How to Wake a Baby
I know, I know.
It seems like I should tell you: “How Not to Wake a Baby After You’ve Finally Rocked Him to Sleep.”
Or it maybe the title could address a more likely challenge: ”How to Wake a Teenager.”
I’m sticking to my title: ”How to Wake A Baby.” And Why You Should.
Some babies are sleepy to the point of not having much interest in eating. Newborns need a steady supply of food for their rapidly growing bodies and brains. It takes at least 8 feedings every 24 hours to supply adequate nutrition and hydration. If your baby goes longer than 4 hours between feedings, she needs a gentle wake-up call from you.
To make the waking up experience easier for both of you, take these gradual steps:
- Avoid waking baby from the deep sleep state of consciousness, if you can. But — if five hours have passed since the last feeding, wake her, no matter what stage of sleep she is in.
- Gently remove baby’s blankets, then some clothing.
- Change baby’s position by picking her up, and holding her in your arms.
- Change her diaper. Talk to her as you do.
- Massage baby’s limbs to stimulate wakefulness.
In general, it is normal for new babies to sleep up to 16 or even 20 hours out of a 24-hour period. The sleep is broken up into approximately 2-hour intervals — and newborns don’t know the difference between night and day. This daily schedule (or lack thereof) can be exhausting for parents, but the rhythm changes gradually over the next several weeks. By the age of four months, babies will still wake up at night, but they will begin to develop the self-soothing skills to regulate themselves back to sleep.
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Carly Jennings | Parenting Skills | 
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