Newborn care: Should I wake my baby for feedings?
It depends on your baby's age, weight and overall health.
Most newborns lose weight in the first few days after birth. Until your newborn regains this lost weight — usually within 10 days to two weeks after birth — it's important to feed him or her frequently. This might mean occasionally waking your baby for a feeding. Once your newborn establishes a pattern of weight gain and reaches the birth-weight milestone, however, it's generally OK to wait for feedings until he or she wakes up.
Breast-fed newborns typically nurse eight to 12 times a day — about every two to three hours. If you use infant formula, you might need to feed your baby a little less often because formula digests more slowly than breast milk does.
While waking up a sleeping baby might seem like a bad idea, frequent feedings early on are important for a couple of reasons. Crying is a late sign of hunger that can interfere with feeding. The sooner you begin each feeding, the less likely you'll need to soothe a frantic baby. Look for early signs of hunger, such as sucking motions and lip movements. In addition, if you breast-feed, frequent feedings will help you establish your milk supply.
Keep in mind that premature babies often have special nutritional needs. If you're concerned about your baby's feeding patterns or weight gain, consult his or her doctor.
It depends on your baby's age, weight and overall health.
Most newborns lose weight in the first few days after birth. Until your newborn regains this lost weight — usually within 10 days to two weeks after birth — it's important to feed him or her frequently. This might mean occasionally waking your baby for a feeding. Once your newborn establishes a pattern of weight gain and reaches the birth-weight milestone, however, it's generally OK to wait for feedings until he or she wakes up.
Breast-fed newborns typically nurse eight to 12 times a day — about every two to three hours. If you use infant formula, you might need to feed your baby a little less often because formula digests more slowly than breast milk does.
While waking up a sleeping baby might seem like a bad idea, frequent feedings early on are important for a couple of reasons. Crying is a late sign of hunger that can interfere with feeding. The sooner you begin each feeding, the less likely you'll need to soothe a frantic baby. Look for early signs of hunger, such as sucking motions and lip movements. In addition, if you breast-feed, frequent feedings will help you establish your milk supply.
Keep in mind that premature babies often have special nutritional needs. If you're concerned about your baby's feeding patterns or weight gain, consult his or her doctor.
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