Keep Newborn Awake: Strategies For Bottle Feeding

Keeping a newborn awake during bottle feeding can be challenging, but there are several techniques to help them stay alert. Firstly, it is important to understand your baby's sleep and eating patterns and their body clock, which is still developing during the first six months. Keeping the feeding and sleeping environments separate can help signal to your baby that it's time to either feed or sleep, not both.

To keep your newborn awake during bottle feeding, you can try various stimulation methods, such as burping them, changing their position, or removing the bottle mid-feed. Introducing some sound and movement without overstimulating them can also help. Gentle stimulation of the senses, such as stroking their feet, tickling their toes, or blowing on their cheeks or forehead, can be effective. Additionally, ensuring they are not too warm by stripping them down to their diaper or applying cool washcloths can prevent sleepiness.

It is also crucial to ensure your baby gets a full feeding to help establish a solid routine and schedule. By keeping them awake during feeds, you can prevent power napping, which can interfere with their nap and bedtime routines.

Keep feeding and sleeping environments separate

Keeping the feeding and sleeping environments separate is an important step in ensuring your newborn does not associate feeding with sleeping. Here are some tips to achieve this:

Firstly, understand your baby's sleep and eating patterns. Newborns tend to sleep around the clock, waking up every few hours to feed. They require 14-17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, and this can go up to 18-19 hours for some newborns. Breastfed babies tend to feed more frequently, about every 2-3 hours, while bottle-fed babies feed less often, about every 3-4 hours. It is important to wake your newborn every 3-4 hours to feed until they show good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.

To keep the feeding and sleeping environments separate, use the environment to signal to your baby that it is time to either feed or sleep, but not both at once. If you swaddle your baby in a warm blanket and lay them in a dark room to sleep, try the opposite for feeding. Sit in a well-lit room and expose their body to cooler air. This will help signal to your baby that it is time to feed and stay awake.

Additionally, you can introduce some sound and movement to your baby's feeding routine to keep them alert, without overstimulating them. For example, you can burp your baby or change their position while they feed, or gently blow air on their cheeks or forehead. You can also try singing or speaking softly to your baby, or playing gentle music in the background.

It is also recommended to set up a designated feeding location outside of the bedroom. By feeding your baby in a different location, you reinforce the idea that the bedroom is for sleeping and not for feeding. This will help to gently break the association between feeding and sleeping.

Remember, it is normal for newborns to feel sleepy all the time, as they are adjusting to life outside the womb. They are also going through a lot of growth and development, and their bodies need ample sleep and nutrition. So, don't worry too much if your baby falls asleep during feedings, especially in the early weeks. As long as your baby is gaining weight at a healthy pace, there is usually no cause for concern.

Introduce sound and movement

It is important to keep your baby awake during feeds to help them establish a solid routine and schedule. If they are awake during a feeding, they are not napping through it, and this will help them stay awake when nap time arrives. It also helps ensure they get a full feed and get enough stimulation during their wake time.

• Sing or speak to your baby while they feed. You could also try playing some music or making gentle noises.
• Burp your baby or change their position while they feed.
• Remove the bottle or gently unlatch them to keep them roused.
• Change their nappy mid-feed.
• Gently blow air on their cheeks or forehead.
• Play some music or make gentle noises.
• Try rubbing a damp cloth on your baby's face and chest.
• Put your baby down in the middle of the floor—being away from your warm body will wake them up a bit.
• If your baby is often falling asleep during their bedtime feeding, you can move the feeding to one of the first steps in the bedtime routine.

Remove the bottle

Removing the bottle is a good way to keep your newborn awake during feeding. This gives the baby a break and can help them stay awake for longer. If you remove the bottle when you notice signs of sleepiness, the break from the sensation of feeding will help the baby wake up.

If your baby is sleepy mid-feed, removing the bottle will give them a rest from the effort of extracting milk. You can also remove the bottle and switch from one breast to the other. This can help prevent your baby from getting too comfortable and falling asleep.

If your baby is bottle-fed, be careful not to let them suckle on the bottle for longer than necessary. If they fall asleep with the bottle in their mouth, milk or formula can drip into their mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay. It is also dangerous to let your baby fall asleep with a bottle as milk can go down the wrong way and cause choking.

Change their nappy mid-feed

Changing your baby's nappy mid-feed is a great way to keep them awake and alert during bottle feeding. Here are some tips to make the process easier and more effective:

• Pick a time when your baby is slightly hungry but not starving. This will help ensure they are motivated to continue feeding after the nappy change.
• Prepare the nappy changing area in advance. Have all the necessary supplies within arm's reach, including a fresh nappy, wipes, and a safe surface to lay your baby down.
• Undress your baby down to their nappy before starting the feed. This will make it quicker and easier to change their nappy when the time comes.
• Watch for signs that your baby is getting sleepy. If they start to drift off, gently pick them up and lay them on the changing surface.
• Talk or sing to your baby while changing their nappy to keep them engaged and stimulated. You can also try gently blowing on their cheeks or forehead.
• Change their nappy quickly and efficiently. The goal is to keep them awake, so avoid any unnecessary delays.
• After the nappy change, offer the bottle again and encourage them to continue feeding. You may need to burp them or adjust their position to get them comfortable and interested in feeding again.
• Be prepared for your baby to get cranky. Interrupting their feed to change their nappy may upset them, but it's important to persist and help them develop good feeding habits.
• If your baby falls asleep again after the nappy change, try some other stimulation techniques, such as rubbing their back, tickling their feet, or singing to them.
• Be consistent and patient. It may take some time for your baby to adjust to staying awake during feeds, but with persistence, they will eventually form good habits.

Sing or speak to your baby

Singing or speaking to your baby is a great way to keep them awake during bottle-feeding. Here are some tips to help you do this effectively:

Choose the Right Music or Song

Avoid playing or singing anything too soothing, as this could have the opposite of the intended effect and lull your baby to sleep. Equally, very loud or thunderous music should be avoided, as this could be overwhelming for your baby and cause problems with attention and hearing. Opt for gentle, upbeat music or songs with a similar tempo to children's nursery rhymes.

Sing or Speak Softly

While you want to ensure your baby stays awake, it's important not to overstimulate them. Speaking or singing softly will create a calm atmosphere and help your baby focus on feeding while still keeping them engaged and awake.

Make Noises and Use Different Tones

Making different noises, such as clicking your tongue, blowing raspberries, or even just talking, can help keep your baby alert and stimulated. Experiment with different tones of voice, such as a higher-pitched, excited tone, which may be more engaging for your baby.

Include Other Sensory Stimuli

Combining singing and speaking with other sensory stimuli, such as gentle touch, can be very effective in keeping your baby awake. Try stroking their feet, hands, or head while you sing or speak to them. You could also try using a damp washcloth to gently rub their face, chest, or back, or blow gently onto their cheeks or forehead.

Use Songs and Rhymes to Bond and Engage

Singing songs or rhymes with interactive elements, such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes," can be a great way to keep your baby engaged and stimulated during feeding. You can also make up your own songs about what you're doing or how your baby is feeling, which can help create a soothing yet alert atmosphere.

Be Responsive to Your Baby's Cues

While it's important to keep your baby awake during feeding, it's also crucial to be responsive to their cues. If your baby becomes overstimulated or upset, take a break from singing or speaking and focus on comforting them. You can always try again once they've calmed down.

Remember, every baby is unique, and you will get to know your baby's preferences and responses over time. Don't be afraid to experiment with different songs, tones of voice, and types of touch to see what works best for your little one.

Frequently asked questions