Berkeley Parents Network: Sleeping Too Much

Berkeley Parents Network

Sleeping Too Much

Berkeley Parents Network > Advice > Sleep > Sleeping Too Much

Is 2-week-old sleeping too much?
11-week-old sleeps 8 hours at night
Unsually sleepy 5-month-old

2-week-old sleeping too much?

Feb 2004

My 2-week-old sleeps almost continually. He does rouse often enough to be fed 7 or 8 times a day and is gaining weight well. He probably has 2 half-hour periods per day when he is alert. But the rest of the time he is fast asleep. I know I should be counting my blessings but I am also worried that something may be wrong (is he ill?). Is this normal? anon

Yes, count your blessings! My 5 month old daughter was exactly the same way as your son. I remember days where it seemed she only woke to eat. She slept SO much. She gradually had more awake periods; probably most noticeably after about 10 weeks. I look back on those first couple of months fondly, as I could just hold her in my arms for hours at a time. Ah, so precious! Remember that you typically hear about AVERAGES, i.e., ''newborns sleep X hours per day''--whatever the number, it's an AVERAGE, which means some babies sleep MORE. Be happy you were blessed with one of those. Enjoy!! Tracy

I also have a two week old and he is sleeping all the time. I believe this is normal...it was also the case with my first child. They say that they ''wake up'' around 3 weeks, so enjoy this quiet time with your sleepy baby. best

I could have written your post seven months ago. My son slept ALL THE TIME. My poor parents would be the most disappointed, because they would stop by to see him and he would undoubtedly be asleep or on his way. It was for us--and I think in the vast majority of cases it is--entirely normal. Birth is traumatic and growing takes lots of energy! Isaac's ped has marked on his charts ''doing super'' at every single well-visit since his birth, so I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Enjoy his long naps while you can! Ginna

Birth is a lot of work for infants too, and he's just sleeping it off. I wouldn't worry at all -- take advantage of it! :) Anon.

Yep, it's perfectly normal for a 2-week old baby to spend all his time when not feeding sleeping. anon

If you are worried feel free to call your pediatrician for advice. I spent many anxious moments as a new mother until I realized that pediatricians expect to get called alot about newborns and it is their job to answer your questions. It never hurts to check these things out. That said, by the time you read this your son is probably sleeping less as they are very groggy the first two weeks of life.

Also some kids sleep alot. I was really alarmed when I saw how much my brother's six month old daughter slept, she hardly seemed to be awake for more than a short time before she napped again. My son was never a big sleeper. But after a while my niece woke up more in the day (sleeps great at night for long stretches!) and has the usual nap schedule. Kids sleeping patterns (and behavior in general) vary much more than you would ever guess from reading parenting books. I found the ''Baby Book'' by William and Martha Sears very reassuring for all my baby questions. I consulted it numerous times a day :) Congratulations on your new baby!

From what you've said, it sounds normal. Eating 7-8 times a day and gaining weight are the important things. 2-week old babies have darn little ''quiet alert'' time. That will change! Enjoy your little one! those were the days

11-week-old sleeps 8 hours at night

Aug 2004

I have a 11.5 weeks old son and he slept nearly 8.5 hrs in the night.. I am nursing him and concerned about normal sleep routines in a baby. My daughter would usually sleep max. 6 hrs in the night for a very long time but my son seems happy to sleep for a longer time and does not cry out for milk in the night or early morning and even after sleeping for a long time in the night wakes up quietly. Day time - from 9-9 he usually nurses 2-3.5 hrs and sleeps max. 45 minutes .. personal experiences and info. about babies sleep routines are very welcome. concerned mom

Hi - your son seems to have very similar sleep patterns to my 3 month old little boy. He rarely sleeps longer than an hour or so during the day, and this hour is usually made up with power naps of 10/15 minutes at a time. But night times are blissful!! He started sleeping through the night at around 2 months. Every now and then he'll wake up (or be woken up by big sister) around 5/6am and will fall back to sleep after a feed - but some nights he'll go from 7pm thru to 8:30am and just like your son, he rarely wakes up extremely hungry, he's happy to coo & gurgle until I'm ready to nurse him. As long as your son is gaining weight then I wouldn't be concerned, it sounds like he is getting plenty of milk in the day and that's keeping him content through the night. Enjoy a good nights rest! Cathy

I can't give you a medical opinion about your son's sleep habits, but they sound almost exactly like my son's. From 3mos to 6mos, he slept 8, 10, sometimes 12 hours a night without waking to eat (I was breastfeeding and supplementing with formula.) He barely napped during the day. From 6-12mos his sleep patterns were all over the board, but now he's 13mos and has what I consider a great sleep schedule of about 10-11 straight hours at night without waking, plus 1-2 naps of 45min-2 hours each per day. He's healthy and bright and meeting all his milestones, so unless there's something else about your son's development that gives you cause to worry about the sleeping, I'd say thank your stars and enjoy your good night's sleep! :) anon

Unsually sleepy 5-month-old

March 2004

My five month old son seems really sleepy. He has slept twice as much as normal in the past day. When he's awake he's very active and alert and does not have any signs of illness. I don't understand what is going on. We started cereal a week ago could it be making him sleepy? Is this a normal change around five months? Adriane

Sounds like a growth spurt! My little guy always sleeps more right before and during a growth spurt.. Everyone said 6 months but he was a little ahead. His was at 5 months. now watch him sprout!

Your son could be allergic to the cereal, or intolerant. Five months is early enough that his gut could still be sensitive to grains. Have you thought of trying mashed banana instead, or waiting until he is six months? Jennifer R.

I noticed with my children that their eating and sleeping patterns could vary pretty wildly during the first year because they have so much growing to do. They grow when they are sleeping, so if he's having a grow spurt, he's going to sleep more. Don't worry. a mom

The opinions and statements expressed on this website are those of parents who subscribe to the Berkeley Parents Network. Please see Disclaimer & Usage for information about using content on this website.