Should I Wake The Baby To Feed It?

As we adapt to our newborns’ routines, everything gradually becomes easier. However, we can sometimes encounter many doubts during the first few days. For example: How and when should I feed my baby? Should I wake the baby to feed it?

Breastfeeding is necessary and also a benefit for children up to at least six months. Even if newborns show when they are hungry in their own way, you can still think about how much your baby should actually eat.

Sometimes we may think that if they sleep, they can survive for a while without food, while other times we may worry that they will sleep too long and miss breastfeeding time.

Did you know that children know better than we do how much milk they need and when they need it? Your baby’s nutrition during the first period of its life can only be adapted to its needs.

You will produce the amount of milk your baby needs, and the baby will eat as much as he needs. During the first months, it is not necessary to wake the baby to feed it.

However, this is not true in some special cases, as it may be necessary to wake the child. If this applies to you, your doctor will tell you.

This can apply, for example, if your baby is born prematurely, not completely healthy, loses weight or does not gain enough weight. Then it may be necessary to feed it more often. In these cases, if your baby sleeps a lot, you may have to wake the baby to feed it.

Feed as needed

It is normal to become anxious when it has been a while since your child last died. This happens especially when you feed your baby every four hours.

If time has passed and it is still asleep, you may feel a need to wake it up. It is also normal for us to worry about changes in routines.

However, some mothers choose to feed their children according to the children’s demand. Feeding the baby according to its demand means that it is fed when it shows that it is hungry. This means that they feed the baby no matter how long it has been since the last time.

By feeding the baby at its own request, it is not necessary to wake the baby to feed it again.

Many specialists recommend feeding the baby at its own request when the baby can show that it is hungry by, for example, crying.

When you breastfeed at its own request, the baby will inform you when it is time to eat. If it sleeps, it will wake up to breastfeed itself. Your baby will eat when he is hungry, which means that his need for nourishment will be met.

It will look for your breast, cry or suck to show that it wants to eat. It is important for the mother to feed her baby even if it has only been a short time since she last gave birth.

In the beginning, you may be unsure of many things. Once a breastfeeding routine has been created, however, your baby will wake you up on time every time it’s time to eat.

When is it necessary to wake the baby to feed it?

If your baby is healthy, you do not need to wake him up, but in some cases you will need to feed him, even though he is asleep.

In the following circumstances, you must wake the baby to feed it:

• If your child needs to gain weight, lose weight or have slept for many hours straight without eating.
• If your baby has not adapted to a breastfeeding routine. This usually happens within the first few days after the baby is born.
• If your baby is born prematurely or is ill.

We always recommend that you wake the child as gently as possible,  except in certain special cases. By having it close to you, for example in a baby carrier, you can give it to the breast without waking it up sharply.

The key to this is to try not to wake it from deep sleep, but instead take advantage of its movements.