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Should you fully wake a newborn to feed?


New parents often wonder whether they should fully wake their newborn for nighttime feedings or allow them to eat while still drowsy. There are pros and cons to both approaches, and opinions differ on which is best. This article will examine the evidence on waking babies to feed versus feeding while drowsy, look at the potential benefits and downsides of each method, and provide tips to help parents decide what works best for their family.

The case for waking baby fully

Some experts advise waking your newborn fully when it’s time for a night feeding. Reasons given for this approach include:

Maximizes calorie intake

Waking baby fully helps ensure they feed efficiently and consume the calories they need to continue gaining weight in those early months. Newborns tend to be sleepy, so they may not suck vigorously or feed for as long if allowed to eat while drowsy.

Helps avoid overfeeding

If you let baby sleepily nibble at the breast or bottle, it’s easy to overfeed them without realizing it. A fully awake baby is better able to signal when they are full.

Establishes a routine

Waking to feed at set times trains baby’s body to expect food every 2-3 hours. This helps establish a healthy routine right from the start.

Reduces risk of SIDS

Always placing baby back in the crib wide awake after feeding helps avoid SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Letting them fall asleep while eating makes it more likely baby will be returned to the crib asleep, which experts advise against.

The case for feeding while drowsy

On the other hand, some experts think it’s fine to let newborns eat while sleepy or even fully asleep. Reasons given for this approach include:

More sleep for everyone

If baby can eat while drowsy, feedings are quicker and less disruptive to their sleep (and yours). This approach maximizes rest for the whole family.

May help baby learn to self-soothe

Allowing a drowsy baby to nurse or take a bottle lets them practice drifting off to sleep on their own, an important self-soothing skill.

Accommodates baby’s needs

Babies know when they are hungry. If your sleepy newborn is willing to eat, you don’t need to fully disturb them to feed. Follow their cues.

Avoids stimulating baby fully awake

Waking baby all the way up to eat in the middle of the night can make it harder for them to go back to sleep afterwards. The drowsy feed lets them eat without fully waking up.

Weighing the pros and cons

As you can see, there are good arguments on both sides of this issue. How do you know which approach is right for your unique baby and family situation? Here are some things to consider:

Your baby’s weight gain

If weight gain is good, then feeding on demand works for your baby. If there are concerns about inadequate weight gain, then waking fully for efficient feeding may be best.

Quality of feedings

Will your baby latch and suck well when drowsy? If feedings seem inefficient when baby is sleepy, try waking fully.

How wakings impact sleep

Do full wakings leave your baby bright-eyed and struggling to go back to sleep? Or are they able to settle right back down? Follow their lead.

Your own needs

If lack of sleep is affecting your health or daily function, waking baby fully may not be sustainable for you. Do what allows everyone to get rest.

Here is a table summarizing the key considerations:

Factor Favors waking fully Favors feeding while drowsy
Baby’s weight gain Concerns about low weight gain Weight gain on track
Feeding efficiency Poor latch/suck when drowsy Baby feeds well when drowsy
Sleep impact Baby settles back to sleep easily Waking disrupts baby’s sleep
Parental needs Parent is coping fine on little sleep Parent desperately needs more sleep

Tips for making feedings go smoothly

Whether you choose to wake your newborn fully or allow drowsy feeding, here are some tips to help make night feedings go smoothly:

Watch cues before waking

If baby is starting to stir or root around, they may be ready to eat without being fully woken up.

Change diaper first

This helps rouse baby to eat more actively.

Don’t overbundle

Having cool air on skin helps wake baby up. Don’t swaddle or overdress.

Limit stimulation

Keep lights low and voices soft. Avoid excessive noises, activity.

Gently rouse

Rub baby’s back or stomach, rock or burp gently before starting to feed.

Alternate positions

Switch nursing sides or bottle angles to keep baby alert.

Burp frequently

Burping helps wake baby fully and avoids gas buildup.

Watch the clock

Note when feeding starts and avoid going longer than 30 minutes to avoid overfeeding.

Put baby down awake

After feeding, set baby down awake even if they fuss briefly. This teaches independent sleep.

The takeaway

There is no universally agreed upon approach for whether to fully wake newborns for night feedings or allow them to eat while sleepy. Each family will need to experiment to find what works best based on their baby’s unique needs and temperament. The most important thing is ensuring baby gets enough nutrition to gain weight appropriately in those first few months. As patterns develop, parents can adjust approaches as needed to achieve the right balance between sufficient feedings and maximum sleep for everyone.