Alif Khalil
A lot of the advice you’ll get will suggest you feed your kid whenever you want. Follow their cues since they’ll let you know when they’re hungry (which they generally do)! However, there are occasions when waking babies from a nap to feed them is either essential or beneficial.
Although the phrase “never wake a sleeping infant” may appear to be solid advice, there are times when awakening your newborn is the best option. We’ll go through when you should get up, baby to feed them, how long you should let them sleep without eating, and the best technique to wake them up when it’s time to eat.
Which are the Best Times to Wake Your Newborn Baby to Feed Them
It’s customary for new parents to wake up their newborns to make sure they’re getting enough food. It’s also recommended for nursing mothers to frequently expose the infant to the breast enough for the body to recognise the need to produce more milk. Keep an eye out for additional indicators that your baby is receiving enough to eat, in addition to feeding them every 3 hours (including waking baby from a nap to do so).
If Your Doctor Recommends It
Before we go over the top reasons why you might wish to disturb your sleeping infant to feed, wake-sleep them, we’d want to remind you that anything your doctor says takes precedence. If you have any concerns about your child’s health, you should consult with their physician. They’ll advise you on what’s best for you and your baby’s particular condition, such as whether you should wake your infant more or less frequently than is usually recommended.
Before your child regaining his birth weight
According to Kids Health, babies lose between 7 to 10% of their birth weight within the first few days of life. Due to the additional fluid that a newborn carries when they are born, this is typical. A baby should have regained this weight by their two-week checkup if they develop at a rate of one ounce per day.
So, until then, it’s your responsibility to provide your kid with all of the calories they require to live and continue to develop at an average rate. By not allowing your get up a baby to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time (yes, even at night), your infant will have ample opportunity during the day to meet their calorie requirements.
How to Start Breastfeeding
It’s all about supply and demand when it comes to breastfeeding. Your body makes it when your baby asks for it. Breastfeeding (or pumping, as explained here) around the clock is required to maintain your body receiving the message that it needs to make more milk. In the early weeks, make sure to wake the infant up every three hours to feed. Just keep in mind that you can’t nurse too much!
Wake Up to Feed, But Don’t Do It On A Schedule.
The recommendation to wake a newborn for the reasons stated above does not imply that you should put your infant on a schedule (such as feeding every 3 hours no matter what.) Feeding your kid on demand and when they display hunger signs is still a good idea! “Scheduling feedings for a baby who is solely breastfeeding regularly throughout the day and nighttime, especially during the first six weeks has been linked to sluggish weight gain,” according to La Leche League.
Just keep in mind that if you have more than 8 – 12 feeds in a day, this may happen much sooner than every 3 hours. Feed your infant when they exhibit signs of hunger.
How Long Should You Let Your Newborn Sleep Before Feeding Them?
The amount of time you may let your kid go between feeds determine by several factors. Here are a few to think about:
The age of your child. Full-term newborns under the age of two weeks should feed every three hours until they have established breastfeeding and recovered their birth weight. A newborn under the age of six weeks should sleep for no more than 4-5 hours at a time.
The weight increase of your child. The nurse in the hospital will most likely ask you to feed your baby every three hours. It is also the instruction they give you when you go home with your new baby. It is what you should do until your baby’s 2-week checkup when they can determine if your toddler is gaining weight at the recommended rate.
It doesn’t matter if you’re nursing or using a formula. Formula-fed babies may generally go more extended periods between feedings than breastfed newborns. It is because breastmilk digests more quickly than formula. You must, however, continue to observe the “feed every three hours” guideline until your doctor has permitted you to do so.
What Is The Best Way To Get My Newborn To Feed?
Newborns are drowsy tiny creatures. As a result, waking a baby from a nap when it’s time to feed may not be as simple as you think (especially in the middle of the night). Here are some suggestions to help them stay awake long enough to eat and fill their stomachs.
- They should strip down to their underwear. The cold in the air is frequently enough to rouse a sleeping infant up enough to feed. Once they begin to eat, you can wrap them in a blanket to warm them up.
- On their face or body, use a cold washcloth. Similarly, the coolness of a damp towel serves as an excellent wake-up call. However, We’ve always felt a little bad about doing this with my children.
- When your infant is in a light slumber, wake them up. If you see your baby’s eyelids fluttering or shifting around (even slightly), it’s a positive sign that they’re ready to eat.
- While you’re feeding your baby, talk to them to keep them awake—all they need maybe a little sound to wake up.
- Your nipple (or bottle nipple) should rub against your child’s mouth. It will signal to your infant that it’s mealtime (try getting a few drops of colostrum or milk to touch his lips, too).
- If your infant nods off, switch sides or reposition them. Give your baby a break and lift her to rouse her up a little if you see she’s falling asleep. After then, you can resume feeding.
It’s typically OK to wait until your infant wakes up for feedings when they develop a weight increase pattern and meet the birth-weight milestone.
Most infants require eight to twelve feedings each day, or once every two to three hours. While it may seem counterintuitive to wake a sleeping infant, regular feedings are critical for several reasons:
- Crying is a symptom of hunger that appears later in the day. The earlier you start each feeding, the less likely you will have to comfort a fussy baby. Look for hunger symptoms when sleeping, such as hand-to-mouth movement, smacking lips, rooting, and rising.
- Frequent feedings aid early breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding, frequent feedings will aid in the development of your milk supply.
Premature infants, in particular, have unique dietary requirements. Late hunger signs, like crying, may not be reliably displayed. Consult your baby’s doctor for specific advice if your baby was delivered prematurely or if you’re worried about their eating patterns or weight gain.
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