Breastfeeding is a learning process for both you and your newborn, and it’s completely normal for them to be sleepy, especially in the early weeks. Don’t be discouraged if your baby has trouble staying awake at first—this phase is temporary. With time, their alertness will improve, making breastfeeding easier.

In the meantime, it’s important to ensure your little one gets enough milk, as this is crucial for their growth and development. Below are some helpful tips to guide you in breastfeeding your sleepy newborn and ensure they get the nutrition they need.

What is Normal Newborn Feeding?

Newborns have tiny tummies, so they need to feed frequently to get the nourishment required for healthy growth. Frequent feedings not only ensure your baby gets plenty of milk, but also helps build your milk supply. In the early weeks, most newborns will need to feed 8–12 times a day, with feedings typically spaced about 1.5–3 hours apart, going no longer than one 4–5 hour stretch at night. Nighttime feedings are essential in the early weeks and months, as they help support both your baby’s growth and your milk production.

How to Ensure Your Sleepy Newborn is Getting Enough Milk

Feeding Cues

Sleepy babies may not show early feeding cues like rousing, moving their mouth, or smacking their lips. Late feeding cues—like crying—may appear when they are already too hungry to latch or feed effectively. If latching is a struggle, your newborn may waste valuable energy and be too tired for a full feeding. Keeping your baby close will help you notice and respond to their feeding cues sooner, improving your breastfeeding attempts.

Limit Swaddling

While swaddling can help calm a newborn, it can also suppress hunger cues and make babies sleep “too well,” which can interfere with effective breastfeeding. Try keeping swaddling loose or avoiding it entirely during awake periods and feedings, especially in the first few weeks. Even when swaddled, leaving your baby's hands free can help them wake more easily on their own and feed more effectively.

Hold Your Baby Skin-to-Skin

The closeness of holding your baby skin-to-skin helps you recognize their feeding patterns and respond quickly to early hunger cues. Research shows that frequent, unlimited skin-to-skin contact:

Wake Your Baby If Needed

If your baby does not regularly wake for feedings on their own, especially in the first week or two, you may need to gently wake them to ensure they are getting enough milk. For example, if it has been three hours since the beginning of their last feeding, it’s important to wake them up to eat. Longer periods between feedings can affect overall milk intake, make it harder for your baby to regain birth weight, and negatively impact your milk supply.

Undress Your Baby

Babies can get sleepy if they are too warm and cozy. During feedings, try dressing your baby in just a diaper. The cooler air can help keep them more alert and makes it easier to stimulate their skin, helping them stay awake during feedings.

Change Your Baby’s Diaper

A diaper change after the first breast can help wake your baby up for the second side. The cool sensation of a clean diaper or wet washcloth may rouse them enough to continue feeding and get more milk. Tracking wet and dirty diapers is also important: by the end of the first week, newborn babies should have at least 6 wet diapers and 3 dirty diapers daily.

Use a Cool Washcloth

A cool, damp washcloth can be a helpful way to wake a sleepy baby. Try gently wiping your baby’s face or the back of their neck and hands with a cool washcloth to keep them awake and engaged in breastfeeding.

Stimulate Your Baby

Gentle stimulation can help your sleepy newborn stay awake and continue breastfeeding longer.

  • Gently rub your baby’s feet and hands to help keep them alert.

  • If your baby is starting to doze off, sit them up in your lap slightly and rub their back to help rouse them.

  • A light tickle on your baby’s toes can stimulate them to suck and stay awake a little longer.

Stimulate Your Breast

Sometimes babies become sleepy because the milk flow slows down. To keep your sleepy newborn active, gently massage your breast and use breast compressions throughout the feeding session. This helps to transfer more milk during feedings, ensuring your baby gets plenty.

Offer Both Breasts

If your baby starts to drift off while breastfeeding, try switching to the other breast. This helps wake your baby, encourages continued sucking, and ensures they receive more milk. Burping and a diaper change between breasts can help wake them up for the second side. Frequent milk removal from both breasts at each feeding supports your milk production and can help prevent engorgement.

Avoid Pacifier Use in the Early Weeks

In the first few weeks, it’s best to avoid pacifier use. Pacifiers can sometimes suppress early hunger cues, making it harder for your baby to signal when they are ready to feed. Using a pacifier too early may also reduce the frequency of feedings, which are important for establishing your milk supply and supporting your baby’s growth.

Hand Express to Stimulate Milk Flow

If, despite your best efforts, you can't keep your sleepy newborn awake for feedings, it’s time to start hand expression. Hand expression is especially effective for collecting small amounts of colostrum in the first few days after birth. After that, if your baby continues to struggle with feedings, pumping can be added. Expressing your milk by hand or with a pump helps maintain your milk supply and provides your baby with expressed breast milk until they are more alert and better able to breastfeed.

Importance of Ongoing Breastfeeding Support

If you have concerns about breastfeeding, diaper output, or poor weight gain, don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician or a lactation consultant. Early support can make breastfeeding easier, more comfortable, and more successful for both you and your baby.

Disclaimer: Our classes and accompanying materials are intended for general education purposes and should not replace medical advice. For personalized recommendations, please consult your healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.