Do you wake your baby up to feed?

BrooklynnCE · September 2015

I'm a FTM and have a question about feeding. I exclusively pump for my daughter and Bottle feed. I pump every 2-3 hours and when my daughter was first born I would wake her to feed every 2-3 hours as well. She is now almost month old and I was wondering is there any moms who let their baby wake them to feed. I keep hearing that she will let me know when she is hungry and if she is sleeping and content to let her sleep. Do I continue to wake her up and feed her or let her tell me when she is hungry?

gulimz · September 2015

Mine is a month old and she wakes up every 2 to 3 hrs and I have woken her up when she went past 4 hrs.

hclzmm14 · September 2015

So long as she doesn't go so long she isn't gaining weight, you're fine to let her sleep.

meli1112 · September 2015

My LO is just over 2 weeks old and I do wake him, but that is because he isn't back to his birth weight yet. I think that if your LO Is eating well and gaining weight on schedule, it should be fine to let her sleep. As soon as my little guy is back where he should be, I won't be waking him to eat at night

jesselayne8 · September 2015

If I wake up at night engorged and it's been 5-6hrs since she ate I will try to wake her to eat. I don't set any alarms. During the day I will wake her if we are getting ready to go somewhere and top her off before getting in the car.

emmacake08 · September 2015

Since mine is over her birth weight, I don't wake her. She's only ever gone 4 hours at a time and only a few nights.

mrsb30 · September 2015

I was waking her when she wasn't gaining weight, but now that she has gained weight we no longer wake her. The most she has gone during the day is 3 hours and 4-5 at night.

SashaDenn25 · September 2015

We are over birth weight and gaining fine so I never wake her to eat. Ive had to wake and pump before because I was engorged and she still wasnt up.

amk013 · September 2015

Mine wakes me up. I used to set alarms, but I don't need to anymore as we are over his birth weight and gaining weight well. He's never gone more than 4 hours. He usually wakes me every 2 hours at night.

prpl11butterfly · September 2015

I wake him thought out the day if I'm engorged and just before I go to bed (if he's asleep at that time) to top him off. Then he usually sleeps from 10pm-230am. As long as I feed him before bed and pump if he doesn't eat much, I'm not in pain and don't wake up so I don't see a need to wake him.

PixelPosy · September 2015

My LO was over her birth weight (9lbs 2 oz!) at today's 2 week appointment, jaundice is completely gone and Pedi advised I can let her go 4-6 hours overnight, but keep up with the 2-3 hours during the day. I was waking at 4 hours and then 3 hours for the overnight so I am so excited for 6 full hours of sleep tonight. Baby please let me have it!

SassetteSmurfling · September 2015

As long as there are no issues with weight gain I say don't wake a sleeping baby! Exception might be like @jesselayne8 said if you are going somewhere and want to feed LO before you go so they "last longer" while you're out.

gulimz · September 2015

What do you guys do regarding diapers then if you guys let them sleep? I change LO's every 3 hrs before feeding and most of the time right after feeding
((Sorry not to jack the OPs post))

SashaDenn25 · September 2015

I just change when LO wakes up...she usually doesnt have a dirty diaoer at night though so its just filled with pee!!

gulimz · September 2015

I think mine poops alot! She always has poop every single time =/ especially after feedings

BrooklynnCE · September 2015

Thanks ladies. She is past her birth weight however her pedi said they look for her to be gaining more than what she has at her age. She has another appointment on Monday so maybe she will be back to where they want her to be without supplementing formula. She usually never goes past 3 hours anyway and I wake up every 3 hours to pump since she doesn't get breast milk from the breast. I was just curious what other mommas were doing.

deviduke412 · September 2015

I wake for every feeing during the day. I wake him every 3 hours, starting the day at 730 am. He's one month old tomorrow and has been above birth weight for 2 weeks. I will continue to wake for feedings. The timing will change as he gets older, but I'll still wake him.

Lalala2326 · September 2015

I wake if it has been 3 hours during the day and right now every 5 at night (has happened 2-3 times). If she is still gaining well at her 1 month appt tomorrow I will probably stop waking her at night. Mine poops all the time also and not just at feedings and its often silent. I put a good layer of diaper cream (either triple paste or Grovia magic stick depending on whether she looks rashy at all) and just change her before feedings as those happen or if I hear a poosplosion. She really hasn't had much of an issue with diaper rash yet.

Edi: I'm also going to add that this is a whole new world of having to decide whether or not to wake my baby. lol My first slept 5+ hours 3 or 4 times till she was between 15 and 16 months old when she finally decided to start sleeping through the night all of a sudden.

CaliforniaDream87 · September 2015

Nope. I don't wake (unless going somewhere). My baby will tell me when she's hungry.

J&D2007 · September 2015

I wake every 3 hours during the day if he's sleeping, but he usually wakes by then. I haven't had to make the choice at night because he hasnt slept more than 3 hours, but I have read not to go over 4 hours before waking to feed at night. Hopefully sometime I'll get to make that choice!!

deleted22152218 · September 2015

I'm surprised to see how many people are waking to feed! No judgement here obviously but I truly am surprised. Everything I've read about breastfeeding and all information I've gotten from doctors stress the concept of watching your baby instead of the clock.

gulimz · September 2015

Hmmm I have to invest in this triple paste stuff since everyone seems to be all about it. I slather her with buttpaste or desitin depending on which tube is closest.
Leyla's 1 month appointment is tomorrow so I definitely have to see how her weight and everything is and what the doctor says. Last time it was wake up every 4 hrs if she hasn't woken up. But she's usually up anyways every 2 or 3 hrs but once or 2xs she has almost slept 5!!! (I woke her up before it was)

Again, not to jack this post. You can soooo tell I'm one of those panic-y ftm's.... lol

J&D2007 · September 2015

lisajean07 said:

I'm surprised to see how many people are waking to feed! No judgement here obviously but I truly am surprised. Everything I've read about breastfeeding and all information I've gotten from doctors stress the concept of watching your baby instead of the clock.

True, but many peds and LCs stress feeding every 3 hours in order to maintain adequate milk supply. The few breastfeeding books I've read also recommend not going longer than 3 (4 at night) in the early weeks. I've learned so far to definitely watch baby for signs of hunger as a hungry baby will definitely trump the clock, but use the clock as a backup and don't go over 3-4 hrs.. I know there are hundreds of differing opinions on this subject for sure! But, that's what we are trying!

prpl11butterfly · September 2015

lisajean07 said:
I'm surprised to see how many people are waking to feed! No judgement here obviously but I truly am surprised. Everything I've read about breastfeeding and all information I've gotten from doctors stress the concept of watching your baby instead of the clock.

He is pretty on cue with my boobs, but he's 5 weeks and we have a good system. Like right now, he's asleep but I'm in pain and want him to eat. However I am waiting for the school bus and unable to feed him. I will be waking him up when neice is home (if he's not awake by that time). I know that if I pump, he will be hungry as soon as I'm done.

CarelessDiva89 · September 2015

CaliforniaDream87 said:
Nope. I don't wake (unless going somewhere). My baby will tell me when she's hungry.

This^^^

Wering · September 2015

My daughter is 10 days old today. Pediatrician approved (because she's already back at her birth weight - and probably then some by now), we are leaving her to sleep as long as she wants. We are also only feeding on-demand (meaning sometimes we feed 2x/hour and sometimes we feed every 4 hours) with her. I definitely wouldn't wake the baby up unless she's not gaining weight; you're only setting yourself up for sleep problems later in life.

deleted22152218 · September 2015

So interesting to hear others' systems. I have had times when DD sleeps for around 4 hours and I've thought of waking her to show my poor boobs some mercy, but the few times I've tried she has made it clear that she will refuse the boob unless it's on her terms. How do those of you who are waking your LOs get them to nurse? Just curious.

prpl11butterfly · September 2015

@lisajean07 I start by changing his diaper. That gets him awake. I usually don't have to do much more to entice him to eat, I think he'd nurse (or sleep on my nipple) all day if I would allow it.

Like I said, we are in a well estsblished routine. Its like he can sense when my milk drops. We will be sitting here all peaceful and suddenly I feel the sensation (slight burning pain, not bad, just like an ache). I will say something to DH who thinks I am crazy. Within 5 -10 min DS is awake and looking for boobs.

kelseyrayay · September 2015

Yeah I let mine sleep. He will wake up when he is hungry.

deviduke412 · September 2015

@lisajean07 I don't have to do anything really to get him to eat when I wake him except to make sure that he is awake. I will change a diaper, tickle him, talk to him, etc and get him awake and then latch him on.

J&D2007 · September 2015

Wering said:

My daughter is 10 days old today. Pediatrician approved (because she's already back at her birth weight - and probably then some by now), we are leaving her to sleep as long as she wants. We are also only feeding on-demand (meaning sometimes we feed 2x/hour and sometimes we feed every 4 hours) with her. I definitely wouldn't wake the baby up unless she's not gaining weight; you're only setting yourself up for sleep problems later in life.

From what I've read, a lot of experts would disagree with the point you make about waking to feed causing sleep problems. Sleep training books will actually advise you to wake a baby every 4 hours at first to keep them on a schedule, then gradually increase that time at night as the baby gets older. They recommend waking every 2-1/2 hours to 3 hours in the day to make sure baby gets adequate nutrition at first in order to promote restful sleep. I'm not being argumentative, just pointing out that there are expert opinions to the contrary of what you stated (and I'm sure some expert opinions that would agree with you as well!)

CaliforniaDream87 · September 2015

J&D2007 said:

Wering said:

My daughter is 10 days old today. Pediatrician approved (because she's already back at her birth weight - and probably then some by now), we are leaving her to sleep as long as she wants. We are also only feeding on-demand (meaning sometimes we feed 2x/hour and sometimes we feed every 4 hours) with her. I definitely wouldn't wake the baby up unless she's not gaining weight; you're only setting yourself up for sleep problems later in life.

From what I've read, a lot of experts would disagree with the point you make about waking to feed causing sleep problems. Sleep training books will actually advise you to wake a baby every 4 hours at first to keep them on a schedule, then gradually increase that time at night as the baby gets older. They recommend waking every 2-1/2 hours to 3 hours in the day to make sure baby gets adequate nutrition at first in order to promote restful sleep. I'm not being argumentative, just pointing out that there are expert opinions to the contrary of what you stated (and I'm sure some expert opinions that would agree with you as well!)

I agree with expert opinions on both sides. Of course there's opinions on both sides of the argument. It's really up to whether or not you plan to sleep train and what method you will go about doing so. I don't plan too so that's why I have no interest in waking her to eat. I'm in the "baby will wake to eat" camp and attempting to sleep train a newborn is pointless, IMO.

To each their own for sure!

marieva · September 2015

Well I was waking him every 4 hours at night to feed...until tonight lol. Literally he hasn't woken up yet (he's still good because I stalked his crib to make sure he is breathing...ugh FTM moments...:) ). Anyways, Here I am up at 3:49AM and baby is still sleeping since 10 PM. I'm going to have to wake him up in a few anyways as I have a very early morning appt. At his 1 month appt the pediatrician said to keep feeding him during the night...not sure why because he had regained his birth weight and then some. His two week appt is next week and I will ask again but after talking it over with hubby depending on what they say....or not say we have come to the conclusion we will just let him sleep. He will wake up and let us know when he is hungry...or uncomfortable...or whatever else is plaguing him at the moment lol. He always does. As far as diaper changes...I had changed him during his feeds. I will look into those overnight diapers and see if they are worth investing in or just do what everyone else says and slather his little booty with destin before bedtime ;-)

lilana1011 · September 2015

Nope we don't wake to feed. After they've reached their birth weights we let our kiddos sleep. Makes for a happier mama & baby.

Bickey11 · September 2015

My PED says as long as he's gaining weight steadily not to wake him. About once a night he'll sleep 4.5 hours and usually 3 hours otherwise. However that means no sleep for me still because I wind up having to pump if he doesn't wake

Want a personalized experience?

Do you wake your baby up to feed?

Re: Do you wake your baby up to feed?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards