It is understandable for new parents who can’t wake their newborns toughly when they see the baby having a restful sleep. But considering to their body development and healthy sleep patterns in the long term, it is unavoidable to wake up newborns sometimes. Thus, this article will introduce you some helpful and gentle methods to teach you how to wake infant for feeding without heavily crying.

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IN THIS ARTICLE

Why Should Mothers Wake Infants for Feeding?

When to Wake Newborns for Feeding?

How to Wake Infant for Feeding?

Is it Safe to Let Sleepy Infants Fed?  

Why Should Mothers Wake Infants for Feeding?

Although waking up a newborn to feed may make some parents feel exhausted, it has many important benefits for both the baby and the mother.

Benefits for babies

1. Ensure adequate nutrient intake

On the one hand, newborns require a large amount of energy and nutrition to support the development of their body and brain. On the other hand, it helps babies maintain weight gain, especially in the first few days and weeks after birth, where weight recovery and growth are particularly important.

2. Establishing a regular biological clock

Frequent feeding helps babies establish regular feeding habits and sleep patterns, which are crucial for regulating their biological clock.

3. Promote the development of digestive function

Regular awakening feeding can help establish a normal digestive rhythm and reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation and indigestion. At the same time, the sucking action also exercises the muscle development of the mouth, throat, and other parts, establishing the foundation for normal eating and language development in the future.

4. Establish emotional security

During the process of being awakened and fed, newborns have intimate skin contact with their mothers, and can feel their body temperature, heartbeat, smell, etc. This intimate interaction can establish a deep emotional bond, allowing newborns to gain emotional security, which is very important for their psychological and emotional health development.

Benefits for Mom

1. Promote breast milk secretion

Frequent breastfeeding can stimulate the mother's breast and promote milk secretion. Also, it can reduce the risk of breast blockage and mastitis, as milk does not accumulate too much in the breasts.

2. Establish good feeding habits

It helps mothers master the correct bottle feeding or breastfeeding posture and techniques, and improve breastfeeding efficiency.

3. Good for finding any problems

During the feeding process, mothers can observe the baby's reaction, so that can better understand the baby's needs, detect any abnormalities in the baby promptly, such as slow weight gain, digestive problems, etc., and take measures as early as possible.

4. Establish emotional connection between mother and baby

The feeding process is an important moment of intimate interaction between mothers and newborns. By doing so, mothers can have more contacts with their babies, deepen their feelings for each other, enhance their sense of responsibility and happiness, and help mothers better adapt to the role of mothers.

When to Wake Newborns for Feeding?

Generally speaking, newborns usually need to be fed milk every 2 to 3 hours, including at night. If your baby sleeps continuously for more than 4 hours at night, you can consider waking them up for feeding to ensure they receive sufficient nutrition. In most cases, babies will naturally wake up when they are hungry. Usually, they express hunger through crying, accompanied by other behaviors such as sucking their fingers, and opening their mouths to find nipples. But if the baby sleeps deeply over 4 hours and shows no signs of hunger, it may be considered to wake them up. What’s more, if the newborn's weight gain is slow or does not meet the expected standards, the doctor may recommend waking up the baby for feeding at a fixed time, even if the baby is sleeping.

How to Wake Infant for Feeding?

1. Gently touch: Gently pat or caress the baby's cheeks, back of their hand, or soles of their feet to help them gradually wake up.

2. Skin contact: Place the baby on your chest or abdomen and help them wake up through skin contact.

3. Adjust the lighting: Slightly brighten the room's lights to help the baby realize it's time to wake up.

4. Change diapers: During the process of undressing, wiping the buttocks, and changing back into a new diaper, gentle movements and skin contact can create a certain sensation in the baby, thus causing them to awake.

5.Slight shaking: Gently shake the baby's bed or cradle to help them gradually wake up from deep sleep.

6. Speak softly: Call the baby's name or talk to them in a gentle voice to help them gradually wake up.

7. Play a slight sound: Play gentle music or make light sounds to help the baby gradually wake up.

8. Wipe with warm water: Gently wipe the baby's face or hands and feet with warm water to help them wake up.

9. Adjust posture: Pick up the baby, adjust their posture, and help them wake up from sleep.

10. Unfasten the swaddle: If the baby is sleeping wrapped in swaddling clothes, you can carefully undo some of the swaddling clothes to allow the baby's hands and feet to move slightly. This transition from relative restraint to slight freedom will give the baby a new feeling, which in turn will prompt him to wake up.

Each baby's reaction is different, pay attention to observing their reaction and choose the most suitable method. Throughout the process, maintain gentleness and patience, preventing sudden large movements or loud noises from startling the baby. If the baby is very tired, parents can wait for a few minutes to try again, which may make it easier for them to wake up.

4 easy steps to wake infants for feeding:

1. Observe the baby's condition: First observe whether the baby wakes up naturally or if there are signs of hunger (such as sucking fingers, opening the mouth to look for nipples, etc.).
2. Choose the appropriate method: Choose one or several gentle methods based on the baby's reaction.
3. Gradual awakening: Start with the gentlest method and gradually increase stimulation until the baby is completely awake.
4. Immediate breastfeeding: Once the baby wakes up, start breastfeeding immediately to prevent them from falling asleep again.

Is it Safe to Let Sleepy Infants Fed?

It is usually safe to feed drowsy babies, however, to ensure their safety and health, here are some precautions and suggestions:

1. Ensure that the baby's posture is correct

Head support: Ensure that the baby's head is properly supported, avoiding excessive tilting or forward tilting of the head.

Body position: Let the baby's body be in a naturally curved position, similar to the position of a fetus, which helps them to suck and swallow more easily.

2. Avoid the risk of suffocation

Observe breathing: During the feeding process, closely monitor the baby's breathing. If the baby has difficulty breathing or coughing while sucking, feeding should be stopped immediately, allowing the baby to have a temporary rest.

Avoid excessive feeding: Do not force your baby to eat too much, especially when they are drowsy. Overfeeding may cause the baby to vomit or feel uncomfortable.

3. Use appropriate feeding methods

Breastfeeding: Ensure that the baby holds the nipple correctly and avoid shallow sucking that can cause difficulty in sucking. If babies feel drowsy, gently pat their cheeks or back of their hands to help them stay alert.

Bottle feeding: Ensure that the angle of the bottle is correct to prevent air from entering the baby's stomach. Otherwise, gently pat the baby's back to help them burp.

4. Observe the baby's reaction

Sucking intensity: Observe the baby's sucking intensity. If a baby's sucking becomes weaker and weaker, it may mean they are about to fall asleep. At this point, some stimulus measures can be taken.

Facial expressions and body language: Pay attention to the baby's facial expressions and body language. If the baby appears tired or begins to close their eyes, it is necessary to take some stimulation measures.

5. Short pause

Short pauses: During the feeding process, pause briefly every few minutes to allow the baby to rest before resuming feeding. This can help babies stay awake and swallow better.

Through these tips, you can safely feed drowsy babies and ensure they receive sufficient nutrition. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to consult a doctor or professional parenting consultant.