Miya Pearson
Newborns need to feed often, but they can be very sleepy. Breastfeeding a newborn can be challenging, especially if they are too tired to feed. In the first few days, some babies are sleepy or uninterested in feeding, especially if they are small, or if their mother had a difficult labour or used pain relief during birth. If your baby is too sleepy to feed, you may need to wake them to ensure they get enough milk. This can be done by picking them up and talking to them, changing their nappy, or stroking their legs and tummy. It is also important to keep an eye out for feeding cues, such as poking their tongue out or licking their lips, and to ensure that your baby is latched on properly.
How to feed a sleeping newborn
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often to feed | Newborns need to feed 8-12 times in 24 hours, at least every 2-3 hours from the start of one feed to the next, with one longer sleep of 4-5 hours. |
| How to wake a sleepy baby | Try picking them up, talking to them, changing their nappy, stroking their legs and tummy, giving them a warm bath, or holding them skin-to-skin. |
| How to know if your baby is getting enough milk | Watch for lots of poos and wet nappies and increasing alertness. |
| How to encourage active feeding | Feed your baby in just a nappy, as a warm baby will fall asleep. Try switch feeding, offering one breast and then the other to encourage sucking and swallowing. |
| How to know if your baby is hungry | Feeding cues include starting to wake up, poking their tongue out or licking their lips, turning their face to find a nipple, sucking on something, or crying. |
| How to prevent sleep issues | Avoid letting your baby fall asleep on products not designed for sleeping, such as car seats, feeding pillows, or infant loungers. Do not use sleep positioners or weighted blankets. |
| How to establish a sleep routine | Keep things quiet and calm during nighttime feedings and diaper changes. Keep the lights low and do not play with or talk to your baby. |
| How to settle a crying baby | Rocking, cuddling, and singing can help soothe a crying baby. Swaddling, or wrapping the baby in a light blanket, can also be soothing. |
| How to manage regurgitation | Regurgitation is common in babies younger than 3 months and usually settles by 6-10 months. It is not caused by breastfeeding. |
| How to prevent jaundice | Frequent breastfeeding can help prevent jaundice, a condition that can make babies sleepy. |
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What You'll Learn
Recognising feeding cues
- Sucking on fists or hands
- Lip smacking
- Rooting (opening their mouth as though they were about to breastfeed)
- Head turning to look for the breast
- Becoming more alert and active
- Opening and closing their mouth
- Rapid eye movement
Crying is usually a late sign of hunger in babies. It is a sign of distress, and by the time your baby is crying, they are likely already very hungry and upset. Therefore, it is important to watch for early hunger cues and feed your baby right away.
It is also important to note that very frequent feeding can be a sign that your baby is not attached to your breast properly, especially if you also have sore nipples. If you are concerned about frequent feeding, you should check the attachment. Additionally, if your baby regularly sleeps for 4 hours or longer at a time, you should consult your paediatrician about whether you should be gently waking them up to feed.
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Switching breasts
Breastfeeding a newborn can be a challenging experience for new mothers, especially when it comes to knowing when to switch breasts. Here are some detailed tips and guidelines to help you navigate this process:
Understanding the Benefits of Switching Breasts:
Switch nursing, or alternating between breasts during a single feeding session, offers several advantages. Firstly, it helps to stimulate milk production in both breasts, ensuring a healthy supply of milk for your baby. This is particularly important during the early weeks after your baby's birth, as it contributes to establishing and maintaining a good milk supply. Additionally, alternating breasts can prevent problems like breast engorgement, plugged milk ducts, and mastitis. It can also help to balance the size of your breasts and prevent them from becoming uneven.
Recognizing Feeding Cues:
Pay close attention to your baby's feeding cues to determine when to switch. Allow your baby to feed on one breast until they show signs of satisfaction or fullness, such as slower sucking, pulling away, or falling asleep. You may also notice "butterfly sucks," which are gentle sucks that indicate they are finished feeding from that breast. If your baby falls asleep, gently wake them up and offer the second breast. Tickling their toes, stroking their face, or gently tickling their lips with your nipple may encourage them to latch on.
Timing and Frequency of Switching:
The timing of switching breasts can vary depending on your baby's feeding patterns. It's generally recommended to allow your baby to finish feeding from one breast before offering the other. This ensures they receive the rich, fatty hindmilk from the first breast and get the right balance of fat and calories. However, some babies may naturally switch breasts before fully emptying one side. It's important to watch your baby's feeding cues and maintain a flexible approach, as every baby is unique. Most babies feed for 10-20 minutes per breast, but some may need only 5-10 minutes.
Techniques for a Smooth Transition:
To ensure a comfortable and smooth transition between breasts, consider using a supportive nursing pillow, such as the Momcozy nursing pillow. This can help you maintain good positioning and support while moving your baby between breasts. Additionally, keep track of which breast you start feeding from, alternating between sides to ensure equal stimulation and milk supply. You can use simple reminders like a note on your phone or a bracelet to remember which side to start with next time.
Managing Fullness and Overabundant Supply:
If your baby is satisfied after feeding from one breast, you may experience fullness or engorgement in the other breast. In this case, you can hand-express or pump to soften the breast and relieve discomfort. Alternatively, you can start the next feeding from the breast your baby previously fed from to maintain comparable milk production in both breasts. Remember, once your milk supply is well-established, you can primarily follow your baby's hunger and fullness cues rather than strictly switching between breasts at every feeding.
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Dream feeding
To dream feed your baby, gently take them out of their bassinet or crib between 10 pm and 12 am, or whenever you go to bed. Keep the room dim and quiet, except for white noise. If possible, try to do this during your baby's more active REM sleep. If your baby needs a diaper change, do it before feeding. You can also keep them swaddled if they will take a good feed while wrapped up.
It's important to note that dream feeding may not be suitable for all newborns. For example, if your newborn's bedtime is already between 9 pm and 10 pm, a dream feed may interrupt their long stretch of sleep and make it difficult for them to fall back asleep. Additionally, newborns have small stomachs and need to eat frequently. It is generally recommended to wait until they are between 2 and 3 months old and showing signs of being able to sleep for longer stretches before introducing dream feeding.
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Room-sharing
However, room-sharing can also have some downsides. It can lead to less overall sleep for both babies and parents, and frequent night waking may become a problem if you're room-sharing with an older baby or toddler. Research shows that babies who room-share beyond 4 months of age are four times more likely to be pulled into their parents' bed during the night, and room-sharing infants are more likely to have an unapproved soft object on their sleep surface. Tired parents are also more likely to make unsafe decisions, such as falling asleep next to their child, and are more prone to health issues and car accidents.
If you do choose to room-share, it's important to maintain good sleep hygiene to maximise your rest. For example, try to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings, and keep the lights low. You can also try moving the crib away from your bed or using a temporary room divider so your baby doesn't see you when they wake up.
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Breastfeeding positions
Breastfeeding a newborn can be a challenging task, especially when the baby is sleepy. Here are some tips and positions to help with breastfeeding a sleeping newborn:
Tips for Breastfeeding a Sleeping Newborn:
- It is important to recognise your baby's early feeding cues, such as opening their mouth, moving their head side to side (rooting reflex), or sucking on their hands and fingers. Crying is a late hunger cue, so it is best not to wait until the baby is crying to initiate a feed.
- Try to keep your baby active during the day by avoiding wrapping them. Wrapping can hide feeding cues, and they may go back to sleep without signalling their hunger.
- Change their nappy, express a few drops of colostrum onto their lips, and gently stroke their lips, cheeks, legs, and tummy to stimulate their feeding instincts.
- Feed your baby in just a nappy. A warm baby may fall asleep instead of feeding.
- Offer both breasts during a feed. Switch feeding can help improve your milk supply and ensure your baby gets enough milk.
- Find a comfortable position with back support and your feet supported by a footrest or a large book. It is important that you are comfortable so that you can maintain the position for the duration of the feed.
- Position your baby close to you, with their hips flexed, so they do not have to turn their head to reach your breast. Their mouth and nose should be facing your nipple.
- Use pillows to support your arms and the baby. Ensure your breast is not pressing on the baby's chin.
- Encourage your baby to open their mouth wide and pull them close by supporting their back so that their chin touches your breast.
- Listen for soft clicking sounds, which indicate that your baby is swallowing. Tuning into their sucks and swallows can help you determine if they are transferring milk effectively.
- If your baby is not sucking and swallowing well, adjust their latch or positioning to make them more comfortable.
- Consider standing up and rocking your baby while breastfeeding to help them fall asleep.
- If your baby falls asleep while feeding, hold them for about 20 minutes until they enter a deeper sleep, and then transfer them to their sleeping place.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns need to feed a lot, especially if they have jaundice. They should feed actively from one or both breasts at each feed, swallowing regularly. Feed your newborn at least every 2-3 hours from the start of one feed to the next, with one longer sleep of 4-5 hours.
If your baby is too sleepy to feed, you can try picking them up and talking to them, changing their nappy, or stroking their legs and tummy. Undress and unwrap your baby and hold them skin-to-skin. You can also try giving your baby a warm bath.
Watch your baby for signs that they are getting enough milk: lots of poos and wet nappies and increasing alertness. If your baby is not suckling well, they may not be drinking milk and therefore not swallowing very often.
Breastfeeding your baby to sleep is a common and helpful parenting tool. Breastfeeding satisfies your baby's hunger and thirst, brings them comfort and helps them relax. You can also try feeding your baby while standing up and rocking.
