Herbie Murray
Waking a sleeping newborn to nurse can be challenging, but there are several techniques that can help. It is common for newborns to fall asleep while nursing, and it is important to ensure they are getting enough to eat. In this article, we will explore different methods for gently waking a sleeping newborn, including tickling their feet, using a cold cloth, and stimulating their suck reflex. We will also discuss the importance of skin-to-skin contact and how to create a calm and comfortable environment for nursing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Remove clothing | Leave the baby in just a nappy or diaper |
| Temperature | Use a cold cloth or flannel to wake the baby |
| Stimulation | Tickle the baby's feet, cheeks or chin |
| Nursing technique | Switch breasts, threaten to take the baby away from the breast |
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What You'll Learn
Tickling their feet
Tickling a newborn's feet is a great way to wake them up to nurse. Here are some tips to help you do this effectively:
First, make sure your newborn is in a comfortable position, either in your arms or on a safe surface. Gently take off their socks or shoes if they're wearing any. Then, using your fingers, lightly stroke and tickle the soles of their feet. You can also try running a wet wipe or a cold, damp cloth across their feet, as the temperature change can help stimulate them. Be gentle and patient, as it may take a few tries to fully wake your newborn.
If tickling their feet doesn't seem to be working, you can try combining it with other techniques. For example, you can try lightly stroking their shoulders or tickling their cheeks and chin to stimulate their sucking reflex. You can also try undressing them down to their nappy, as a warm baby is more likely to fall asleep.
Remember, it's important to wake a newborn to nurse, especially in the first few weeks when they need to eat frequently. It may feel unnatural to disturb their sleep, but it's necessary for their health and development. If your newborn continues to have trouble waking up to nurse, consult a healthcare professional for personalised advice.
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Using a cold cloth
If your baby is very sleepy, it could be a sign of jaundice. If they are getting too jaundiced, they may need light therapy. This can make them very sluggish and sleepy.
It is very common for newborns not to wake up to feed in the first week or two. You may need to play with their ears or arms to keep them awake. You can also try leaving them in just their nappy, as a warm baby will fall asleep.
If your baby falls asleep on the breast, let them fall away a little to threaten to take them away. This will usually upset them enough that they will come back and suck well for a time.
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Gently jostling them
Gently jostling a newborn is a good way to wake them up for feeding. You can do this by lightly stroking their feet or shoulders to tickle them a bit. You can also try tickling their cheek or chin to stimulate their suck reflex.
If this doesn't work, you can try using a cold cloth or flannel to wake them up. This could be by wiping a cold wipe across their feet or using a wet flannel on their face.
Another option is to undress the baby so they are only in their nappy. A warm baby will just fall asleep.
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Removing their clothes
If your baby is very sleepy, it could be a sign of jaundice, so it's important to monitor their bilirubin levels. If they are getting too jaundiced, they may need light therapy. However, it's also very common for newborns to struggle to stay awake during feeding, and it may take a couple of weeks for them to reliably wake up when they're hungry.
If your baby falls asleep quickly on the breast, you can try tickling their cheek or chin to stimulate their sucking reflex. You can also let them fall away from your breast a little, which may upset them enough that they come back and suck well for a time. If that doesn't work, take them off the breast and help them wake up again before latching them on to the other side. You may need to wake them up several times until they have nursed well for ten to fifteen minutes.
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Switching breasts
Breastfeeding a newborn can be exhausting, as they naturally wake often at night. In the first few months, it's practically impossible to keep a nursing baby awake who is satisfied with a full belly. But as babies grow, encourage them to sleep on their own.
To switch breasts, try giving five minutes on one side and then 10 to 15 minutes on the other. This way, your baby will get the foremilk from both breasts and still get all the hindmilk from the second side. If one breast keeps your baby sleeping for four hours at night, there's no need to switch. But if your baby seems hungry too often or they're gaining weight too slowly, switch breasts to ensure they're getting enough milk.
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Frequently asked questions
Try tickling their feet, turning on the lights, or gently jostling them. You can also try using a cold cloth on their feet or cheeks. If they fall asleep quickly on the breast, try letting them fall away from your breast a little, which may upset them enough to come back and suck well for a time.
Newborns need to eat every 3-4 hours, or maybe even every 2-3 hours when they are very small.
Try undressing them to their nappy only. You can also try switching nursing sides, or taking them off the breast and helping them wake up before latching them on to the other side.
