There is a myth that the goal is for your baby to sleep through the night as soon as possible, when in fact, frequent awakenings are vital for young babies, one reason being that they wake up when there is not enough oxygen [1]. Your baby’s sleep patterns will mature approximately by six months of age, but here are a few things you can do now [2].
Put your baby in a crib
You may be, inadvertently, waking up your baby. Researchers used cameras to monitor the sleep of breastfed infants, and it turned out that in almost half of cases, the mother moved a couple of seconds before the baby woke. But if the baby slept at least one and a half meters away from the mom, night feedings decreased by 50 to 70% [3].
Get an attachable crib
If your baby wakes up frequently, an attachable bassinet may be a great option. Lower it to the same level as your bed, unclip the edge, and feed your baby while they lay on their side. As soon as your baby lets go of your breast, you can roll away and not disturb them with your movements [2].
Reduce feedings
Don't rush to give the breast every time you wake up. Touch your baby, whisper "shh, shh, shh", and gently pat their back; that can be enough to lull them back to sleep. If you put them to the breast, do not be afraid to detach them when they doze off. Slip your little finger into the corner of the baby's mouth and gently pull out the nipple.
Lying next to each other
Sometimes nursing moms rush and walk away from the baby as soon as they detach from the breast. If the baby notices this, they can wake up, and you may have to start over again. Lay next to your baby and wait until they are fully asleep. It usually takes around 20 minutes [2].
