Ashwin Lewis
Waking a sleeping baby to feed can be challenging for new parents. It is essential to understand when and how to feed your baby for their health and growth. Newborns have unique feeding schedules and hunger cues, and they need to be fed every 2-4 hours, even if it means waking them up. This is because their tiny tummies digest breast milk quickly, and they need to nurse frequently. Understanding your baby's sleep patterns and creating a calm feeding environment can help you successfully wake them up for feeding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How long should a baby sleep between feeds? | Newborns should be fed every 2-4 hours, or every 3-4 hours for the first couple of weeks until they show good weight gain. |
| How to wake a sleeping baby for feeding | Try to wake the baby during REM sleep, recognised by fluttering eyelids, sleep grins, clenched fists, and moving arms and legs. Hold the baby upright, sing, talk, and make eye contact. Massage the baby's hands, feet, back, arms, and shoulders. Change the baby's diaper. Dimming the lights may also help. |
| How to feed a sleepy baby | Tickle the baby's lower lip with a moistened nipple to stimulate them to open their mouth. During feeding, switch breasts when the baby begins to fade. If the baby drifts off, rouse them by burping and repositioning them, or dribbling milk on their lips. |
| How to establish a feeding schedule | Look for hunger cues such as lip-smacking, rooting, finger-sucking, and crying. Build a schedule that works for your baby. |
| General advice | If your baby is sleepier than normal, difficult to wake, or seems lethargic, consult a doctor. |
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What You'll Learn
Recognise hunger cues
Newborns have unique feeding schedules and hunger cues. Recognising these indications will help you build a feeding schedule that works for your child.
Babies will usually send out hunger cues like lip-smacking, rooting, finger-sucking, or a hearty cry when their tummy is empty. During the first few weeks, babies can sometimes sleep through their feeding alarms, in which case they need to be awakened.
If your newborn seems to be waking every hour or two throughout the night to eat, you may need to correct their reverse cycling and target full feedings during the day. Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3-4 hours to eat until they show good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it's okay to let your baby sleep for longer periods at night.
If your baby is much sleepier than normal, difficult to wake, or seems lethargic, consult your doctor. Newborns can be sleepy, especially if they are experiencing day-night confusion.
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How to wake a baby during REM sleep
It is understandable that parents may be hesitant to wake their baby when they are sleeping peacefully. However, waking a baby from a nap or in the morning can help set them up for overall sleep success, ensure they get the calories they need, and help accommodate real life. Newborns are growing fast, and their bodies cannot take much of a break. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends waking your baby to feed if they sleep more than four to five hours at a time for the first two weeks. Breastfed babies feed about every 2-3 hours, while bottle-fed babies tend to feed every 3-4 hours.
If your baby is in a deep sleep, they will be harder to rouse. It is best to try to wake your baby during REM sleep, a lighter stage of sleep. You'll recognize REM sleep when your baby moves their arms and legs, changes their facial expressions, and flutters their eyelids. If you are waking your baby to feed, try to do so during this active sleep period.
- Slowly unswaddle your baby.
- If that doesn't work, try undressing them.
- Change their diaper while you sing a song or stroke their hands and the soles of their feet.
- Hold your baby upright, which usually causes newborns to open their eyes.
- Dim the lights.
- Talk and sing to your baby and, once you get their eyes open, make eye contact.
- Massage your baby's hands, feet, arms, back, and shoulders.
- If your baby is super sleepy, you may need to rouse them a bit by gently tickling their toes.
- Place your nipple or bottle on your baby's cheek or lower lip to wake up their rooting reflex and encourage them to start eating.
- If that doesn't work, try skin-to-skin contact. Undress both of you from shoulder to waist, and place the baby against your tummy and breast, with a towel or lightweight blanket draped over their exposed back and head.
- If your baby is still not waking, hold them upright and talk to them to encourage them to open their eyes.
- Straighten out their body and extend their arms – postures that perk up the brain.
- Stroke the palms of their hands and soles of their feet to help them wake up.
If your baby is much sleepier than normal, difficult to wake, or seems lethargic, talk to your doctor.
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How to wake a lethargic baby
It is understandable that you may be reluctant to wake your sleeping baby, but it is important to do so to ensure they are getting the nutrition they need. Newborns have a physiological need to nurse about every two to four hours, and if they sleep for longer stretches, they should be awakened to feed.
If your baby is lethargic and very hard to wake, you should consult your paediatrician. However, if your baby is simply sleeping and you need to wake them to feed, there are some techniques you can try. Firstly, try to wake your baby during REM sleep, when they are in a lighter stage of sleep. You can recognise this stage of sleep by fluttering eyelids, sleep grins, clenched fists, and limbs that are not limp. If your baby is in a deep sleep, they will be harder to rouse.
You can try undressing your baby from the shoulder to the waist and placing them skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast, with a towel or lightweight blanket over their exposed back and head. Your body heat will keep them warm, and your skin temperature will rise slightly while breastfeeding. If this doesn't work, hold your baby upright and talk to them to encourage them to open their eyes. You can also try singing or humming a calming tune as you approach your baby, creating a peaceful environment for feeding time.
If your baby nods off during feeding, you can try to rouse them by burping and repositioning them, dribbling some milk on their lips, or jiggling your breast or the bottle in their mouth. You can also try switching breasts as soon as your baby begins to fade, and interspersing a burp or a brief back rub on the way to the other breast. This is called switch nursing.
It is important to note that you should never let your baby fall asleep on a product that is not specifically designed for sleeping babies, such as a car seat, feeding pillow, or infant lounger.
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How to establish a calm feeding environment
Establishing a calm feeding environment for your infant is important for their overall development and well-being. Here are some tips to create a tranquil and peaceful space for feeding your little one:
Create a tranquil space:
Maximize natural lighting in the room and opt for softer lighting options. Bright overhead lighting, especially fluorescent lighting, can be too harsh and stimulating for infants. Soft string lights or a lamp with a warm glow can help create a calm ambiance. Choose colours that evoke positive and soothing feelings, and avoid overwhelming patterns or bright colours that may be overstimulating.
Minimize noise and distractions:
Keep the feeding environment quiet and peaceful. Reduce any background noise, such as television or loud music, which can be distracting for your infant. If there are older children in the home, explain to them the importance of keeping the environment calm and quiet during feeding time.
Establish a routine:
Infants thrive on routines, so try to establish a consistent feeding schedule. This will help your baby settle into a predictable pattern and may even make it easier to wake them for feedings if needed. For example, you might decide to have a calm morning routine that includes feeding, playtime, and then a nap.
Use gentle waking techniques:
If you need to wake your sleeping infant for feeding, try to do so during their REM sleep, which is a lighter stage of sleep. Look for signs of REM sleep, such as fluttering eyelids, sleep grins, and clenched fists. Gently prod your baby by touching their shoulder or back gently, or undress them a bit to stimulate them to wake up.
Skin-to-skin contact:
Undress yourself and your baby from the shoulder to the waist, and hold your baby skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast. Cover their exposed back and head with a towel or lightweight blanket to keep them warm. Your body heat and the scent of your skin can help stimulate your baby and encourage feeding.
Remember, it's important to pay attention to your infant's unique needs and preferences. Some babies may be more sensitive to light or sound, so observe their reactions and adjust the environment accordingly. Creating a calm feeding environment will not only help your baby but also provide you with a peaceful and enjoyable bonding experience.
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How to create a feeding schedule
Creating a feeding schedule for a newborn can be challenging for new parents. In the early days, on-demand feeding—feeding whenever your baby shows hunger cues—is essential to meeting their needs. This usually works out to be about every 2-3 hours, although some may require more frequent feedings, especially during growth spurts.
As your baby grows, they will eat less often but will consume more milk or formula each time. By the time they are one week old, they may begin to nap for longer periods, giving you more time between feedings. If they are sleeping, you can maintain your baby's feeding schedule by gently waking them up when it's time to feed.
By the time your baby is one month old, they will need at least 4 ounces per feeding. At this stage, formula-fed babies are usually fed about six to eight times a day (about every three to four hours), while breastfed babies may feed a little more often.
From six months onwards, you can start introducing solid foods. Start with one solid meal a day, eventually moving to two, and then three meals as they grow, with the addition of snacks. It is recommended that babies still get the bulk of their nutrition from breast milk or formula until they turn one, so those liquid meals should take priority.
There is no need to implement a firm schedule; however, a flexible but consistent daily routine is helpful for both the baby and parents.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to feed your baby every 2-4 hours, or 3-3.5 hours from the start of the last feeding. If your baby is formula-fed, they can go 3-4 hours between feedings during the first month. After the first couple of weeks, it's okay to let your baby sleep for longer periods at night.
Try to wake your baby during REM sleep, which is recognised by fluttering eyelids, sleep grins, clenched fists, and moving arms and legs. You can also try undressing your baby, changing their diaper, singing, or humming a calming tune. Holding your baby upright and skin-to-skin will also help to wake them up.
If your baby falls asleep while feeding, try burping and repositioning them, dribbling milk on their lips, or jiggling your breast or the bottle to start them feeding again. You can also try switching breasts or using your moistened nipple to tickle their lower lip to stimulate them to open their mouth.
