Key takeaways: Newborns should feed at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. In the early days, many sleepy babies need to be woken, often every 2 to 3 hours and no longer than about 3 hours between feeds by day. Skin-to-skin, unwrapping, diaper changes, and breast compressions help. A baby who can’t be woken or won’t feed needs medical care.
Many newborns are very sleepy in the first days, especially after a long labor, medications in labor, jaundice, or early birth. Sleepiness can mean missed feeds, so here’s how to help.
Why Newborns Are Sleepy
- Recovery from birth.
- Medications given during labor.
- Jaundice, which can make babies drowsy.
- Being born a few weeks early.
- Being swaddled snugly and warm.
- Low blood sugar or infection (less common, but important).
How Often to Feed
Aim for at least 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours. Until your baby is back to birth weight and gaining well, many care teams advise waking a baby who has slept about 3 hours since the start of the last feed. Your baby’s provider may give you a specific plan.
Feeding Cues
Watch for early cues: stirring, mouth opening, turning the head, sucking on hands. Babies are easiest to feed during light sleep, when eyes flutter under the lids.
Gentle Ways to Wake Your Baby
- Unwrap and undress down to the diaper.
- Hold skin-to-skin on your chest.
- Change the diaper.
- Dim the lights so your baby is more willing to open their eyes.
- Talk to your baby and stroke their back, feet, or hands.
- Sit your baby upright on your lap.
- Express a few drops of milk onto the nipple.
Keeping a Sleepy Baby Feeding
- Breast compressions: when sucking slows, squeeze the breast gently to send more milk. Release when your baby stops sucking.
- Switch sides when your baby loses interest.
- Burp or change the diaper between sides.
- Stroke under the chin or along the jaw.
Protecting Your Milk Supply
If your baby isn’t feeding effectively, hand express or pump after feeds and give your baby the expressed milk by spoon, cup, syringe, or bottle as advised. This protects your supply while your baby gets stronger.
Signs Feeding Is Going Well
- Steady swallowing during feeds.
- Diapers increasing by day: by day 5, about 6 or more wet diapers and 3 to 4 yellow stools.
- Weight loss stays within expected ranges and your baby is back to birth weight by about 10 to 14 days.
Call your baby’s doctor right away if your baby: is very hard to wake, won’t feed, has fewer wet diapers than expected, looks more yellow, has a fever or low temperature, or seems floppy. A baby who can’t be woken needs emergency care.
The Bottom Line
Many newborns are sleepy at first. Wake for feeds, use skin-to-skin and breast compressions, protect your supply with expression, and call if your baby can’t be woken or isn’t feeding.
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Sources
- Boies EG, Vaucher YE; Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. ABM Clinical Protocol #10: Breastfeeding the late preterm (34-36 6/7 weeks of gestation) and early term infants (37-38 6/7 weeks of gestation), second revision 2016. Breastfeed Med. 2016;11(10):494-500.
- Meek JY, Noble L; Section on Breastfeeding. Policy statement: breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics. 2022;150(1):e2022057988.
- Kellams A, Harrel C, Omage S, et al. ABM Clinical Protocol #3: Supplementary feedings in the healthy term breastfed neonate, revised 2017. Breastfeed Med. 2017;12(4):188-198.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. How often and how much should your baby eat? HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
