Question

During an initial well-baby exam on a 1-week-old breastfeeding infant, the mother mentions baby sleeps 5 to 6 hours at night. What will the nurse practitioner recommend?

a) Implementing a strict feeding schedule
b) Waking the baby for nighttime feedings
c) Introducing solid foods
d) Allowing the baby to sleep uninterrupted

Answer 1

The recommended action would be waking the baby for nighttime feedings to ensure proper nutrition and milk supply maintenance.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a breastfeeding infant who is 1-week-old sleeps 5 to 6 hours at night, the nurse practitioner is likely to recommend waking the baby for nighttime feedings. Newborns typically need to feed every 2 to 3 hours, including during the night, to ensure they receive adequate nutrition and to promote healthy growth and development. Nighttime feedings also help establish and maintain the milk supply during these early weeks. It is important for newborns to regain their birth weight, which might be lost during the first week, and frequent feedings support this process. Introducing solid foods, implementing a strict feeding schedule, or allowing the baby to sleep uninterrupted are not usually recommended at such an early stage of infancy.