Do You Wake Up Sleeping Babies to Feed

[Blackcat31]

I require ALL infants to have been fed within 30 minutes of drop off. Parents MUST feed their infant before drop off because I do not have the time or the opportunity to feed an infant within the first hour of the day. My licensing requirements state I must hold a baby (under 12 months) when feeding so I can't do that while welcoming others in and preparing for the day. If it happens more than once, I will let the parent know that I will call for immediate pick up if it repeats. ALL parents have the same 24 hours in a day. How they manage that time is on them and is not up to me to figure out. In the 3 decades I've been in this business I've had this issue only a few times and once have had to term over it but in the long run most parents will understand why I have this rule and will do their best to accommodate it.

[Cat Herder]

It depends.

I have 3-4 infants on bottles at any given time, so occasionally having to wake someone to feed is just self-defense. Sometimes I may feed one of the other infants first if they are awake.

I do make sure to have them fed before pick-up the same way I expect the parents to feed them before drop-off. If they arrive prior to the expected time, that's on them.

* I tend to get more of the "can you hold off feeding" so they can feed and put to bed. That is a hard no. I won't listen to screaming for an adult's convenience, I won't make the other kids hear it either. I also won't stick to a number of ounces per day. Infants have different caloric needs daily as their growth and development change. I always put an extra ounce or two in the bottle, they take what they want, when they want. Infants don't have a schedule, I just offer at a minimum of three hours and when they show signs of hunger.

[Eleamo84]

I think it just came down to what Blackcat31 said. I think she did not want to have to feed her when she got home..lol

And somehow they don't mind bringing their kids in needing a bottle right away. I'm dealing with this issue with one parent.

[Valerie928]

Never!

[Decadense]

I think it just came down to what Blackcat31 said. I think she did not want to have to feed her when she got home..lol

[BaileeB]

🤣🤣 you should explain to her that babies don’t have a “schedule”. LOL
As they grow their sleep needs and eating needs change so there is no way for them to have a schedule.

[Decadense]

I echo what the others have said I do not wake to feed. My thought is if baby is sleeping baby needs sleep. In my experience waking up baby to feed has not worked out well. I also worry about them choking if not fully awake.

Yes to this. I explained to her that the baby will wake up when/ if she is hungry.. she said that it would mess up the babies schedule

[Eleamo84]

I echo what the others have said I do not wake to feed. My thought is if baby is sleeping baby needs sleep. In my experience waking up baby to feed has not worked out well. I also worry about them choking if not fully awake.

[Decadense]

When DD10 was born, I was taught to never wake a sleeping baby.

However, I think this is a new “thing.” When DD2.99 was born, the hospital/DD pediatrician told us to wake her every four hours to eat. We were instructed to do this until she gained her birth weight back - a few days/weeks. I don’t think we were to do this long term. It drove me crazy having the nurses come in to check on me, the baby AND waking the baby to feed her. Besides being a little jaundice, DD was a healthy 8lbs 4 oz. When we left the hospital and came home, DH and I let her sleep. She was back up to her birth weight by the time she went for her to her first appointment, which I believe was just 48 hours after we got home.

I say let her sleep. Babies need their sleep just as much as they need to eat. The baby will wake up to eat when she’s hungry.

I totally agree Girlmomma. I think the mom was upset because she did not want to have to feed her when she got home, just like Blackcat31 said. Ah well. I plan on taking your guys advice and letting her sleep. Thanks again for the great advice..😊

[GirlMomma]

When DD10 was born, I was taught to never wake a sleeping baby.

However, I think this is a new “thing.” When DD2.99 was born, the hospital/DD pediatrician told us to wake her every four hours to eat. We were instructed to do this until she gained her birth weight back - a few days/weeks. I don’t think we were to do this long term. It drove me crazy having the nurses come in to check on me, the baby AND waking the baby to feed her. Besides being a little jaundice, DD was a healthy 8lbs 4 oz. When we left the hospital and came home, DH and I let her sleep. She was back up to her birth weight by the time she went for her to her first appointment, which I believe was just 48 hours after we got home.

I say let her sleep. Babies need their sleep just as much as they need to eat. The baby will wake up to eat when she’s hungry.

[Decadense]

No I do not wake sleeping babies. I am required to follow their lead and they eat and sleep when they want. I don't try to get them on a routine of any kind until about 12 months.
Mom wants you to do the work of feeding so she doesn't have to. It's a common behavior for parents....in the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal for her to take baby home and feed them unless she lives an hour away. I'd simply tell mom you are best practice says baby sleeps and eats when baby indicates they need to eat/sleep and that waking a baby isn't do. I understand mom's perspective but understanding it doesn't mean I will change my policies or practices.

Thanks again Blackcat31. Always helpful, I truly appreciate it. I do not like to wake babies either. I feel that if they are sleeping then that must mean they need to..lol and that they will wake when hungry..😊

[Blackcat31]

No I do not wake sleeping babies. I am required to follow their lead and they eat and sleep when they want. I don't try to get them on a routine of any kind until about 12 months.
Mom wants you to do the work of feeding so she doesn't have to. It's a common behavior for parents....in the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal for her to take baby home and feed them unless she lives an hour away. I'd simply tell mom best practice says baby sleeps and eats when baby indicates they need to eat/sleep and that waking a baby isn't something you do. I understand mom's perspective but understanding it doesn't mean I will change my policies or practices.

[Decadense]

Mom was upset this morning at drop off because baby slept through 3:30 feeding yesterday .She woke up at 4 and was fed then but only ate half of what she normally does. Mom comes at 4:30 for pickup. Mom was upset that we did not wake her up at 3:30 to feed