Should I wake my newborn to eat?

Newborns need frequent feeding and a lot of sleep to assist with their accelerated growth and development. They can only hold a limited amount of milk in their tiny tummies each time they feed, so regular feeding every two to three hours, including nights, is recommended. However, sleep is essential for brain and immune system development.

Generally, newborns sleep 14-17 hours over 24 hours but they do have different sleep cycles from adults. They often sleep in short periods of two to three hours. However, some can sleep up to four plus hours. 

As newborns need regular feeding and sleep, if they are sleeping longer than their feeding window, you may occasionally need to gently awaken them for feeds. This is notably important in those early weeks.

Regular feeding is especially consequential for:

• Growth & Development – Providing crucial nutrients for their growing body.
• Maintaining Blood Sugar Levels - and establishing steady weight gain 
• Hydration – Ensuring they get enough fluids.
• Regulating Milk Supply – Consistent feeding assists with milk production for breastfeeding mothers

Having to consistently be making sure your newborn is feeding and sleeping the first few weeks, especially when recuperating from a birth, can be hard. But you are doing an amazing job. If you do feel like you need extra support, you can reach out to your midwife or organisations like Plunket, who are there to give advice and support.

Read more to better understand Baby Sleep Cycles and Patterns

Should you wake your baby to feed?

The majority of newborns feed every two to three hours, even overnight. This means roughly 8-12 feeds every 24 hours. Some instinctively wake for feeding, but others may need to be gently woken up. This is especially valuable if they:

• Were born prematurely
• Had a low birth weight
• Have not redeemed their birth weight within two weeks
• Have specific medical needs necessitating regular feeding
• Have been advised by your healthcare professional to follow a feeding regimen

If you are uncertain about whether your baby's sleep or feeding needs are being met correctly, talk to your midwife or GP before making any changes.

When not to wake your newborn

As your little one starts to grow and their weight rises regularly, they may not need to be roused for feeds as often.

At four to six weeks many babies will instinctively begin to sleep for longer periods at night. This occurs because:

• Their stomach size grows, so they can drink more for each feed
• Their bodies develop into more capable at processing milk

Nevertheless, every baby is different and considerations like birth weight, health and their growth rate can impact when they begin to sleep longer. Always check with your healthcare provider before decreasing night feeds.

How to wake a newborn gently

Waking your baby can be disheartening, notably when they are sleeping so sweetly and you are happy for the break. If you need to wake them up for a feed, you can try these helpful methods:

• Gentle Touch - Rub their back or delicately rub their back
• Nappy Change - A refreshing wipe can be a timely temperature change to rouse them
• Undress Slightly - Unzipping their Swaddle Up so their arms or legs come out can send the signal that sleep time is over.
• Soft Talking - A soothing voice can help bring them into a lighter sleep state
• Skin to Skin Contact - Holding your baby with skin-to-skin contact can spur alertness.

Little Tip - Avoid suddenly turning on a bright light as it can startle your baby, which could cause them to be resistant to feeding. The aim is to gently wake up your baby sufficiently so to trigger their hunger cues and initiate feeding. 

Tips for Balancing Sleep and Feeding needs:

Discovering the tension between feeding and sleep can be hard ad the newborn stage, however, here are five practical tips for understanding the challenges of the fourth trimester.

1. Recognize Early Hunger Cues

Look for signs like rooting (turning head and opening mouth in response to a touch or stoke on cheek), sucking on hands or lip smacking. Noticing these signs can make it helpful to initiate feeding and stop them getting to hungry. 

2. Create a Sleep Friendly Environment

A dark, peaceful and cool safe sleep space will help babies sleep more easily. White noise machines can also be helpful to mimic sounds of the womb and dampen any sudden, unexpected noises. 

3. Choose Comfortable, Safe Sleepwear

Comfortable and easy to use safe swaddles and layers are essential in the early days of your baby being born. Complicated tucking, snap buttons or noisy velcro can be not helpful at 2am.

4. Prioritise Rest for Yourself

Newborn feeding and sleep schedules can be mentally and physically taxing. Your rest and personal health is vital as hard can it can feel juggling it with a newborn. Seek out additional support if you need it.

5. Seek Professional Guidance

If you are unsure with your routine or have questions about your baby's feeding or sleeping habits reach out to your midwife or GP. They are there to assist when you have questions or help clarify when you need it.

Read more: Setting up a safe sleep space for your newborn.

Disclaimer: This information is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. Rather general information for parents to learn from. If you have specific questions contact your health provider.