What if my baby is too sleepy to breastfeed?

Understanding Sleepy Babies and Breastfeeding
When a baby seems too sleepy to breastfeed, it can be a source of concern for new parents. Sleepiness in newborns is common, especially in the early weeks of life, but it’s essential to ensure that they are getting enough nutrition. Here’s a closer look at why this happens and what you can do about it.
Why Is My Baby So Sleepy?
Newborns typically spend a significant portion of their day sleeping—often up to 16-18 hours. This sleep is crucial for their growth and development. However, some babies may appear excessively sleepy, which can interfere with their feeding schedule. Factors contributing to a sleepy baby can include:
– Normal Sleep Patterns: Newborns have irregular sleep cycles and may drift off quickly during feeds.
– Feeding Needs: In the early weeks, babies may need to be woken for feeds to ensure they are getting enough milk, as they might not wake up on their own.
– Comfort and Warmth: If a baby is bundled too warmly, they may become overly comfortable and doze off during breastfeeding.
What Can I Do If My Baby Is Too Sleepy to Feed?
If your baby is too sleepy to breastfeed effectively, there are several strategies you can employ to encourage feeding:
1. Wake Your Baby Gently: If your baby is not waking up for feeds, try gently stimulating them. This can include rubbing their back, changing their diaper, or even undressing them slightly to keep them alert.
2. Adjust Feeding Positions: Experiment with different breastfeeding positions. Biological ‘laid back’ positions can help stimulate your baby to feed more effectively. Your midwife can provide guidance on comfortable feeding techniques.
3. Use Expressed Milk: If your baby is struggling to stay awake during breastfeeding, consider offering expressed milk in a bottle after breastfeeding. This can help ensure they are getting enough nutrition and may encourage them to feed better next time.
4. Keep Them Uncovered: Ensure your baby is not too warm during feeds. Keeping them mainly uncovered can help prevent them from dozing off too quickly.
5. Engage Their Senses: If your baby falls asleep while nursing, try gently stroking their hands and feet or switching sides to stimulate them to stay awake and continue feeding.
When to Seek Help
While sleepiness is often normal, it’s crucial to monitor your baby’s feeding patterns and weight gain. If your baby consistently seems too sleepy to feed or is not gaining weight appropriately, it may be time to consult a pediatrician or a lactation consultant. They can provide personalized advice and support to ensure your baby is thriving.
Conclusion
Navigating breastfeeding with a sleepy baby can be challenging, but understanding the reasons behind their sleepiness and employing practical strategies can help. Remember, this phase is often temporary, and with time, your baby will likely develop a more regular feeding pattern. Always trust your instincts as a parent and seek support when needed.

What position should I breastfeed my sleepy baby?

Try different positions, upright positions may help your baby stay awake to breastfeed longer. Breast compressions. Putting gentle pressure on the breast with a free hand while baby suckles can help to keep milk flowing at a faster pace and so keep a baby feeding longer.

How do you latch a sleepy baby?

Top tips to encourage a reluctant or sleepy baby to breastfeed

1. Tip #1: Hand expressing to keep your milk supply up.
2. Tip #2: Try lots of skin-to-skin contact.
3. Tip #3: Try to find a comfortable feeding position.
4. Tip #4: Get your baby ready for a feed.
5. Tip #5: Don’t force your baby to feed.

What to do if baby is too sleepy to feed?

1 Start by unwrapping your baby from their blanket and pulling their arms out of their shirt. 2 Place your baby between your bare breasts (dad’s bare chest will work too). 3 Gently rub your baby’s back and talk or sing to them to see if you can wake them enough to feed them.

What if baby doesn’t burp and falls asleep?

What to do in this case? A: If your baby falls asleep before burping, gently try to burp them while they are still drowsy. If unsuccessful, it’s generally okay to let them sleep without forcing a burp. Ensure a comfortable sleeping position to prevent discomfort, and try burping after the next feeding.

How to keep a sleepy baby awake during breastfeeding?

Tips on Feeding a Sleepy Baby

• Feed baby in a nappy only.
• Get a wet flannel out to further wake baby up if they fall asleep quickly on the breast.
• Tickle their cheek or chin to try and stimulate their suck reflex.
• Let the baby fall away from your breast a little (ie threaten to take them away from the breast).

Can babies be too tired to nurse?

If your baby is too sleepy or groggy to rouse themselves every few hours, you will need to wake them to feed to ensure they get enough milk.

How do you get a lazy baby to latch?

If you’re having trouble getting a good latch, try:

1. Moving to a quiet, calm place.
2. Holding your baby skin to skin. While both you and your baby are undressed, hold your baby against your chest.
3. Letting your baby lead. Support your baby’s neck, shoulders, and hips with your hands.

How do you fix a lazy breastfeeding breast?

The tips noted below may help increase your milk supply in the less productive breast.

1. Begin Nursing on the Less Productive Side First.
2. Favor Your Less-Productive Side Throughout.
3. Hand Massage Your Less Productive Breast.
4. Supplement Feedings with Additional Breast Pumping.
5. Encourage Baby to Feed on the Less-Preferred Breast.

What is the 3 month breastfeeding crisis?

The third crisis occurs after three months, at this stage the baby has much greater suction strength and will take faster feedings as he is able to empty the breasts with greater speed, that is to say, take more in less time, this period coincides with the development of their hearing and vision, that makes everything …

What if baby won’t wake to breastfeed?

For the first few days, you may need to wake them to feed if they’re still sleeping by three hours from the last day feeding and four hours at night. If baby still won’t eat, allow him/her to sleep another hour, and try again. When you’re in the hospital, call the nurses for help if baby still won’t nurse.