It’s generally not necessary to wake a 5-week-old baby up to feed them. Most babies at this age will wake up on their own when they’re hungry. However, if your baby has any medical concerns or your pediatrician advises otherwise, it’s important to follow their recommendations.
For a detailed answer, read below
It is generally not necessary to wake a 5-week-old baby up to feed them. At this age, most babies have developed their own internal hunger cues and will wake up naturally when they’re hungry. However, it is important to be aware that every baby is unique, and there may be exceptions to this general guideline. If your baby has any specific medical concerns or if your pediatrician advises otherwise, it is crucial to follow their recommendations.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “Healthy newborns usually have the ability to feed well and will wake up on their own to feed whenever they are hungry, usually every two to three hours in the early weeks.” This indicates that newborns, including 5-week-old babies, have a natural instinct to wake up when they need to be fed.
Here are some interesting and relevant facts related to feeding newborns:
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Breast milk or formula: Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, it is recommended to offer feedings whenever your baby shows signs of hunger. These signs can include rooting, sucking on their hands, or making lip-smacking sounds.
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Feeding frequency: Newborns typically need to be fed every two to three hours, which may amount to around 8-12 feeding sessions a day. This frequency gradually decreases as they grow older and their stomach capacity increases.
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Growth spurts: Babies may experience growth spurts, particularly around 2-3 weeks and 6 weeks of age. During these periods, they may show increased hunger and need to be fed more frequently. It is important to respond to their cues and provide them with extra feedings during these growth spurts.
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Weight gain: Adequate weight gain is an important indicator of healthy feeding patterns. Most newborns regain their birth weight by the second to third week of life and continue to gain weight steadily thereafter.
In conclusion, while it is generally not necessary to wake a 5-week-old baby up to feed, every baby is unique, and special circumstances may arise. Following your baby’s hunger cues and consulting with your pediatrician will provide the best guidance for ensuring your baby’s nutrition and growth.
Table
| Age | Feeding Frequency |
|---|---|
| Newborn (0-4 weeks) | Every 2-3 hours, 8-12 feedings per day |
| 1-2 months | Every 3-4 hours, 6-8 feedings per day |
| 3-6 months | Every 4-6 hours, 4-6 feedings per day |
| 6-12 months | Every 4-6 hours, 3-4 feedings per day |
Answer in video
In the video, the lactation consultant advises that newborns who are 28 days old or younger should be woken up for feedings, but if the baby is feeding frequently and gaining weight, it’s acceptable to let them sleep for longer stretches. If the baby is difficult to wake up, there are gentle techniques, such as unswaddling, undressing, doing a diaper change, and providing skin-to-skin contact with mom, as well as rubbing their back, playing with their hands and feet, and talking or singing to them. Breast compressions can also help keep the baby awake and engaged during breastfeeding.
There are additional viewpoints
Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks. After that, it’s OK to let your baby sleep for longer periods of time at night.
Most pediatricians recommend that you wake up your baby if they are due for a daytime or nighttime feed. Babies shouldn’t go without feeding for more than 4 hours. So while most of the time your baby will let you know when they are ready to eat, it’s okay to wake them up if they snooze past the 4-hour mark.
If your baby is just a few weeks old, you should wake him from sleep to feed if he is sleeping 4 hours or longer. Sleeping longer than 4 hours is usually too long for newborns and you need to make sure you are feeding your baby so you won’t have slow weight gain issues.
You may need to wake your newborn for feeds. In most cases healthy, thriving newborns will wake when they need to feed and so get enough milk. Feeding your baby when they show early hunger signs can help them to attach and feed more effectively. If your baby is sleepy, it will be easier to pick up their feeding cues if you keep them close to you.
Newborns who sleep for longer stretches should be awakened to feed. Wake your baby every 3–4 hours to eat until he or she shows good weight gain, which usually happens within the first couple of weeks.
More interesting questions on the issue
People also ask, Should I wake my baby to feed at 5 weeks? Others suggest waking to feed during the first five to six weeks if your baby sleeps longer than five hours at a time. Usually, babies younger than 6 months wake up every three to four hours because they’re hungry, so the question of whether to wake them (and lose precious rest yourself) may not be a concern.
Likewise, How long can a 5-week-old sleep without eating?
Newborns generally sleep for two to three hours before waking to eat, day and night. As they get older, babies are usually able to sleep for increasingly longer stretches of time at night without waking to eat. Between the age of 2 to 3 months old, healthy babies are often able to sleep for six hours without feeding.
Is it OK for 5-week-old to sleep 5 hours?
As an answer to this: As a guide, many babies sleep 14-20 hours a day in the first weeks. By 3 months many are settled into a pattern of longer sleep times – perhaps 4 to 5 hours at night. When a baby sleeps about 5 hours straight, this is considered ‘sleeping through the night’.
Then, How long can I let my 5-week-old sleep through the night?
Response to this: four to six hours
Five-week-old development & milestones
Your baby is sleeping longer at night—as many as four to six hours at once, if you’re lucky—and you’re having longer awake and alert phases during the day.
When to wake up a baby for feeding? Answer to this: Knowing when to wake up your baby can be tough. Here’s how to wake up a newborn for feeding, and how much sleep your baby needs throughout the day. Most pediatricians recommend that you wake up your baby if they are due for a daytime or nighttime feed. Babies shouldn’t go without feeding for more than 4 hours.
How often should you feed a 4 month old?
Response to this: Once your baby is a few months old, you may be able to introduce a sleep/feed schedule that works for you. Let’s say, for example, your 4-month-old wakes every 5 hours for a feeding. That means if you feed at 9 p.m., your baby wakes around 2 a.m.
How much sleep does a 5 week old baby need? Five weeks is still a time marked by a lot of sleep, though not always with many hours in a row of sleeping. Your baby sleeps an average of 15 hours out of 24 hours, with about 7 hours of sleep happening during the daytime, and about 8-9 hours happening at night.
Also asked, Can a 5 week old still wake up at night?
Five weeks isn’t without challenges, of course. Your baby still wakes up frequently at night, and may not have their nights and days fully sorted out yet. They may also still be quite fussy at times or have colic symptoms.
Thereof, When to wake up a baby for feeding?
Response will be: Knowing when to wake up your baby can be tough. Here’s how to wake up a newborn for feeding, and how much sleep your baby needs throughout the day. Most pediatricians recommend that you wake up your baby if they are due for a daytime or nighttime feed. Babies shouldn’t go without feeding for more than 4 hours.
Correspondingly, How often should you feed a 4 month old? Once your baby is a few months old, you may be able to introduce a sleep/feed schedule that works for you. Let’s say, for example, your 4-month-old wakes every 5 hours for a feeding. That means if you feed at 9 p.m., your baby wakes around 2 a.m.
Can a 5 week old still wake up at night?
Response will be: Five weeks isn’t without challenges, of course. Your baby still wakes up frequently at night, and may not have their nights and days fully sorted out yet. They may also still be quite fussy at times or have colic symptoms.
Beside this, How much sleep does a 5 week old baby need? Five weeks is still a time marked by a lot of sleep, though not always with many hours in a row of sleeping. Your baby sleeps an average of 15 hours out of 24 hours, with about 7 hours of sleep happening during the daytime, and about 8-9 hours happening at night.