Should a 6 week old feed overnight?

YES.

I understand that some infant sleep specialists - including some health professionals - suggest that from 6-12 weeks of age, babies do not need to feed overnight.

This is almost always untrue: rarely some well, term babies “sleep through” from a young age of their own accord, but the vast majority of babies need overnight feeds until 6-12 months +.

Advice to the contrary is untrue, unsafe and potentially significantly undermines successful breastfeeding.

Feeding aside, it is biologically and developmentally normal for a baby this age to need help falling asleep. It is also completely fine to feed a baby overnight for comfort or to help them fall back asleep, even if they are not “hungry”; if it’s working and feels right for you.

I am by no means invalidating the desperation and exhaustion that parents feel when they have a young baby who wakes frequently overnight. But it’s important to know that you’re not doing anything wrong if your baby is waking.

It’s good to experiment and find what works and feels right for your family, and it’s OK to ask for support or advice if you need.
What’s not ok is for health professionals to give advice that is not evidence based and in fact has the potential to cause harm.

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