Final answer:
It is false to tap a baby's cheek or flick their feet to wake them for a feed; gentle touches should be used instead to align with their natural rooting reflex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, "If a baby is sleepy, it is appropriate to tap their cheek or flick the bottom of their feet to wake them for a feed," is False. It is generally recommended to wake a newborn gently if they need to be awakened for a feed. The way to do this is by using soft and gentle touches rather than abrupt or potentially uncomfortable methods like tapping or flicking. Newborn reflexes, such as the rooting reflex, will cause a baby to turn their head towards any gentle touch on the cheek as they instinctively search for a nipple, which indicates that softer interactions are both effective and more appropriate for these young infants. If a baby is sleepy and needs to be fed, it is best to gently wake them up by patting their back or talking softly to them, rather than using physical stimuli on their cheeks or feet.