When Do Babies Stop Pooping At Night?

We’ve all been there - your baby finally drifts off to sleep in a timely manner and you think you’ll be able to catch up on some, yourself.

Not so fast, though, because their digestive system has other plans! Babies pooping in their sleep is extremely common, albeit not the most pleasant of wake-up calls for anyone. So, when do babies stop pooping at night? That’s the golden question we’re about to answer, so don’t go anywhere!

Can Babies Poop In Their Sleep? 

Chances are that if you’re here, you already know the answer to that question. Babies are poop machines who never seem to take a break. Yes, that includes while they’re asleep. The sooner you accept that changing diapers multiple times during the night will happen, the better prepared you’ll be. 

Why Do Babies Poop In Their Sleep? 

There are a couple major reasons why this happens, but believe it or not, it’s a tell-tale sign that they’re healthy. 

Metabolic Requirements

Babies are experts in sleeping, eating, drinking, and pooping.

They’re growing like crazy and typically double in weight by around the 5-month mark. That means they require a lot of calories and a lot of rest. As they’re eating so much - not to mention consuming a primarily liquid diet - they poop a lot more than adults do. With significantly smaller digestive systems, they poop very quickly (usually less than an hour) after eating.

Combine that with their significantly faster metabolism, and it’s easy to see why things happen on an accelerated timeline.

Sleep Patterns

Babies are still getting used to the concept of day and night. In the womb, it’s basically a dark cave that they learn to live in, no matter the hour. This means that they do not have a routine; no internal clock or circadian rhythm to fall back on. As they know no different, there’s nothing to have to adjust to until they’re born. 

As they spent the first 9 months of their lives in a dark womb without a schedule, adapting to the difference of day and night takes some time. These aren’t easy processes like we might assume. They’re completely controlled by very specific amounts of various hormones. Even science doesn’t have a full grasp on how the circadian rhythm operates! 

What we do know, however, is that our internal clocks are necessary for a healthy body and life. They help control our energy levels, our mood, and all metabolic activities. This means that when it gets closer to bedtime, our brains tell our gastrointestinal tracts to take a rest, too. As newborns don’t yet have these regimented processes, it’s all the same for them. They may wake up in the middle of the night because they’re hungry, sleep during the day, or poop at night. 

Related: 6 Clever Hacks to Get Your Child to Sleep

What Age Do Babies Stop Pooping At Night? 

That’s a fantastic question, and one we wish had a one-size-fits-all answer. However, everyone is different and your baby varies wildly from the next. Generally speaking, you’ll probably notice a change around 4 to 6 weeks, when that circadian rhythm starts kicking in. 

At 4 to 6 weeks, you will likely notice a decline in nighttime pooping, though it won’t completely cease at this point. Some babies take 2 or 3 months or even longer to stop doing so! When they start eating solid foods, you may once again notice them pooping at night. This is likely because the food moved through their digestive systems quicker than the other sources of nutrients. 

Tips to Get Your Baby to Stop Pooping at Night

By now, you may be wondering, “What do I do if my baby poops while sleeping?”. When it comes to having babies, there are luckily billions of people who have done it before us. That means that there are many tried-and-true methods that we know can help make things easier for our little ones and us .

Wait An Hour Before Bedtime

As we just mentioned, babies - particularly very young ones - just move that food right through them. To minimize the risk of your baby pooping in the middle of the night, don’t feed them right before bedtime. Of course, if they’re hungry, don’t deny them food - just wait an hour or more before putting them down to sleep. That way, they can poop and then fall asleep afterward. 

Try New Foods In The Morning

When introducing your little one to new foods, you may notice they experience some stomach upset than with the foods they’re already used to. If they’ve just started out with solid foods, any upset should be resolved by bedtime. 

Skip The Bottle At Night

Liquids tend to pass through the digestive system quicker, which means if you are giving your baby a bottle before bed they’re more likely to poop at night. 

Put Your Baby In Nightgowns

While a change of clothing may not keep your baby from pooping in the middle of the night, at least it will make it easier to change. No more having to struggle with snaps and maneuvering their legs around. 

Store Diapers And Wipes By The Crib

Make it easy on yourself, and just keep all necessary changing supplies right next to their crib. You should keep diapers, a diaper bin, diaper rash cream, wipes, etc. all in one place to avoid misplacing them, too.  That way, you’re not making multiple stops all over the house. Just walk over, change them, and get back to snoozing. 

Track Their Information 

Let’s face it - having a newborn can make it a bit difficult to keep everything in order. Using an app like Baby Connect can help resolve that for you. You can track their feedings, diaper changes, sleep, mood, and so much more. That way, you can see patterns and what you can change to make things more comfortable for the both of you. 

Maybe you notice you’ve been feeding them closer to bedtime than you realized, which is why they’re pooping in the middle of the night. Using an app can make you aware, and give you the information adjust schedules accordingly. Try Baby Connect for free today on iPhone or Android.