Tips to Breastfeed your Sleepy Baby
Some babies spend so much time sleeping during the first few weeks after birth that it can be difficult to nurse at least 8 times each day. In addition to speaking with your doctor or midwife about your concerns, here are a few tips that might help:
• Make sure baby isn’t too warm by dressing them in light clothing or undressing down to their diaper to feed. A warm baby is a sleepy baby.
• Hold baby so their tummy is down on the parent’s semi reclined body, ideally skin-to-skin to trigger baby’s inborn feeding reflexes.
• Consider avoiding swaddling as this can lead to longer sleeps, inhibit feeding reflexes and lead to missed feeding cues.
• Cluster or bunch feeds together during baby’s naturally occurring wake and alert times (yes, even if it’s during the middle of the night!)
• Guide baby to latch and add manual breast compressions if baby falls asleep early during their feed to rouse them and trigger their sucking reflex or give them a little tickle.
It is normal for newborns to move in and out of sleep often and babies can nurse effectively while in a light sleep.
If you are concerned that your baby may not be feeding often enough or have concerns around their weight, please check in with your healthcare provider.
This is not meant to be medical advice, please consult with your doctor or midwife regarding any concerns about your baby.
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