How and Why To Wake a Sleepy Baby First Few Days of Life

In the first 24 hours after birth, ideally the newborn has had at least four good feeds at the breast. In the days ahead, the newborn will need at least 8-12 breastfeeds to help insure mother's milk supply and to insure the baby will gain at a healthy rate. Newborns can be very sleepy in the first few days (though some will wake up frequently at night at first). It is recommended that you wake your newborn every 2-3 hours during the day and evening hours and every 3-4 hours during the night in order to get breastfeeding off to a good start. Keep in mind that newborns often cluster their feedings, nursing 4-5 times in a short period and then sleep 4-5 hours. The idea is to insure that your newborn has 8+ feedings in 24 hours until your newborn begins waking more readily to be feed on demand. This period is usually during the first 3-5 days until your more mature milk comes in.

The following are suggestions for waking a sleepy baby.

Look for times of lighter sleep, rapid eye movement, moving hands to mouth, little noises, etc.

Unwrap your baby from all blankets and take off all clothing just leaving the diaper on. Babies respond well to skin to skin contact and mother's body provides a lot of warmth. A light blanket can be draped over baby and mothers shoulder while baby is feeding.

Change baby's diaper before feeding and/or between breasts.

Use a cool wet wash cloth and gently rinse baby's face

Gently move baby's arms and legs, try gentle massage.

Softly call baby's name, hum or sing to baby.

Gently sit baby up, supporting baby's chest with the palm of your hand and holding baby's head with you finger on baby's jaw bones.

In above position, walk your fingers up baby's spine

Tickle your baby's lips with a clean index finger and when baby opens let him/her suck on your finger (be sure nails are clean too).

Try and wake baby for 10-15 minutes. If baby is still sleepy and won't, latch-on, stop and try again in 30-40 minutes. Keep trying until baby has a good feed.

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