How long can a baby sleep without feeding?

Your newborn baby needs a lot of sleep. But what about feeding? How long can your baby sleep without feeding? This depends on a number of factors. For example, your little one's sleep-wake rhythm. This is different for every baby. The newborn's weight and age also play a role. You can also tell if you need to wake your baby or let him sleep through the night for a feed. However, there is a rule of thumb for how long your baby can sleep without a feed.

How many feedings does a newborn baby need?

In general, a newborn baby needs feeding every 3 to 4 hours. Again, this depends on how much your baby drinks at a time. Where one person drinks a lot per feeding, your baby may spread it out over several feedings. To determine how long your baby can go without a feed, you can keep track of his or her sleep schedule. Newborn babies wake up automatically when they need feeding.

Babies 6 months and older can sleep a little longer. That means they are less likely to need bottle or breastfeeding than babies who have just been born. If you are convinced of the advantages of breast pumps , you won't even have to worry about feedings on the go. So although you should rely on your baby's natural sleep rhythm, a newborn baby should never sleep more than 10 hours without a feed.

Follow your baby's sleep rhythm to determine feedings

• To determine how long a baby can sleep without feeding, you can rely on his or her natural sleep rhythm. However, this is subject to a number of conditions. For example, your baby must not be premature and must already be drinking well more than once a day.

• Of course, your baby must also be healthy if you want to match the number of feedings to the wake and sleep rhythm. Babies who are on medication may be a bit more shaky, making it harder for them to wake up.

• In addition, your baby needs to urinate and defecate properly. Several times a day, of course. Weight should also be up to par. Babies who have trouble putting on weight are best fed several times a day.

Are you breastfeeding? Then it is a good idea to feed your baby several times a day. This gets the milk production going. Let your baby sleep a little less between feedings. Make sure your baby is well awake. This will prevent your baby from falling asleep while feeding. How well your baby drinks also depends on whether or not you use a pacifier during breastfeeding.

Sleeping and feeding: schedule for babies from 0 to 24 weeks

Newborn babies up to and including 4 weeks may sleep for 3 to 4 hours without feeding. Between 4 and 12 weeks, feel free to let your baby continue sleeping if he or she doesn't signal or wake up on his or her own. Between 12 and 24 weeks, a baby needs 5 to 7 hours of rest after each feeding. If they do get hungry in between feedings, you will notice this by crying or moving around. Feel free to wake your baby for an extra feed.