Final answer:
Babies typically begin to sleep through the night without feeding by 6 months of age as their digestive systems and sleep-wake cycles mature. This can vary among infants due to individual differences in development and growth. By their first birthday, most infants have established regular sleep-wake cycles.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing when babies sleep through the night without feeding, it's important to recognize that sleep patterns are part of an infant's developmental milestones. Initially, in the newborn stage, infants sleep a lot but wake frequently for feedings as their stomachs are small and they require regular nourishment. Typically, by the age of 6 months, many infants start to sleep through the night as their biological rhythms develop and they begin to consume more food during the day. However, this can vary greatly from baby to baby due to individual differences.
During the first few months of life, infants have a range of survival reflexes, such as the suckling and rooting reflexes which help them feed. Over time, as infants grow and their digestive systems develop, these frequent feedings become less necessary, and they can sustain longer periods of sleep. By 12 months, most infants have established regular sleep-wake cycles and experience significant growth in motor and cognitive abilities, indicating a natural progression towards sleeping through the night without the need for feedings.