Sleep-deprived parents are increasingly turning to a viral TikTok trend that suggests feeding babies butter before bed to help them sleep through the night. However, experts warn that the practice is not only ineffective but could also be harmful, particularly for infants under six months.
Dr Nina Jane Chad, a research fellow at the University of Sydney and infant feeding consultant for the World Health Organization, says there is no scientific evidence that butter improves sleep. "I can totally see why parents would be taken in by it," she says, "but there could be some harms involved." For babies six months and under, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended, and introducing butter could alter gut flora and increase susceptibility to infections.
Dr Fallon Cook, a paediatric sleep practitioner and director of Infant Sleep Australia, agrees. "There certainly isn’t any scientific evidence that a big dose of butter or fats or calories is likely to help with night-time sleep," she says. "If sleep happens to be better that night, it’s probably a coincidence." Research has shown that what an infant eats during the day does not affect how likely they are to wake overnight.
From six months, babies need a nutritious solid diet including iron-rich foods, fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, and calcium-rich foods. While full cream dairy is recommended, butter is described as "an energy-dense but nutrient-poor food" by Dr Chad, who advises choosing better options for a child's overall diet.
Both experts emphasise that frequent night waking is normal in the first year. "Most babies will be waking at least once and usually up to three times up until their first birthday," says Dr Chad. "About a third of children are still waking at least once by the time they turn three." Sleep naturally consolidates over time, and parents should not expect babies to sleep eight to ten hours straight.
Dr Cook notes that from six months, some babies may develop sleep disorders, either physiological or behavioural, such as strong feed-to-sleep associations. While occasional unusual sleep conditions are normal, persistent exhaustion in parents may warrant professional advice rather than unproven TikTok remedies.
