Should I wake my newborn to eat during the day?

Should I wake my newborn to eat during the day?

There is a really wide range for what is a normal amount of sleep for a newborn. That said, the best way to decide whether your baby is eating enough is to see how often he is feeding and how many wet and dirty diapers he has during the day. A breastfed newborn should be fed between 8 and 12 times in a 24-hour period. A bottle-fed newborn should be fed between 6 and 10 times in a 24-hour period. In the first week of life wet and dirty diapers increase. You should see at least 6 wet diapers and 1 dirty diaper per day. In the early newborn period your little one might be very sleepy and you will have to wake them to get that many feeds in during the day. Also, if you are concerned that your little one is not eating enough, or that your newborn still has his nights and days mixed up, go ahead and wake him to feed. However, if you are concerned that your baby is very lethargic and sleepy, be sure to talk to your health care professional.