Milk before bed

This guide is general information only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you're concerned about your child's health, or they're unwell, please see a doctor.

A warm milk before bed is one of the oldest bedtime rituals there is, and for most families it's completely fine. There are just two things worth getting right: your child's teeth, and whether the milk has quietly become the only way they can fall asleep.

The teeth part

Don't put your baby or child to bed with a bottle of milk. Raising Children explains that settling a child to sleep with a bottle can lead to tooth decay, because the lactose in milk promotes the growth of the bacteria that cause decay, and there is less saliva in the mouth during sleep to protect the teeth. Putting a baby to sleep with a bottle is also a choking risk.

The practical rule: finish the milk at least 30 minutes before bed, and clean your child's teeth afterwards, not before.

The habit part

If milk is the last step before sleep, it can become the condition your child needs in order to fall asleep, which they will then look for at every overnight wake. That's not a disaster, but it is the mechanism behind a lot of night waking.

The fix is simple and doesn't mean dropping the milk: move it earlier in the routine. Milk, then bath, then teeth, then stories, then bed. The ritual stays, the sleep association goes.

Getting the amount right

For toddlers, milk can also become a delay tactic rather than a need. If "I want milk" appears only at lights out and never at any other point in the evening, it is usually about postponing bedtime rather than thirst or hunger. Offering it earlier, as a fixed part of the routine, removes the negotiation without removing the comfort.

• A large bedtime milk can blunt appetite at dinner and, in older toddlers, mean a very full nappy and a wet bed overnight.
• If your child is drinking a lot of milk overall, it can reduce their appetite for the iron-rich solid food they need. Talk to your GP or child and family health nurse if you're unsure.
• For babies, keep milk feeds as the main source of nutrition alongside solids in the first year.

For babies under 12 months

The bedtime feed is a normal part of the day and there's no need to remove it. Just settle your baby back into their own safe sleep space afterwards, on the back, in a clear cot. If you're thinking about changing night feeds, talk to your GP or child and family health nurse first.

Sources

• Raising Children Network, Tooth decay in babies and children
• Raising Children Network, Night weaning and phasing out night feeds
• Red Nose Australia, Six safe sleep recommendations

Last updated: July 2026. Sources include Red Nose Australia and Raising Children Network where cited above. This guide is general information only. For individual concerns, see your GP or child health nurse.