Breastmilk different at morning and night
Study could affect best time for mums to express
Babies receive a natural equivalent to cappuccino in the morning and Horlicks at night, scientists have revealed.
Breastfed little ones get a different milk drink depending on the time of day, with milk given to infants in the morning containing natural stimulants that act as a pick-me-up. Breastmilk given at night will help babies sleep thanks to calming chemicals.
Spanish researchers discovered that breastmilk changes across a 24 hour period, and said their study might explain why some babies sleep or become active at odd times of day or night when mums express milk to use later in the day.
This suggests that it might be a good idea to make a note of when you express, and use that milk to feed at around the same time of the day. For example, if your partner likes to do the last feed with a bottle of expressed milk, try to express in the early evening so your baby potentially gets ‘sleepy’ milk rather than ‘wake-up’ milk.
“You wouldn’t give anyone coffee at night, and the same is true of milk. It has day-specific ingredients that stimulate activity in the infant, and other night components that help the baby to rest,” said researcher Cristina Sanchez.
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