Can I abruptly stop feeding my baby at night?

Can I abruptly stop feeding my baby at night?

Gary Feldman (Medical Director, Stramski Disorders Center, Miller Children's Hospital ) gives expert video advice on: Should I nurse my baby whenever he cries at night?; How do I know if my baby is waking up at night because he's hungry?; Should I put my baby on a nursing schedule to help him sleep at night? and more...

I don't think anything should be abrupt in children; everything should be process. For any child, whether it's stopping feeding, whether it's taking away a toy, whether it's stopping them from doing something they're used to, it's a shock. Generally speaking, there are exceptions, but you want to get a child used to any impending change. If a child is used to being fed at eight o'clock and your question is, "Should I stop the eight o'clock feed until they just get used to their dinner time?" It may be too long, a child might need to have a little bit of a drink. But the point is the drink doesn't have to be right as they are falling asleep; the drink can be an hour before.