Is Butter Helping Babies Sleep?

Viral trends or quick tips and tricks for fixing baby sleep may be rather attractive, but watch out, they may not be evidence-based or proven to be safe. The most recent trend invites parents to feed baby a spoonful of butter at bedtime to help baby sleep through the night. These social media posts have been viewed millions of times across various social media platforms, while doctors and sleep educators are signalling concern. If you've seen these reels floating around, maybe reconsider what safer alternatives you can do instead to improve your baby's sleep.

Should I Give Butter to My Baby to Sleep - The Risks

Although butter is a common household item in most families, it is not households, it is not a suitable solution for helping babies sleep through the night. Let me explain:

1. Insufficient Nourishment

Foods that help babies sleep better should have an sleep-inducing properties, which butter does not have. It is simply high in saturated fats, which do not provide vital nutrients that babies need for proper growth.

2. Risk of Choking

Although butter soft, a spoonful of butter can still put baby at risk for choking, especially for younger infants. It is advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to offer baby solid foods that have texture and sizes that are suitable for a baby as they learn how to properly swallow.

3. Not Backed by Science

There is no research that supports the use of butter to help babies sleep better. In truth, there is no sleep-inducing food that can single-handedly fix a baby's sleep. Healthy sleep habits directly improve a baby's sleep, not a spoonful of butter.

4. May Cause Upset Stomach

Consuming a concentrated volume of high-fat foods before bedtime can be a cause for tummy issues, especially for infants who typically have a delicate digestive system. Upset stomach, gas or diarrhea can become an issue, all of which do not help a baby sleep well overnight.

What Can Help Get a Baby to Sleep?

The best way to have a good sleeper is to work on strategies backed by science instead of social media trends. Here are evidence-based best practices that will create meaningful change.

1. Develop a Consistent Bedtime Routine

Following a bedtime sequence that is predictable and calming reminds your baby it's time to sleep. Include things like a warm bath, books, and songs.

2. Create an Ideal Sleep Space

Cool, dark and quiet rooms help babies sleep the best. Using tools like blackout curtains, baby sleep sacks and a brown/pink noise machine can help your baby sleep soundly through to morning.

3. Teach Your Baby Self-Soothing Skills

Babies who can fall asleep independently do much better at staying asleep through the night. Sleep training your baby does not mean following methods that entail hours of crying. Utilize gentler methods that allow you to support your baby while they navigate learning self-soothing skills.

4. Be Mindful of Sleepy Cues and Wake Windows

When you time your baby's sleep with age-appropriate wake windows, it will avoid overtired and undertired situations, which means baby will connect sleep cycles better and baby will cry less when falling asleep. Watch for sleepy cues, including yawning, rubbing eyes, and general fussiness, as those can be signs baby should already be asleep.

5. Proper Feeding Day and Night

When babies feed most rigorously at night, they most certainly are not taking as many calories during the day. Try adjusting the feed volumes to increase during the day (starting in the morning) instead of relying on a dose of high saturated fat like butter right before bedtime.

Stick to Science, Not Viral Sleep Hacks

Quick fixes seen on repeat on Instagram and Tiktok may be tempting at the best of times, especially when you're sleep deprived, but some online advice can do more harm than good. Offering a baby a spoonful of butter before bedtime is not scientifically supported and should be avoided. Trusted strategies that have been tested through time will provide more predictable results. If you want a customized approach to helping your little well improve sleep, a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant can give you the peace of mind.

Sleep is vital for both parents and babies, and the correct techniques matters significantly.