Breastfeeding - Breastfeeding a Sleepy Baby

Breastfeeding a sleepy baby

A baby who sleeps all the time and doesn't cry much is often called a "good" baby. If you have one of those good babies, you'll realize that people who have babies that are not so good are lucky.

• If your baby is sleeping so much that she or he isn't nursing about ten times a day by the end of the first week, you need to take some action.
• If your baby goes longer than two or three hours during the day, or four hour at night without nursing, wake her or him up and try to nurse him.
• Pay extra attention to make sure your baby is gaining enough weight. Go to your pediatrician's office to have your baby weighed once or twice a week until your baby becomes more active and nurses more regularly.
• Make sure your milk supply is not decreasing. You might consider expressing or pumping some milk to feed your baby. This will both serve to increase your milk supply and give some extra nutrition to your baby.

How to encourage a sleepy baby to nurse?

• Try gently stroking your baby's head or back and tickling her or his feet.
• Undress your baby. Some babies become more energetic when they are cooler.
• Tickle your baby's lip with your nipple, the way you do when you try to get a newborn to latch on to the breast.
• Try expressing a few drops of milk and putting your nipple with a drop of milk on your baby's lips. Some babies will get the idea when they taste or smell the milk.
• Sleep with your baby. This way, you'll be able to nurse your baby immediately whenever she or he shows any interest.
• Avoid pacifiers. It's OK to use them occasionally for a baby who is an energetic nurser, but do not use them if your baby is quiet and sleepy.
• Do not swaddle your baby. Babies often wake up when they sense their limbs moving. By wrapping your baby up, you might be preventing her or him from waking her- or himself up when necessary.

Make sure your baby is healthy.

• If your baby is lethargic, go to the doctor!
• If your baby seems to be dehydrated, go to the doctor!
• If your baby is losing weight, or hasn't gained any in a week, go to the doctor!
• If you have any other reason to think that your baby might be sick (fever, vomiting, rashes, etc.), call the doctor.

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