50+ Ways to Stay Awake While Breastfeeding (From Experienced Moms)

Mom

Having trouble staying awake while nursing your baby? You aren't alone! Here are 50+ ways to keep your eyes open while breastfeeding.

I absolutely love newborns.

Minus the sleep deprivation and frequent middle of the night feedings.

With Oliver, I felt like I was able to handle them a lot better than I did with Jack...but with Andrew, I REALLY struggled to keep my eyes awake during the early months of his life.

It felt like every time I close my eyes, it was time to wake up again.

As he's gotten older, it's gotten easier. But man, those newborn months were rough. And it was a little scary a few times to realize I had dozed off while I was trying to nurse him.

So I know I'm not the only mom to ask this.

"How can I stay awake while breastfeeding?!

I decided to pose this question in our breastfeeding support group on Facebook, and I got a lot of great responses.

I would love for you to share your ideas, too!

How to Stay Awake While Breastfeeding

Here are 50 ideas!

  • Sing lullabies or other songs to your baby

  • Sip on a cold glass of water

  • Focus specifically on your baby's eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

  • Sit up straight in your chair or in your bed

  • Watch a favorite TV show that you are only allowed to watch while breastfeeding

  • Play Candy Crush on your phone

  • Scroll Facebook, Instagram or TikTok - I especially find TikTok entertaining in the wee hours of the night.

  • Online shop

  • Take a breastfeeding course - shameless plug for our free breastfeeding course!

  • Browse Amazon (though maybe turn off the 1-click buy setting...trust me. I have a few middle of the night purchases I don't remember!)

  • Read a book

  • Read an Ebook

  • Listen to an audiobook (I'm a big fan of Scribd)

  • Keep snacks close by to munch on - here is a great list of snacks for breastfeeding moms

  • Go to the bathroom before feeding to wake yourself up

  • Ask your spouse to stay up and chat with you

  • Sit on the floor to avoid getting too comfortable

  • Play Clash of Clans on your phone

  • Do a Sudoku

  • Watch Netflix or Hulu on your phone - here is a list of my favorite binge-worthy TV shows

  • Download the 1SE app on your phone and start a compilation of your baby's first year

  • Play a game of Solitaire on your phone

  • Move to a different space to give yourself room to move around

  • Turn on a lamp

  • Meal plan for the week

  • Skim mommy chat boards or groups online

  • Turn on a movie

  • Browse Pinterest

  • Find new recipes to try

  • Crossword app

  • Journal - I love the Day One app for journaling

  • Write your grocery list on your phone

  • Look at pictures on your phone

  • Edit photos

  • Clean out your contact list of names you don't need anymore

  • Delete accounts you don't want to follow anymore on Instagram

  • Watch movie trailers for upcoming movies

  • Read Reddit - there are tons of threads. I particularly like to read threads on TV shows I watch.

What would you add?

Don't forget to signup for our FREE breastfeeding basics class! It's available 24/7 online.

Katie Clark, IBCLC

Katie Clark is a mom of three boys and IBCLC who specializes in milk supply issues of all kinds. After struggling to breastfeed her second child, Katie found a passion for helping moms find success and joy in their breastfeeding journeys. She has worked in lactation in various forms since 2015 and officially became an IBCLC in 2023. She loves learning and expanding her skills and feels strongly about mom-centered care that focuses on root cause solutions and emotional support. She lives in Colorado with her family and loves sharing the happiness that comes from being a mother.

https://thebreastfeedingmama.com
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