Should I feed my baby every time they wake at night?

You don't need to feed your baby every time they wake at night—it depends on your baby's age, weight, and reason for waking. In the newborn period (0–3 months), frequent feeding may be necessary because stomach capacity is small and blood sugar regulation is sensitive. From 4–6 months on, some night wakings may be habit or comfort-seeking rather than hunger. If your baby can fall back asleep with a pacifier or gentle patting rather than feeding, you can try those methods first. A baby older than 6 months who's eating solid foods and waking and wanting to nurse more than 1–2 times a night is usually dealing with a sleep association, not hunger. General pediatric advice: observe your baby's wake-up—there's a difference between frantic crying and gentle fussing. Feeding at every waking can reinforce a nighttime nursing habit and make sleep training harder. But if weight gain is slow or your baby is sick or fussy, it's better to discuss your nighttime feeding routine with your doctor and adjust based on their guidance.