How to share night feeds so both parents sleep

The idea: one long block each

Instead of both waking at every cry, split the night in two. Example: from 21:00 to 02:00 one parent sleeps, from 02:00 to 07:00 the other.

With breastfeeding

The parent on duty brings the baby, then burps, changes and settles. The feeding parent goes back to sleep straight away. Once breastfeeding is going well, the partner can sometimes give a bottle of expressed milk.

With formula

Each parent does the feeds in their half of the night. Prepare what you need before the shift starts.

Safe sleep when you are tired

• Put the baby down to sleep on their back, with their feet at the foot of the cot.
• Use a separate cot or Moses basket with a firm, flat mattress, in your room for every sleep for at least the first 6 months.
• Keep the cot clear: no pillows, duvets, bumpers, loose blankets, soft toys, pods or nests.
• Never fall asleep with the baby on a sofa or in an armchair. If you feel sleepy while holding the baby, put them back in the cot first.
• Do not share a bed with the baby if either of you smokes, has had 2 or more units of alcohol (a UK unit is 8 g of pure alcohol), has taken drugs or medicine that makes you sleepy, or if the baby was born before 37 weeks or weighed less than 2.5 kg.
• Keep the room at about 16 to 20°C. Never use a hot water bottle or an electric blanket for the baby.

Make it work

• Earplugs or a separate room for the sleeper.
• Swap the order every few nights if one of you prefers early or late.
• Talk again after one week.

Make your plan with the Night Shift Planner.

Questions people ask

How can a partner help with night feeds when breastfeeding?

By bringing the baby, then changing, burping and settling, so the feeding parent sleeps again quickly. Once breastfeeding is going well, the partner can occasionally give a bottle of expressed breast milk at night (NHS).

Can the partner give a bottle at night?

With formula, yes. With breastfeeding, the NHS says the partner can occasionally give a bottle of expressed milk once breastfeeding is established (NHS).

What is a good night feed schedule for two parents?

Two shifts of about 5 hours, for example 21:00 to 02:00 and 02:00 to 07:00. Adjust to your bedtimes and work.

Is it safe to feed the baby in bed at night?

Never feed on a sofa or armchair if you might fall asleep. In bed, put the baby back in the cot after the feed, and never share a bed after alcohol, smoking or sleepy medicines (NHS).

What if I cannot sleep even when the baby sleeps?

Tell your GP or health visitor. Not sleeping when the baby sleeps, or feeling tired all the time, can be a sign of postnatal depression (NHS).

Sources

• NHS: Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) · checked October 26, 2026
• NHS: Sleep and tiredness after having a baby · checked October 26, 2026
• NHS: Tiredness and sleep problems in pregnancy · checked October 26, 2026
• NHS: Preventing stillbirth (sleep on your side from 28 weeks) · checked October 24, 2026