If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night and you’re feeling lost, exhausted, and wondering what you’re doing wrong — this is for you. And here’s the truth that no one talks about:

Most parents struggle with nighttime sleep because full daytime feeding was never truly established from birth (and there remains a continued need to feed at night).

Let that sink in.

We’ve been told for years that night wakings are just a phase, that babies will sleep when they’re ready, and that feeding struggles have nothing to do with sleep. But that’s simply not true.

At full feedings®, we believe sleep is directly connected to feeding — specifically, whether or not your baby is getting enough during the day to support longer sleep at night. And the majority of parents aren’t getting the support, education, or encouragement they need to focus on this from Day 1.

The #1 Sleep Disruptor: Unmet Feeding Needs

When babies don’t get the calories they need during the daytime, they will continue waking at night to make up for it. This isn’t a behavioral issue — it’s biology. Babies don’t wake to frustrate you, they wake because they’re hungry (and we always feed a hungry baby).

And feeding at night, over time, can delay the development of a baby’s circadian rhythm — the internal biological clock that helps them differentiate day from night and gradually shift toward longer, more consolidated sleep stretches.

At birth, babies don’t yet have a mature circadian rhythm, which is why their sleep patterns appear random. This rhythm begins developing around 6–12 weeks of age and is influenced by several factors — including light exposure, hormonal shifts (like melatonin and cortisol), and feeding patterns.

When babies continue to take in large amounts of milk at night, their bodies don’t learn to concentrate calorie intake during daylight hours — which is a key part of aligning their internal clocks with natural day/night cycles. Night feeds also stimulate digestion, body temperature, and activity levels, all of which send wake signals to the brain.

Gently shifting calories to the daytime helps reinforce the message that nighttime is for rest — allowing melatonin production to rise and enabling longer, deeper sleep.

It Starts with Full Feedings (Yes, From Day 1)

We cannot say this enough, the foundation of sleep begins with full feedings from birth. From the moment your baby is born, their feeding journey sets the tone for everything else — especially sleep. And this doesn’t mean simply feeding on demand or letting baby call all the shots. While responsiveness is important, many parents are told to be completely baby-led, which often leads to short, inefficient feeds that leave babies underfed and overtired.

Instead, we recommend a baby-led, parent-directed approach.

This means:

✅ Feed on demand, but ensure feeds are full
✅ Stay aware of wake windows and hunger cues
✅ Gently guide your baby to take in what they need — to the extent of their need
✅ Know when something isn’t working and seek help early

Feeding your baby fully helps your baby sleep more naturally.

What Is a Full Feeding?

Whether breast or bottle, a full feeding means your baby is taking in enough milk to stay satisfied for an age-appropriate stretch. For most babies under 6 months, we consider a full feed to be:

🍼 30 minutes total for breastfeeding
🍼 Or 30 minutes to finish an age-appropriate bottle amount (including burp time)

If you want to read a full blog on this, check out “What is a full feeding?” →

If your baby finishes in less than 30 minutes, seems fussy or hungry soon after, or is waking frequently overnight to eat — they may not be getting a full feeding. And while efficient eating can be a sign of a strong feeder, it’s not always the case. We find that “efficient eaters aren’t usually efficient sleepers”.

It’s important to note, if your baby is sleeping through the night, you don’t need to change anything with their feeds. But, if your baby is over the age of 12 weeks old, and still consuming milk during the night, this means they are not getting their needs met during the daytime.

Poor Feeding Advice Is Everywhere — And It’s Hurting Families

Let’s be real: Most parents are set up to fail when it comes to feeding.

You’re told to let baby snack.
You’re told not to wake a sleeping baby.
You’re told that reflux is normal and not to worry.
You’re told it’s normal to be exhausted and to just wait it out.

But none of that helps you feed your baby fully or sleep through the night. What we need is honest, practical guidance that honors feeding and sleep equally — and starts on Day 1.

📚 Start here with our free Infant Feeding 101 blog → This shows you exactly how keep your baby age-appropriately full, naturally moves the milk they need at night, to the daytime, by 8 weeks old.

What If My Baby Isn’t a Newborn Anymore?

If you’re just discovering full feedings® and your baby is past the newborn stage — don’t worry. It’s never too late to start working on full feedings.

Whether your baby is 3 months, 6 months, or older, you can still support sleep by gently increasing daytime milk intake and ensuring each feed is truly full. Here are a few ways to do that:

✅ Add a few minutes to short feeds to help stretch intake
✅ Incorporate an extra feed during the day if night wakings are still happening
✅ Offer a dream feed around 10–11pm to boost overnight calorie intake
✅ Monitor bottle volumes and slowly increase if baby finishes quickly
✅ Keep nursing time consistent for breastfed babies to ensure fullness
✅ Watch for signs of efficiency, not just speed—fullness takes time

The earlier you start, the sooner you’ll see progress — but no matter when you begin, the sleep will come.

The Wake-Up Call: Feeding Is the Sleep Solution

If you’re stuck in the cycle of sleepless nights, please take this as a gentle but honest wake-up call: It’s likely not just a “sleep” problem — it’s usually a feeding problem.

We’re here to help you identify issues early and swiftly, so you can resolve them and start moving toward full feedings, more consistent days, and longer stretches of rest at night.

💛 You do not have to cry-it-out.
💛 You do not have to stop breastfeeding.
💛 You do not have to wait until 6 months.

You do need to start supporting your baby’s feeding needs fully—and from there, sleep will follow.

We Can Help (Without Crying It Out)

Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, combo feeding, or navigating reflux or feeding resistance — we can help. Our affordable online programs and 1:1 consults are designed to give you the tools and support to finally sleep… without compromising your baby’s needs or your connection.

You are not failing. You just need the right information—and a plan.

💤 Visit fullfeedings.com to get started today.