When do people think night feeds shouldn't be necessary?
Before answering I with to apply the caveat that night breastfeeds are more about comfort than calories, and you can't just go denying a baby comfort. Night weaning a breastfed baby is about very different factors to night weaning a bottle fed baby.
That said, I would generally work on the basis that you start weaning a baby onto solids at 6 months, but milk remains important. There would be a gradual change until by 12 months, all of baby's calories come from a solids diet, with milk being one aspect of that diet not the main source of calories.
So as a general rule, I would:
● 0-3 months: expect calories to be needed over 24h
● 3-6 months: calories load to move more calorie intake in the say, less at night. Some night feeds likely, but not as many
● 6-9 months: Early weaning foods being low calories mean milk feeds need to be maintained for the calories. If this isn't managed with daytime milk alongside meals, then you may see an increase in night feeds. But ideally keep all calorie intake in the daytime.
● 9-12 months. Milk intake should now be decreasing to just become one aspect of a healthy diet, not a significant source of calories. If baby has a growth spurt, is hungry and needs extra calories, they should be coming from more food eaten in the daytime not more milk. Baby should be able to eat enough food to not be hungry for 12h overnight, and should also be drinking enough fluids in the daytime to not be thirsty overnight. If they are not, daytime food/drink needs to increase.
● 12m plus - I think if significant calories are being taken as milk, it will hinder the development of a healthy diet of food and drink. Milk is still an important aspect of the diet of a child, but not in a way that means baby doesn't eat normal portions at meal times.