A concerning new trend circulating on TikTok is prompting exhausted parents to feed their babies butter in a misguided attempt to secure a full night's sleep. The viral hack, which suggests offering a tablespoon or two of butter in the evening, has been strongly criticised by child health experts as ineffective and potentially risky for infant health.
The Science of Infant Sleep: Why Waking is Normal
According to adjunct professor Karleen Gribble and researchers Naomi Hull and Nina Jane Chad, the fundamental premise of the trend is flawed. No single food can magically make a baby sleep through the night. Infant sleep physiology is complex and differs greatly from that of adults.
Newborns naturally sleep lightly, a protective mechanism that helps ensure they continue breathing and guards against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This light sleep means they wake easily and often. The common societal pressure for babies to be "good" sleepers who slumber deeply and alone for long stretches goes directly against their biological design.
Furthermore, babies need help to fall asleep through feeding, movement like rocking, or comforting touch. Newborns also lack a developed circadian rhythm. Interestingly, breastmilk contains melatonin, which can help regulate a baby's sleep-wake cycle until they start producing the hormone themselves—a benefit bottle-fed infants do not receive. It can take several months for any baby, regardless of feeding method, to establish longer sleep stretches at night.
Why Butter is a Bad Idea: Health Risks and False Promises
The advice to feed butter to young babies is problematic on multiple levels. First, giving any solid food to infants under six months old is not recommended. Their digestive systems are immature, and early introduction can lead to constipation and increase susceptibility to illness.
From around six months, when solids are introduced, the focus should be on nutritious, iron-rich foods. Butter, which is almost pure saturated fat, does not meet these nutritional needs. If it displaces more wholesome foods in the diet, babies may miss out on essential vitamins and minerals crucial for development.
Butter is merely the latest in a long history of unfounded beliefs about foods inducing sleep. Past trends included adding cereal or crushed arrowroot biscuits to bedtime bottles. Research has consistently shown these methods do not increase sleep duration. Similarly, there is no scientific evidence that butter before bed makes babies sleep longer. Studies indicate that the foods babies eat make no significant difference to night waking.
Evidence-Based Strategies for Tired Parents
For parents struggling with sleep deprivation, experts recommend safe, realistic approaches. Waking overnight doesn't always signal hunger, and stopping night feeds doesn't guarantee fewer wake-ups. Babies may wake because they are too hot, cold, need a nappy change, or simply for comfort.
Formal behavioural sleep interventions, or "sleep training," show limited effectiveness for very young babies. One study found such methods did not reduce the number of night wakings and only increased the longest sleep stretch by about 16 minutes. It is especially not advised for infants under six months.
Instead, experts suggest practical coping strategies:
- Try to nap during the day when your baby sleeps.
- Ask friends or family for help with chores to create rest opportunities.
- If feeling overwhelmed by crying, it is safe to place your baby in a cot or on a mat and take a moment to compose yourself.
Significant changes in sleep patterns, prolonged lack of sleep, or signs of pain or fever warrant a prompt visit to a GP or child health nurse. Parents with breastfeeding concerns can contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association's helpline. Organisations like the charity Little Sparklers offer peer support, while UNICEF and the UK-based Baby Sleep Info Source (Basis) provide evidence-based resources.
The article, authored by Karleen Gribble of Western Sydney University, Naomi Hull, and Nina Jane Chad of the University of Sydney, was originally published on The Conversation on Saturday 6 December 2025.
