Breastfeeding a Sleepy Baby
by Marwa
(NJ)
Visitor Question: Hi. My baby is six weeks old he wants to be fed maybe every half an hour and sometimes less, but the main problem is that he sleeps after the 2nd minutes of starting breastfeeding and so wakes up very hungry.
No matter what effort I do to keep him awake and breastfeeding ends up to be only a soother. What should I do? Is that normal with all babies? IM SO WORRIED!
Breastfeeding Magazine Response: There is no reason to worry, but you need to try to get him to eat more each time he feeds.
Because he is only eating for a two minutes, he is not getting the hind milk that will fill him up.
Try undressing him, tickling his feet and other methods to wake him up if he starts to dose off too early while eating. It is normal for him to feel safe and comfortable enough to sleep when he nurses, but just try to make sure he is full first.
Once he starts getting his fill from each nursing session, he should be able to space out his feedings a little more for you.
Good luck!
