Should You Wake a Sleeping Baby to Eat?

It is the age-old question that many new parents struggle with every night. Sleep-deprived parents wonder if it is necessary to wake a sleeping baby to eat. The answer depends on the age and weight of the baby.

First Days

According to the Mayo Clinic, the newborn baby should be woken up to feed on a regular schedule. In the first few days of life, it is not unusual for a newborn to lose as much as 10 percent of his body weight. This weight loss is expected and normal. However, any additional weight loss is cause for concern. Newborns are not as adept as older babies at waking themselves up to feed and will sleep through a feeding if allowed. Newborns should feed every two to three hours.

First Weeks

The Mayo Clinic recommends that babies are woken up to feed until they have regained all of the initial weight loss after birth. Once the baby is back to his birth weight and consistently gaining at least one ounce per day, the baby can be left to sleep and wake on his own to feed. Depending on the amount of weight loss, this might take a few weeks to occur. Until this happens, the baby should continue to wake every two to four hours to feed.

Waking During the Day

Regardless of if the baby is gaining appropriately, he should not go more than four hours during daytime hours between feedings. This is important to ensure that the optimal weight gain continues. Babies who are napping should be woken up to take a bottle or breastfeed during the day at regular intervals.

Waking During the Night

After the baby has reached the weight milestone, waking the baby during the night is not necessary. Young babies will generally sleep in four- to six-hour stretches during the night. The baby will wake on his own when he is hungry. It is not necessary to wake the baby during the night unless proper weight gain is not being achieved.

Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding

Breastfeed babies might not sleep as long or wait as long between feedings. Breast milk is generally not quite as filling as formula, so breastfed babies typically will wake more often for feedings. Bottle fed babies are more likely to sleep longer stretches during the night once the weight milestone has been reached.

Considerations

During the first month of life, the baby's pediatrician will want to check the baby on a regular schedule. This is to weigh the baby to ensure that the baby is gaining weight as necessary. If there are concerns about the baby's feeding schedule, check with the pediatrician at these visits.