Tips to feed your baby at night
Here
Wait Before Going In
Newborns and infants make all sorts of noises while they’re sleeping: they wiggle a lot, they whimper, etc. If these little noises wake you up, I’d suggest waiting before jumping out of bed! Your baby may still be asleep, and by going to see him right away, you could interfere with his sleep cycle and actually wake him up. Unless your baby is crying, wait a few minutes. She may surprise you and go right back to sleep!
Maintain a Dark Environment
When you feed, change a diaper, or otherwise tend to your baby at night, make sure to keep the room dark and the interaction boring! This is not the time to play with her; we want to teach our babies that night time is meant for sleeping. If you have to use a light, use one with a red tone and keep your phone turned off. The blue light from the phone interferes with melatonin, the sleep hormone; it’s sending signals to our brains to stay awake. (Watching TV during night feeds is not ideal for the same reason!) Bottom line: keep the room dark and interact/play with your baby as little as possible.
Use White Noise
Of all the tips to feed your baby at night, this one is by far my favorite. Your newborn or infant will love the white noise machine as it mimics the sounds of the womb. It also blocks any external sounds that could wake her up. It’s easy to use and it works!
Don’t Change the Diaper Unless Necessary
The process of changing a diaper will wake your baby up a little more, so avoid it unless it’s necessary. If you have to do it, change the diaper mid-feed so he will have the rest of the feed to get sleepy again. Changing the diaper in the middle of the feeding session also helps him wake up just enough to get a full feed and avoid dozing while nursing or bottle feeding.
Swaddle Your Baby
One of my favorite swaddles for newborns is the HALO 100% Cotton Muslin Sleepsack Swaddle. With this swaddle, you can change a diaper without re-swaddling completely. You simply unzip the bottom, leaving your baby’s upper body snug in the swaddle. It will make for an easier transition back to sleep.
Burp
If your baby is waking up 30 minutes after falling asleep after the night feed, it may be because she needs to be burped. This can make a huge difference in your baby’s night sleep. If she is not burping, keep trying!
I hope these tips to feed your baby at night can help you and your little one settle back to sleep. If you have tried everything and you still have some sleep concerns, look for some support and guidance. I can help you and your family sleep better! Contact me if you have any questions.
As Always, Sleeping Babies = Happy Families
Much love,
Eve
