The short answer
Often, yes, in the early weeks. The CDC says a sleepy newborn may need waking to feed, and the AAP says to wake a baby who is having trouble gaining weight rather than let the gap grow. If your baby is feeding well and gaining weight, your doctor or midwife may tell you that you can let them sleep. Ask at the first checkup, because the right answer depends on your baby.
How often a newborn needs to eat
Newborn tummies are small, so feeds are frequent. The CDC says that a breastfed baby feeds about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, and in the first days may want to eat as often as every 1 to 3 hours. The AAP says bottle-fed newborns usually eat every 2 to 3 hours, and 8 feeds a day is generally the minimum.
Both also say the same thing in plainer words: feed when your baby seems hungry. Our baby feeding chart has the usual amounts by age.
When to wake a sleepy baby
Some babies are sleepy feeders. The AAP notes that babies born even a little early can be very sleepy and may not take in enough in the early weeks. Its advice for a baby who is having trouble gaining weight is not to wait too long between feeds, even if that means waking them.
A few situations to raise with your doctor, midwife or health visitor, who know your baby’s weight and birth history:
- Your baby was born early or small.
- Your baby has not yet got back to their birth weight.
- Your baby sleeps through most feeds, or falls asleep a minute after starting.
They can tell you how long a gap is fine for your baby and for how long that applies.
How to wake a newborn gently
The CDC suggests patting, stroking, undressing or changing the nappy. Some common-sense extras:
- Bring them somewhere brighter and a little cooler. Remove a layer if they’re bundled up.
- Hold them upright or skin to skin.
- Talk or sing softly, and stroke their cheek.
Never shake a baby. If you can’t rouse your baby properly, or they feel floppy or look unwell, get urgent medical help. The NHS lists when to get urgent help.
Signs your baby is getting enough
The NHS lists these for breastfed babies:
- At least 6 heavy, wet nappies in 24 hours from day 5 onwards. In the first 48 hours, 2 or 3 is likely.
- At least 2 soft, yellow poos a day from day 4, for the first few weeks.
- Rounded cheeks while sucking, and swallowing you can hear and see.
- A baby who looks content and satisfied after most feeds, and healthy and alert when awake.
The CDC adds that a baby who has had enough seems content and drowsy after a feed. If you’re worried about how much milk your baby is getting, the NHS says to ask for help early, from a midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding specialist.
Feeding on cue and waking are not opposites
The AAP’s general advice for healthy full-term babies is to feed whenever they seem hungry. Waking is for the other case: a baby who is too sleepy to ask. If your baby wakes, roots and fusses on their own every couple of hours, you may not need to do anything. If they have slept well past the gap your doctor gave you, that’s when to gently rouse them.
The CDC has a page on signs your child is hungry or full. Learning those early cues makes it easier to feed before crying starts.
What to ask at the checkup
Every baby is different, so bring these to your doctor, midwife or health visitor:
- What is my baby’s birth weight, and have they got back to it?
- What is the longest gap between feeds that is fine for my baby right now?
- When can we stop waking them at night?
- How many wet and dirty nappies should I expect each day?
Write the answers somewhere you can find them at 3 a.m.
When to call
The AAP says to talk to your pediatrician if your baby seems to want to eat all the time, even when full, or if you have any concern about how often or how much to feed. The NHS says to ask for help early if you’re worried about your baby’s milk intake. If your baby is hard to wake, floppy, or has fewer wet nappies than expected, don’t wait for the next appointment: contact a doctor or the NHS 111 service the same day.
What about overnight?
The advice above applies day and night. Many newborns settle into longer sleeps by themselves as they grow, and your doctor will tell you when overnight gaps can stretch. In the meantime, newborn sleep schedules explains why early sleep is so scattered, and the nursery phone lets you hear your baby stir without checking the room.
A monitor is a convenience for your ears. It doesn’t replace feeding on schedule, checking your baby, or an adult being nearby.
Waking to feed, quick answers.
How long can a newborn go without eating?
There is no single number that suits every baby. The AAP says bottle-fed newborns usually eat every 2 to 3 hours and at least 8 times a day, and the CDC says breastfed babies feed 8 to 12 times a day. Ask your doctor how long a gap is fine for your baby.
Do I have to wake my baby every 2 hours at night?
Not always. The CDC says you “may need” to wake a sleepy newborn, and the AAP says to do it if weight gain is a worry. A healthy baby who is feeding well and gaining weight may be allowed longer stretches. Check with your doctor or midwife.
