Parenting a newborn baby is difficult and demanding. There are instances when new parents are unsure whether or not they should do anything, such as wake up a sleeping baby for breastfeeding. Should you go ahead and do it? Shouldn’t you? If you are a first-time parent and have found yourself in a similar circumstance, this article may be of assistance to you. We’ve attempted to answer the most common queries regarding waking up babies to feed them below.
Why Is It Essential to Wake Your Baby for Feeding?
It is critical to feed the kid on time to ensure that he grows and develops normally. Some people believe that if the baby is napping, they can advance the feeding schedule, but this might lead to additional problems. Here are some reasons why this is not a good idea.
1. Empty Stomach Is Not Good
You may have been told by your doctor that you should feed your baby every two to three hours. This is because newborns digest breast milk quickly and require more within two to three hours. Your baby’s tummy will remain empty if you don’t give her any more milk.
2. Gaining Weight Is Important
According on the delivery procedure, newborn babies can lose weight in the first few days following birth. Feeding your kid frequently is the best approach to ensure that they grows and gains weight as needed.
3. Boosts the Production of Breast Milk
Your body produces milk in proportion to the amount required. If you do not feed your infant on a regular basis, your body will produce less milk. As a result, it’s critical to feed your infant at regular intervals to ensure that your body produces adequate milk.
4. Your Baby Will Not Wake Up Cranky
When your baby sleeps, her body is oblivious to the fact that it need nourishment. However, when she awakens, she will be very agitated since she is overly hungry and even weak.
So, what can parents do to ensure that they stick to the feeding schedule and that their child never goes hungry? You, on the other hand, have awoken your infant. And there are three options for doing so. Continue reading to learn more.
Ways to Wake a Sleeping Infant to Feed
Here are some simple ways to wake your sleeping baby to feed her:
- Take off your baby’s clothes
Slowly removing your child’s clothes is one approach to rouse her up. The infant can be awakened by gentle movements while removing her garments, after which you can feed her.
- Dim the Lights
Because babies are sensitive to bright lights, dimming the lighting makes it much simpler for them to wake up.
- A Relaxing Massage
You can gently massage your baby’s feet and arms to help her wake up.
- Raise Your Child
Lifting your baby in an upright position can also help her wake up.
- Sing a song
Singing a song to your child can help her wake up gradually, and you may even avoid a lot of crying.
- Have a conversation with your child
When you start chatting to your baby while she is sleeping, she will gradually wake up to you.
- Clean with a cool cloth
A cool washcloth placed on your baby’s forehead will also help her wake up. Check to see whether it’s too cold.
- Keep the baby’s body in a straight position.
You are sending messages to the brain to wake up your baby by keeping her torso erect and extending her arms.
- Swap out the diaper
Because of the action, changing your baby’s diaper slowly can wake him up.
- Increase the amount of stimulation
You can gently stroke his back, move her arms and legs in a circular way, or gently rub her lips.
When people are hungry, they normally believe that sleeping is impossible. So, how can babies sleep at feeding time, when they should ideally be hungry and awake? We’ve gone through this in more detail below.
Why Are Babies too Sleepy to Feed?
You might be perplexed as to why your baby does not wake up naturally when she is hungry. Here are a few reasons why babies may sleep through hunger.
- They aren’t as conscious of patterns and timing as we are. It’s possible that your youngster will sleep more during the day than at night. Infants will take some time to adjust to such a schedule.
- Because she is so near to you and feels safe in your arms, your baby may fall asleep while you are breastfeeding her.
- Newborn babies sleep a much because they were used to sleeping a lot when in the womb. It takes them time to become accustomed to a pattern.
- Suckling can also help your infant sleep. As a result, it’s critical that she doesn’t fall asleep in the middle of her feeding.
- Sleep is essential for a newborn’s development and growth. Babies grow better when they sleep more, according to research. This is a natural process, so don’t be concerned if your child is napping excessively, even when she is being fed.
Newborn babies do not behave in the same way that we do. It takes some time for them to adjust. When it comes to feeding, though, it is critical that you stick to a strict schedule. The procedures outlined above can assist you in ensuring that you are feeding your infant properly. However, after your baby is 3-4 months old and you’ve established a healthy feeding schedule, don’t wake her up for feeds; instead, give demand feeds.
