plus dessert and 4 to 5 feeds a day, 4 of those are breast feeds. I find with him like all of my kids you feed them a night feed.

I give my 6 month old a bottle feed around 9/10pm just to make sure he is full enough to sleep through the night. There is nothing wrong with that late night feed, sometimes it is for the best.

i think its up to the baby, mine one night wakes every hour for a feed other times he will sleep right through the night.

i found if i give him a warm bottle just before bedtime he tends to sleep longer.  dont worry to much if your son still needs a feed at night but dont wake him for one if he is asleep let him sleep for as long as he likes plus you will sleep longer to.

hope this helps

my daughter didnt stop her night feeds until i stopped breastfeeding at 12mths! I sont think your health nurse gave you very good advice either that or she is a hard arse. Do what you want to do! I used to put jade beside me and feed while i went back to sleep, and if your told your health nurse that she would probally be horrorfied lol. Good luck and do what you want ever bubba is different!!!!!! PS jade is just sleeping thru now. But she used to wake every hour or ages

my daughter was 1 and a half when we stopped feeding her during the night she never woke up i would say some children are different when i was trying to take my daughter of the bottles i just told her i packed them away and she would have to use a sippy cup she was fine with that 

Every baby is different. Listen to what your son is telling you and trust your instincts. Despite what your MACH nurse told you, many babies DO need night feeds up until twelve months. If Cameron is waking and seems genuinely hungry, you should feed him! You should also keep in mind that night feeds will help maintain your supply of breast milk during the day.

My twelve month old still has night feeds. They won't last forever though. The most important thing is to meet your baby's needs, and not worry about arbitrary goals based on ages and averages.