Should You Wake Your Baby For Feeding?

Should You Wake Your Baby For Feeding?

Many parents wonder whether or not they should wake their baby to feed him or her. Are you a new mom or dad? Then you have probably asked yourself this question many times. But you don’t have to feel bad. Because things like sleeping and eating patterns are always sources of concern for parents.

Today there are conflicting opinions on this issue. On the one hand, some people argue that a baby should be fed every two to four hours, even though you have to wake your baby to do this.

But in this article, we will discuss whether or not it is necessary for you to wake your baby for feeding.

How Much Sleep Do Babies Need? 

You need to know a little more about healthy sleeping habits in infants first.  This will help you determine whether or not it is necessary for you to wake your baby for feeding. You also learn whether or not this affects their development.

Infants sleep about 16 hours a day. Usually they wake up every 2 or 3 hours to eat. But this is also not a hard and fast rule.

Some babies sleep more than 3 hours at a time. This is normal because all babies are different.

A baby’s sleep: the first months 

During the first two months, sleep depends on the baby’s hunger. After feeding, the baby falls into a light sleep. You are not allowed to wake him or her.

This light sleep usually lasts 30 to 40 minutes. You will see that your baby is in a light sleep as they may seem restless. But this is very normal. After this stage, the baby falls into a deep sleep.

It is important to know that babies start sleeping longer during the night when they are about 4 to 6 months old. Until that age, the sleep and wake cycles depend on the circadian rhythms and on light or darkness.

In summary, we can say that infants slowly stabilize their sleep patterns. When this happens, their parents will be able to rest better.

feeding schedule 

We’ve mentioned it before. Babies should be fed approximately every 3 hours. After this time, babies wake up. They cry, are fed and fall asleep again. Also remember that crying is not always a result of hunger.

The period of 3 hours is a reference. It’s just a statistic. Some babies need to be fed more often and other babies need to be woken up because they sleep too much.

When should you wake your baby for feeding? 

If a baby has good sleeping habits and the right weight for his age, you don’t have to wake him up. But there are situations where this is necessary. This will depend on the age, weight and general health of the baby.

Most newborns lose weight in the first few days after birth. This is because they need a few days to get the hang of breastfeeding or bottle feeding. In addition, their stomachs can only absorb a small amount of food with each feeding.

So you see that it is very important that newborns eat regularly. So you may need to wake your baby several times a day (especially if your baby is premature).

On the other hand, the parents should not be guided only by the clock or the crying of the baby. Crying is just a sign that the baby is hungry. If you notice that your baby is restless, moving his lips and making sucking movements, chances are you need to feed him.

Other factors to consider 

Once the baby has reached optimal weight and continues to gain weight slowly, it is best that you wait until the baby wakes up on its own. You can then feed him.

You don’t have to worry about how much or how often your baby eats. But there are more important developmental factors to pay attention to. Among other things, pay attention to the following:

• A calm but steady weight gain.
• Does your baby seem satiated between feedings or not?
• Does your baby wet six or more diapers a day?
• Does your baby poop three or more times a day?

If you don’t notice any of the things we describe above, you should see a doctor. The specialist can then examine your baby and make sure everything is okay. Your doctor can also provide you with the necessary information and answer your questions. This also helps you to avoid risks.

Decision 

We’ll just sum it up. Unless your baby was born premature, underweight or unhealthy, you don’t need to wake him or her for the feed. If your little one is healthy and sleeping a lot, don’t worry. Let your baby sleep for as long as he or she needs.

It’s good that you let the baby sleep. Because this helps them to grow physically and develop healthy sleeping habits. Moreover, you can use that time to rest or do some shopping.