It’s common for newborns to wake every 2-3 hours to eat (4 hours tops). And, by 4-8 weeks, babies can go longer and longer.
In fact, if your 1-month-old is still waking ever 3 hours at night, it may be a sign of a growth spurt…but it may also be because she’s not getting enough milk during the day. The latter can happen if a mom is not making enough milk (check with your doctor) or if the baby only nurses from one breast during a feed; gets too distracted during the meal (the sights and sounds of the day are too exciting); or naps more than 2 hours at a time.
Here are some things you can do to help your baby sleep longer at night:
- Offer more daytime feedings and alternate breasts every 5-7 minutes.
- Reduce distractions during feedings.
- Try a dream feed.
- If your baby is fussy within an hour of a meal, feed her again—she may need a little more milk.
- Wake your baby for a feed if the nap is lasting more than 2 hours. (You can let him fall right back to sleep after the meal.)
Happiest Baby does not provide medical advice. Please seek the advice of your
healthcare provider if you have questions regarding a medical issue.
