Newborn sleep: Should I wake my baby for feedings?

Whether you should wake a sleeping newborn for feedings depends on a variety of factors. These factors include the baby’s age, weight and overall health.

Most newborns lose weight in the first few days after birth. They usually regain this lost weight within 1 to 2 weeks after birth. Until then, it’s important to feed your baby often. This might mean waking your baby for a feeding, especially if it’s been more than four hours since the last feeding.

Once your newborn shows a pattern of weight gain and reaches the birth-weight milestone, it’s generally OK to delay feedings until your baby wakes up.

Most newborns need 8 to 12 feedings a day. That’s about one feeding every 2 to 3 hours. While waking up a sleeping baby might seem like a bad idea, frequent feedings early on are important for a couple of reasons:

• Crying is a late sign of hunger. The sooner you begin each feeding, the less likely you’ll need to soothe a frantic baby. Look for early signs of hunger, such as hand-to-mouth activity, smacking lips, rooting and stirring while asleep.
• Frequent feedings support early breastfeeding. If you breast-feed, frequent feedings will help you establish your milk supply.

Keep in mind that premature babies often have special nutritional needs. They might not reliably show late hunger cues, such as crying. If your baby was born prematurely or you’re concerned about your baby’s feeding patterns or weight gain, ask your healthcare team for specific recommendations.