Should I wake my newborn to feed him? Expert advice on night time feeding for a two-week-old baby

Question

We have a two-week-old baby who is breastfeeding and gaining weight normally. During the day, he eats at least 8 times. However, we're unsure about how to handle night time feeds. Some say to feed every 2-3 hours, others suggest waiting 4-5 hours if he doesn't wake up. Is there any research or definitive answer on this? How should we approach night time feeding while ensuring enough sleep for ourselves?

Answer 1

As long as he is getting enough in each 24-hour cycle, and he remains on-course on his weight chart, and if he can sleep 4-5 hours between feedings, then go with that and don't wake him up.

I would only wake him if there's reason to be concerned.

Answer 2

Let him sleep.

My son was born a bit on the small side, with low blood sugar and a small problem with maintaining body temperature (in the first days). We were told we have to wake and feed him every three hours, mainly because of the blood sugar issue. But after two weeks, we were told this is no longer necessary, and that we can now wait for 4-5 hours between feeds during the night. If your baby is of normal weight and has no health issues, I would guess that letting him sleep as long as he likes is really OK.