Ashwin Lewis
Newborns need to be awake to eat eight or more times every 24 hours. If your baby is struggling to stay awake during feeding, there are several techniques you can try to wake them up. These include stroking the palms of their hands and soles of their feet, placing them skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast, and holding them upright and talking to them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to wake a newborn | During REM sleep, when eyelids flutter, baby grins, fists are clenched, and limbs are not limp |
| How to wake a newborn | Prod baby a bit |
| Undress baby and place skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast, with a towel or blanket over baby's back and head | |
| Hold baby upright and talk to them | |
| Straighten out their body and extend their arms | |
| Stroke the palms of their hands and soles of their feet |
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What You'll Learn
Try to wake baby during REM sleep
REM sleep is a lighter stage of sleep, during which it is easier to wake a baby. 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. Try prodding your baby a bit. Undress both of you from shoulder to waist, and place your baby skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast, while you drape a towel or lightweight blanket over your baby’s exposed back and head. Your own body heat should keep them warm, but not so warm that they fall back to sleep. If that doesn’t work, hold your baby upright and talk to them to encourage them to open their eyes.
You can also try straightening out your baby's body and extending their arms, which are postures that perk up the brain. Stroke the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet to help them wake up. If your baby drifts off after only a few minutes of sucking, take them off the breast and help them wake up again before latching them on to the other side. Wake them up several times if you have to until they have nursed well for ten or fifteen minutes.
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Place baby skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast
If your newborn baby is sleeping too much, you may need to wake them to eat. Try to wake your baby during REM sleep, which is a lighter stage of sleep. You can recognise this stage by fluttering eyelids, sleep grins, clenched fists, and limbs that are not limp. A baby in a deep sleep is harder to rouse.
To wake your baby, place them skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast. Undress both of you from the shoulder to the waist. Drape a towel or lightweight blanket over your baby's exposed back and head. Your body heat should keep them warm, but not so warm that they fall asleep again. Your skin temperature will automatically increase a little while breastfeeding. If this doesn't work, try holding your baby upright and talking to them to encourage them to open their eyes.
You can also try straightening out your baby's body and extending their arms, which are postures that perk up the brain. Stroke the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet to help them wake up. If your baby drifts off after a few minutes of sucking, take them off the breast and help them wake up again before latching them on to the other side. Wake them up several times if you have to until they have nursed well for ten or fifteen minutes.
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Hold baby upright and talk to him
If your newborn baby is sleeping too much and you need to wake them up, try holding them upright and talking to them. This is a good method to encourage them to open their eyes, especially if they are in a deep sleep.
To do this, first, make sure you are in a quiet, calm environment. Then, gently pick up your baby and hold them close to your body, with their head resting on your shoulder. Make sure you are supporting their head and neck with one hand, while using your other hand to stabilise their body.
Once you are in a comfortable position, start talking to your baby in a soft, gentle voice. You can talk about anything you like - describe what you are doing, tell them a story, or simply chat about your day. The sound of your voice will help to stimulate their brain and encourage them to wake up.
While you are talking, you can also try straightening out their body and extending their arms. This posture can help to perk up their brain and encourage them to become more alert. You can also try stroking the palms of their hands and soles of their feet, as this can help to further stimulate their senses and encourage them to wake up.
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Stroke the palms of his hands and soles of his feet
If your newborn baby is sleeping too much and you need to wake them to feed, there are a few things 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 by fluttering eyelids, sleep grins, clenched fists, and limbs that are not limp.
If your baby is in a deep sleep, try undressing both of you from the shoulder to the waist, and placing your baby skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast. Drape a towel or lightweight blanket over your baby’s exposed back and head. Your own body heat should keep your baby warm, but not so warm that they fall back to sleep.
If that doesn’t work, try holding your baby upright and talking to them to encourage them to open their eyes. You can also try straightening out their body and extending their arms, which are postures that perk up the brain. Stroke the palms of their hands and soles of their feet to help them wake up. You can also try switching them to the other breast if they have been feeding. Wake them up several times if you have to until they have nursed well for ten or fifteen minutes.
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Take him off the breast and help him wake up again before latching him on to the other side
If your newborn falls asleep while breastfeeding, you can try taking them off the breast and helping them to wake up again before latching them on to the other side. You may need to do this several times until they have nursed well for ten to fifteen minutes.
Try to wake your baby during REM sleep, which is a lighter stage of sleep. You can recognise this stage 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 to prod them gently, or undress both of you from shoulder to waist, and place your baby skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast, while you drape a towel or lightweight blanket over their exposed back and head. Your body heat should keep them warm, but not so warm that they fall back to sleep. If this doesn't work, try holding your baby upright and talk to them to encourage them to open their eyes.
You can also try straightening out their body and extending their arms, which are postures that perk up the brain. Stroke the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet to help them wake up.
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Frequently asked questions
REM sleep is recognised by fluttering eyelids, sleep grins, clenched fists and limbs that are not limp. Prod your baby a bit and place them skin-to-skin against your tummy and breast, while you drape a towel or lightweight blanket over their exposed back and head.
Take them off the breast and help them wake up again before latching them on to the other side. Wake them up several times if you have to until they have nursed well for ten or fifteen minutes.
Instead of the usual bonding positions, 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.
A baby in a deep sleep is harder to rouse. Hold them upright and talk to them to encourage them to open their eyes.
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