Butter Before Bed? Here's What Experts Say About This Sleep 'Trend' for Infants and Toddlers (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

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Dr. Rebecca Greenberg Carterwith theUniversity of Maryland Medical Systemtells PEOPLE that there is a nutritional basis, but it has lost context amid buzz from the online crowd.

“First and foremost,healthyfats are encouraged in pediatric diets only after introduction of solid foods. I would not recommend this as a food introduction prior to starting other solids — which is generally between 4 to 6 months,” she shares.

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“Most important would be addressing those issues and following up with your pediatrician,” she adds.

Brittany Sheehan, pediatric sleep consultant and founder ofBrittany Sheehan Sleep, agrees, telling PEOPLE, “A child who is struggling to sleep is not magically going to become a great sleeper because they are given butter — or an ‘Okay to Wake’ clock, or magnesium rubbed on their feet, or lavender spray, or an onion under the bed.”

“The truth is, much like an ideal diet, what actually works to help babies and toddlers sleep is never a hack or a trick or a shiny new product. It’s much simpler and less exciting — proper feeding, ideal timing and duration of sleep based on the child’s age, and a consistent response from the parents if a child wakes up early — that’s it!”

Stock image of diced butter in a pan.Getty

Dr. Carter points out that many parents are likely to try out a “hack” before finding out the science. As a result, they should know “butter does not contain other essential nutrients needed for infant growth, so it shouldn’t be given in any size quantity that would suppress an infant’s appetite for breastmilk or formula at ages under 12 months.”

“Similarly for toddlers, butter shouldn’t be a substantive part of their diet, as it may take away from other important nutrients they would obtain through eating healthy,” she continues.

Parents should generally learn to be weary of what online “parenting hacks” as such offer, she says.

“Anything we’re referring to as a ‘hack’ that involves our bodies and our health, I’d steer clear of,” Sheehan says. “Really under no circumstance should a parent feel pressured to follow sleep ‘hacks’ for babies or toddlers, which are a waste of time and energy at best, and can be incredibly dangerous, at worst.”

Stock image of toddler sleeping on a bed.Zia Soleil / Getty Images

Both experts agree that prioritizing overall sleep health through consistent routines and building healthy habits is key to helping your kids sleep well.

“Most important for healthy sleep is a regular, consistent bedtime routine, without screens before bed and a consistent bedtime nightly,” Dr. Carter says.

“Creating healthy sleep habits will serve your child better in the long run, and make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for years of sleep difficulty in the future.”

source: people.com