Waking a Sleeping Baby

TheRealNJhousewife · June 2011

Do you wake your baby up for feedings? I have been waking my DS up every 3-4 hours to eat. In conversation with anyone I tell this they tell me I'm crazy and that he will wake up when he's hungry. I wake him out of a deep sleep to change him and to eat at 1:30 and 4:30 am... this has been rough and some sleep would be nice. I am exclusivley pumping and supplementing formula when needed, because he had jaundice and the dr was concerned he wasn't getting enough in the beginning. He has gained a pound since birth and is eating great during the day.

What are your thoughts? Wake to eat? Or let sleep?

Lisa Frank · June 2011

If baby is back to their birth weight, most pedis will tell you that you can let them sleep.

Heather & Nayt · June 2011

Lisa Frank:
If baby is back to their birth weight, most pedis will tell you that you can let them sleep.

This is exactly what my pedi told me. I have to wake DD ever 3 hours because she still isn't back to her birth weight, but if he is, I'd let him sleep!

Temp38995750004016 · June 2011

I wake her during the day just to stay on schedule, but at night I let her sleep as long as she wants. If you are pumping, you may want to wake up and pump to keep your supply but no need to wake baby!

elisbu · June 2011

pook:
I wake her during the day just to stay on schedule, but at night I let her sleep as long as she wants. If you are pumping, you may want to wake up and pump to keep your supply but no need to wake baby!

This.

I only give her an extra 30 minutes during the day, and I start to stir her after 20 minutes just so it's not a jarring wake up.

At night I let her go. Still, she's never made it more thst 4 1/2 hours. I guess it's hard when you only eat 3 oz!

andigurl · June 2011

pook:
I wake her during the day just to stay on schedule, but at night I let her sleep as long as she wants. If you are pumping, you may want to wake up and pump to keep your supply but no need to wake baby!

this exactly!

alliejoe · June 2011

Now that Ben is back to his birth weight I don't wake him to eat, but his night time stretches are getting long and I still make sure I pump even if he's not awake to eat anything when I pump b/c I'm still working on getting my supply to where it needs to be.

588loves551 · June 2011

I wake her to BF...She was a healthy weight to begin with and I can tell she is definitely gaining, but my LC and ped said to not let them go more than 3-4 hours overnight (and 2-3 during the day) without eating, so I wake her up overnight. If she is sleeping good during the day and really needs the nap (yowzers), I'll let her maybe go to 3-4 hours, but yes, I do wake her. Plus, I am starting to pump more, so I'll wake myself so I can pump to build my supply, since I'm most plentiful in the wee morning hours.

Lisa102304 · June 2011

pook:
I wake her during the day just to stay on schedule, but at night I let her sleep as long as she wants. If you are pumping, you may want to wake up and pump to keep your supply but no need to wake baby!

Agreed, totally. If baby is gaining weight there is not a chance in hell I would wake during the night. SLEEP!!

Temp170555000002207 · June 2011

At first I woke him every 3 hours during the day because he was staying awake all night. But now he wakes up every 2-3 hours on his own. I let him sleep as long as he wants at night, be hasn't made it longer than 3 hours.

Temp170555000002207 · June 2011

At first I woke him every 3 hours during the day because he was staying awake all night. But now he wakes up every 2-3 hours on his own. I let him sleep as long as he wants at night, but he hasn't made it longer than 3 hours.

croberts22 · June 2011

Unless we need to go somewhere and I want her to sleep then, I don't wake her. She's gone a couple 5-6 hour stretches at night but that was after being kept awake by family and her newborn pics. On those nights I pumped when she was done eating. Usually she will go no longer than 4 hours.

kristennd · June 2011

We had to wake Ray to eat while he was underweight, but once he got back on track, the pediatrician said it was fine to just let him sleep. He doesn't go more than 4 hours at time anyway though.

darmca · June 2011

Because of jaundice and LO losing 9% of his birth weight, I woke him every 2 hours for the first week (night and day) after almost going insane I have limited it to every 2 hours during the day (unless we are out) and let him sleep at night.

I keep waking him during the day in hopes he will sleep more at night. I have my fingers crossed it is working because last night he slept from 12:30-6AM! I was shocked.

kelklump · June 2011

TheRealNJhousewife:
Do you wake your baby up for feedings? I have been waking my DS up every 3-4 hours to eat. In conversation with anyone I tell this they tell me I'm crazy and that he will wake up when he's hungry. I wake him out of a deep sleep to change him and to eat at 1:30 and 4:30 am... this has been rough and some sleep would be nice. I am exclusivley pumping and supplementing formula when needed, because he had jaundice and the dr was concerned he wasn't getting enough in the beginning. He has gained a pound since birth and is eating great during the day.
What are your thoughts? Wake to eat? Or let sleep?

I did this in the beginning and wish I wouldnt have- she is now waking up more than normal and I am kicking myself. They will wake up when they are hungry....

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