As a new parent, you might feel like your baby is sleeping all the time, yet somehow never enough. You probably catch yourself asking: is my baby sleeping too much? Or maybe not enough? These thoughts are totally normal, especially while you’re adjusting to life with a newborn.
Sleep is super important for your baby. It fuels growth and supports their brain development. But it’s easy to get caught in the worry of “normal” versus “abnormal.” Every baby is different. Some seem to snooze almost all day, while others nap in tiny bursts. You might notice patterns that don’t match the charts or guides you’ve seen online, and that’s okay. What really matters is paying attention to your baby and noticing their cues.
Why Do Newborns Sleep So Much?Newborns seem to spend most of their time snoozing, and there’s a good reason for that. Their little bodies are working overtime to grow, and sleep is what helps make that happen.
During sleep, especially in the REM (rapid eye movement) stage, their brains and bodies are busy hitting important milestones. Unlike adults, newborns spend about 50 per cent of their sleep in REM. That’s why they need so much more rest.
Their sleep is also different because they don’t yet have a developed circadian rhythm (the body's internal clock that tells us when it’s day or night). Without this, and without producing melatonin (the sleep hormone), newborns sleep in short bursts throughout the day and night with no clear pattern.
How Much Sleep Does Your Baby Need?Understanding how much sleep is normal for your baby can help you know what to expect:
- Newborns (0 to 3 months): They need 14 to 17 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Some may sleep up to 22 hours. This sleep happens in short spurts, lasting just 1 to 2 hours at a time.
- Older babies (4 to 12 months): They typically need 12 to 16 hours of sleep daily, including 2 to 3 hours of daytime naps. As they grow, they start sleeping longer at night. Around 4 months, many can sleep 6 to 8 hours in a row, and up to 10 to 12 hours by their first birthday.
Can Your Baby Sleep Too Much?Yes, it’s possible for a baby to sleep too much, but it’s more of a concern for newborns than older babies. For newborns, long stretches of sleep can get in the way of feeding. Their stomachs are tiny, so they need to eat often to get enough nutrition. If they sleep through feedings, it could affect weight gain or even cause dehydration. For breastfeeding parents, it may also lower milk supply.
Once babies get a bit older, sleeping too much during the day can make it harder for them to settle at bedtime or cause them to wake up very early in the morning. Still, a long nap every now and then is usually fine after a busy day or when they are unwell. It only becomes a problem if it regularly affects their night sleep.
What Causes Excessive Sleep?These are the main reasons why your baby is sleeping more than usual:
- Growth spurts: Babies often need more rest when their bodies are growing quickly or when they’re learning new skills. Sleep helps fuel those big changes.
- Minor illnesses: Something as simple as a cold or cough can make babies sleepier than usual as their bodies work to recover.
- Jaundice: This condition can make newborns lethargic and sleepier than usual. It shows up as yellowing of the skin or eyes.
- Feeding issues: If a baby isn’t getting enough to eat, they may sleep more because of low energy or dehydration.
- Changes in routine: Travel, new environments, or a family holiday can leave a baby more tired as they adjust.
When to Contact Your DoctorCall your doctor if you notice:
- Your newborn sleeps more than 17 hours a day and isn’t eating at least 8 times in 24 hours.
- They’re hard to wake or seem extremely lethargic after waking.
- There are signs of dehydration, like fewer than four wet diapers daily, dark yellow urine, cracked lips, or no tears when crying.
- Your baby is unusually fussy or irritable when awake.
- They show no interest in feeding after waking (especially newborns).
- They have a fever, are breathing loudly, wheezing, or showing flared nostrils or sunken ribs when breathing.
- There’s a yellow tint to their skin or eyes ( jaundice).
Also read
Your baby’s sleep patterns can seem confusing, but most of the time they’re simply following their natural rhythm of sleeping a lot. In those early weeks, it’s important to wake them gently for feeding when needed.
FAQs on Baby Sleep Basics: How Much Is Too Much?
Newborns (0 to 4 weeks) should be woken every 2 to 3 hours for breastfeeding or every 3 to 4 hours for formula feeding.
Healthy sleep includes regular naps, waking for feeds, steady growth, and alertness when awake.
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