• With Mayo Clinic lactation consultant

    Elizabeth LaFleur, R.N.

View the Health Heart Book

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer
Connect with others who've been there. Share stories. Learn. Join Mayo Clinic's
online community.

Question

Newborn care: Should I wake my baby for feedings?

Should I wake my newborn for feedings?

Answer

from Elizabeth LaFleur, R.N.

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.

Next question
Vaccination schedule: Why so many so fast?
References
  1. Kleinman RE, ed. Pediatric Nutrition Handbook. 6th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009:29.
  2. Share with women: What to expect in the early days of breastfeeding. American College of Nurse-Midwives. http://www.midwife.org/documents/ShareWithWomenWhattoExpect.pdf. Accessed June 3, 2011.
  3. Shelov SP, et al. Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: Bantam Books; 2009:94.
  4. Holt K, et al. Bright Futures Nutrition. 3rd ed. Elk Grove, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2011:26.
  5. Martin C, et al. Feeding your baby. In: Zaichkin J. Newborn Intensive Care: What Every Parent Needs to Know. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Sheridan Books, Inc.; 2010:103.
  6. Heird WC. The feeding of infants and children. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184081895-2/0/1608/114.html?tocnode=54475504&fromURL=114.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50044-X_767. Accessed June 28, 2011.
  7. Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. American Academy of Pediatrics Policy. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  8. Your guide to breastfeeding. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/breastfeeding-guide/BreastfeedingGuide-General-English.pdf. Accessed July 13, 2011.
  9. Breastfeeding your baby. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp029.cfm. Accessed July 15, 2011.
AN01687 Sept. 23, 2011

© 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger