HELP! Falling asleep during feeding!?!

Help me...

My 5 week boy falls asleep during each feeding. I have tried everything it seems...Then, the moment I put him down...he WAKES RIGHT UP!!! He does not cry or anything, just is awake. Then, when I pick him up again to try and feed a little more...he falls asleep the moment the bottle hits his lips. What should I do???

Thanks,
jen

 

Help me...

My 5 week boy falls asleep during each feeding. I have tried everything it seems...Then, the moment I put him down...he WAKES RIGHT UP!!! He does not cry or anything, just is awake. Then, when I pick him up again to try and feed a little more...he falls asleep the moment the bottle hits his lips. What should I do???

Thanks,
jen

 

That's really hard!!!! Have you stripped him and changed his diaper? Noise and bright lights?

Is he on a strict feeding schedule per the docs or anything? Can you wait till he's really hungry and might eat at that point?

Jen, this is a toughie!! Good luck!!

 

Mine did this too and I would change diapers when they fell asleep. That would wake them up, and if they were still hungry they would eat, if not I would let them sleep.

 

Hey Jen,

I used to go through the same exact thing! Drove me bonkers. Only thing I can think of is to let him just lay there if he is not crying. Perhaps he feels safe and relaxed in your arms. I remember when I first started putting our girls in their cribs that they would do the startle reflex and then wake right up. Are you bundling him? Do you feed him while bundled? I didn't realize that when I used to put them in the crib that it was just too much space for them. It felt overwhelming for them. Oh, and another thing, not sure what bottle you use but I use Avent and I had no idea that the nipples come with different hole amounts. I think I used the 1 hole nipple for the first 2 1/2 months and then finally found out about the other nipples. Once I changed to the 2 hole nipple, I found that they were finishing their bottles much faster and without falling asleep. When they have to work really hard to suck the milk through one little hole, apparently it exhausts them and then they fall asleep. Avent makes the starter bottles with 1 hole which supposedly is for 1 month and then for 2 months you move to the 2 hole nipple and so on. GL hope you figure it out.

 

I had this problem too ... read somewhere to rub the palm of his hand to keep him awake. This worked -- and still does when I have a sleepy baby who needs to finish a bottle.

 

Tapping the end of the bottle will stimulate them to nurse even if they are asleep. We leaqrned this in the NICU.

 

I used several methods. I would start to pull the nipple out or move it around. I would rub their hand and blow on their hair.