Simple Tips to Make Feeds Easier

Caring for a newborn is a big transition, and adding nighttime breastfeeding into the mix brings its own unique learning curve. While it can take some adjustment, the experience is incredibly rewarding and deeply bonding. In today’s blog, we’ll share some helpful tips to make nighttime breastfeeding smoother—so you can nourish your baby and still get the rest you need.

Tip #1: Set Up a “Night Feeding Station”

Napoleon once said, “amateurs discuss tactics while the professionals discuss logistics.” This is true in war, but more importantly, it is true when it comes to ensuring that you and your baby have a pleasant and bearable experience breastfeeding overnight. Don’t worry too much about the little ins and outs of the act of breastfeeding itself, but rather make sure that you are well equipped every night to ensure that you have everything you need at your fingertips to ensure that you can get the feeding done quickly and easily. Here is a good starting point for your night feeding station setup:

• Burp cloths
• Nursing pillow
• Water bottle
• Small snack for you
• Breast pads
• Diaper + wipes
• Trash can for incidental waste needs
• A soft light or nightlight
• A sound station for white noise (like an Alexa or Google smart device or even an app on your smartphone)
• Your earpods in case you want to listen to a podcast or music as you feed or pump or put baby back to sleep
• Extra blankets in case you get chilly

If pumping overnight, include:

• Pump parts
• Milk storage bags/containers
• Sanitizing wipes
• Cooler bag or mini fridge if needed

Tip #2: Try Feeding Before Baby Fully Wakes

The general rule is to wait until your baby announces to the world that they are awake and hungry by crying. But, what if you didn’t have to wait until it got to that point? It can actually help your baby sleep better through the night if you are able to pick them up and start feeding them before they get to the point where they are so upset that they start to cry. That way, you can get the feeding in quickly and the baby can get back to sleep without having to be upset and crying. 

Early hunger cues to watch for:

• Rooting
• Turning head side to side
• Hands to mouth
• Tongue out
• Restlessness

Tip #3: Don’t Rush Through Burping

If you want to help increase your odds of sleeping through the night, then getting a good burp out of your baby after each feeding will help them be able to sleep longer and with less fussiness ensuring that they have a nice full and sound sleep session every time. 

Burp positions to try:

• Upright chest-to-chest
• Over the shoulder with gentle pressure on their tummy/sternum
• Sitting position in your lap with their head supported, lightly lifting up with the palm of the supporting hand (you are lifting their chest, no head) 
• Laying down over your legs with gentle pressure on their tummy
• Gentle circles sitting upright on your lap or forward backwards or rocking side to side.

Before You Go

We hope that this blog about tips for breastfeeding at night was helpful to you. If your little one is still fussy after feeds, struggling to settle, or having trouble sleeping, we’re here to support you.

From sleep consulting to in-home sleep training and overnight newborn care or in-home newborn care services, we offer personalized guidance to help your little one (and you!) get the rest you need.

Have questions? Let’s Chat — we’d love to help your family rest easier.

The content contained in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace the advice of any medical professional. It is based on our opinions and experience working with newborns and their families. Other’s opinions may vary. It does not represent the views of any affiliated organizations. The reader understands that the term “Babynurse” is often a word used to describe a newborn caregiver. However, unless otherwise disclosed, we are not licensed nurses in any state. By reading and/or utilizing any information or suggestions contained in this blog, the reader acknowledges that we are not medical professionals and agrees to and waives any claim, known or unknown, past, present or future. This blog may contain affiliate links.

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