What To Do If A Newborn Is Sleeping Too Much
Usually, a newborn who appears to be sleeping too much is just sleeping on an irregular schedule.
Nevertheless, health issues such as respiratory infections that are minor annoyances in older babies can be much more dangerous in newborns. So, anyone who is concerned about a babys sleeping schedule should consult a pediatrician.
Some strategies to try before calling the doctor include:
- feeding the baby every time they show hunger cues
- offering the baby the breast, the chest, or a bottle every 12 hours to ensure adequate food intake
- making sure that the baby is not too cold or too hot
- keeping a log of the babys sleep schedule for 12 days
How Long Do Newborns Sleep
Congratulations! Youve brought your new little one home! You might have already noticed that your newborn sleeps most of the time: usually around 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period.
In the first 6 months of life, your baby will almost double their size and weight. All this hard work means they need plenty of sleep and food.
But even though babies sleep a lot, parents and caregivers are still exhausted.
Your baby will probably interrupt your sleep every hour or so for a meal or a diaper change. Some babies also prefer being more active and playful at night than during the day.
Babies normally wake up ravenous for a feed every few hours. Even if they dont wake up on their own, youll have to wake them up to eat every 23 hours until theyre above their birth weight.
New little ones have stomachs the size of an acorn. This means they get full quickly, but must feed every 1 to 3 hours even if this means summoning you from sleep in the middle of the night!
Fill Up During The Day
Offer your baby regular feeds during the day every 3 hours or less even if it means waking her up. Some babies will naturally do a 4 hour sleep stretch somewhere in a 24 hour period, just dont let her do it during the day!
You can gently wake your baby by picking her up, unswaddling her , or removing some of her clothing, stroking or tickling her arms and legs, or go straight to changing her diaper. Shell still need to feed during the night but hopefully shell start to stretch out her feeds when its dark
When thinking about the day you may realize that times between feedings were stretched out to accommodate a busier schedule, or that your baby was distracted and didnt ask for milk as often. This is one reason why newborns wake up at night.
Wish Id known about this book sooner!
“I feel so confident having this book to refer to and know that I can do this easily and in a short amount of time! You will not regret buying this book!”
Don’t Miss: Can You Sleep While Your Newborn Sleeps
Putting It All Together
Your newborn baby cycles through his two sleep stages for 16 to 20 hours per day in small chunks. Those chunks arent consecutive or nearly as long as adults need to feel rejuvenated and rested. So, parents need to find ways to get more sleep to avoid sleep deprivation.
Using sleep aids, like swaddling and white noise, can help to lengthen the time between wake ups. Every minute counts! Start creating a sleeping routine to help your babys brain learn to signal its bedtime and start winding down.
In the weeks following your babys birth, make sure you take it easy and avoid too many visitors. Spend as much time as possible resting and napping, when possible. Head to bed earlier and take advantage of every second possible to maximize your sleeping time.
Being a parent is a great experience that can sometimes be scary and exhilarating at the same time when you watch your baby from sleeping soundly in your arms to crawling out of them to play freely. Watching those little active steps or that fast and excited crawl brings warmth to a mother heart and most times a chance to do finish that book you had pushed aside.That’s why we are there to advice & guide mothers to solutions that will keep their minds at rest.
Normal Sleep Patterns For Babies
Newborns typically split their 1417 hours of sleep between daytime and nighttime sleep, though in small chunks of time. Babies dont typically sleep longer stretches until about 3 to 6 months old.
When you bring your newborn home, theyll take turns sleeping and waking up ready to feed. A newborn baby might sleep for 1 1/2 to 3 hours and then wake up hungry.
Your little one may also need an equal number of diaper changes. Your best bet is to try to get some shut-eye while theyre snoozing, no matter what time of the day it is.
Your babys sleep patterns will change as they grow, week by week.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants 4 to 12 months old should get between 12 and 16 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.
Let your doctor know if you think your newborn is sleeping too much or too little:
- If your baby is a fresh newborn, 3 months or under, they shouldnt have less than 11 hours of sleep and not more than 19 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.
- Babies 4 to 11 months shouldnt get less than 10 hours of sleep and not more than 18 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.
Don’t Miss: How To Grocery Shop With Newborn
Night Weaning And Sleeping Through The Night
If you and your pediatrician decide that your baby is ready for night weaning, talk to your doctor about how to do it with your little one, and follow these tips:
-
Stretch out feedings. While newborns need to eat about every two to four hours, when baby is 3 or 4 months old, you can usually start extending the times between feedings . If your pediatrician gives the green light, introduce the concept gradually by adding an extra 15 to 30 minutes between feedings every other night. With any luck, the result will ultimately be a baby who sleeps longer.
-
Shorten nighttime feedings. Another way to night wean your baby is to start putting a little less into his bottle or spend a couple of minutes less on each breast during night wakings. Keep slightly decreasing the amount of milk or the nursing time over the course of a week or so until your baby gets the message and gives up an overnight feeding.
-
Don’t rush to feed your baby at night. When your little one wakes up crying, wait before offering the breast or bottle. He might doze off again or entertain himself for a while. If he starts protesting a lot, try soothing him with a quiet song or gentle pat first. The sooner you teach your baby that night wakings wont result in instant feedings, the sooner hell learn to sleep through the night. Just make sure that your baby isnt truly hungry . You can then start the process of upping the amount he eats during the day if your pediatrician says hes ready.
A Note About Differences
As much as we might want to schedule our lives, for about the first 6 months of their lives, babies have different ideas. They have sporadic sleep patterns that can be puzzling and even change from one week to the next. They may sleep up to 17 hours in a day, sure but perhaps only for 12 hours at a time in some cases. This can be disheartening for new parents.
But keep in mind that your newborn still has a small stomach. Theyre waking up throughout the night because theyre hungry. And just like you, theyre vocal when they need food.
Theres no one-size-fits-all timeframe for when your baby will sleep through the night disappointing, right? but it will happen. While some babies sleep through the night at 6 months and this might be considered the norm, others wont until 1 year but either way, theres more consistent sleep in the future for both you and baby.
Every baby is different, so try not to compare your babys sleep habits to someone elses.
Lets take a deeper dive into what to expect.
Don’t Miss: Why Is My Newborn Spitting Up Breast Milk
Newborn Sleep: A Discussion With Elizabeth Pantley
What is the number one issue among parents of babies? Sleep!
We wanted to talk to someone who has spent many years helping parents with infant sleep issues, so we interviewed Elizabeth Pantley, who has written the No-Cry Sleep Solution series of books. Her new book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Newborns, was released in October 2016.
What Causes Flat Head Syndrome
The most common cause of a flattened head is a baby’s sleep position. Infants are on their backs for many hours every day, so the head sometimes flattens in one spot. This happens not only while they sleep, but also from being in infant car seats, carriers, strollers, swings, and bouncy seats.
Premature babies are more likely to have a flattened head. Their skulls are softer than those of full-term babies. They also spend a lot of time on their backs without being moved or picked up because of their medical needs, such as a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit .
Flat head syndrome can even start before birth if there’s pressure on the baby’s skull from the mother’s pelvis or a twin. In fact, many babies from multiple births are born with heads that have some flat spots.
Flat head syndrome is caused by tight neck muscles that make it hard for babies to turn their heads. This neck condition is called torticollis. Because it’s hard to turn their head, babies tend to keep their heads in the same position when lying down. This can cause flattening. Then, once the head has a flat spot, the torticollis can get worse.
It takes a lot of energy for babies to turn their heads. So those with severe flattening on one side tend to stay on that side, and their necks become stiff from lack of use.
Don’t Miss: How To Babysit A Newborn
In The Book You Mention You Have Worked With Thousands Of New Parents Could You Tell Us A Little More About Your Research For This Book
Sleep, or more accurately, lack of sleep is the number one issue among parents of babies. As an author of four books specifically on the topic of sleep you can bet my inbox is daily filled with letters from sleepless parents needing help! When I begin work on a new topic I gather a group of families to get their input, ideas, and questions. I have found that the best way to use all the valuable research that exists is to put it to use in the real world, with real families. The combination of research and real life is what makes ideas and solutions usable for families.
Development: When Are Babies Able To Sleep Through The Night
Heres a little-known fact: when babies are able to sleep through the night and when babies actually do sleep through the night are two different stories.
Sleepless nights are somewhat expected when you have a new baby. Newborns sleep a lot, but they only sleep in short intervals waking up frequently to be fed. This stage is where that patience comes in. Many doctors refer to the first 3 months of the babys life as the 4th Trimester. During the 4th Trimester, youll notice your babys sleep patterns are very erratic, and thats completely normal. Although you can introduce good sleep habits during this time, its more important to focus on loving and caring for your little one, doing whatever you need to soothe them and make sure theyre getting all the food and sleep they need. During these first 2-3 months, you are getting them used to the outside world while bonding with your baby. Dont worry about spoiling your baby or creating bad habits. There is no use training your baby. Just respond to their needs.
1. Moro Reflex has decreased or stopped. Moro reflex is an involuntary reflex all babies are born with. This is a sign of a still developing nervous system. The moro reflex will gradually ease and cease to awaken your baby mid sleep. You can calm your baby and help them sleep through this reflex by swaddling them. Although the moro-reflex is completely overcome by 4 5 months, your baby can be calmed with swaddling to help them sleep through this reflex.
Read Also: How To Get Proper Latch For Newborn
When Your Baby Wakes At Night Take Care Of You
While there are strategies you can incorporate into your days and nights to help your baby ease into nighttime sleep cycles, many babies will grow out of this stage as their bodies mature and develop. In fact, it may be more beneficial to find coping strategies for a sleep-deprived parent in these early weeks rather than fighting against your newborns internal clock .
Its not you
Where Should Our Newborn Sleep
Your newborn can sleep in a bassinet or a crib. This can be located in a parents room, a siblings room or in the newborns own room. Its important that you have your baby sleep in a safe place. Your baby should not sleep in your bed with you. This is dangerous because of the risk of suffocation, strangulation and sudden infant death syndrome .
You can bring the baby into your bed for feedings, but should return the baby to a crib as soon as you are done. Many experts recommend feeding your child while in a chair to avoid any injury that can happen while sleeping in a bed with the baby. Room-sharing with your baby is recommended, but not bed-sharing.
You May Like: How Much Is Daycare For A Newborn
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Flat Head Syndrome
Flattened head syndrome usually is easy for parents to notice:
- The back of the baby’s head is flatter on one side.
- The baby usually has less hair on that part of the head.
- When looking down at the baby’s head, the ear on the flattened side may look pushed forward.
In severe cases, the forehead might bulge on the side opposite from the flattening, and may look uneven. If torticollis is the cause, the neck, jaw, and face also might be uneven.
Ages 03 Months: The Fourth Trimester
You were probably told that pregnancy consists of three trimesters. So whats this about a fourth one?
The fourth trimester, or newborn period, is the timeframe when your baby is 03 months. Its known as the fourth trimester because your baby is adjusting to time outside your womb and sometimes, quite honestly, misses it and wishes to be back in it!
Some newborns have their days and nights confused, so they sleep during the day and are often awake at night. Their stomachs are tiny, so they need to eat every 23 hours. Your baby will usually make this need loud and clear, but talk to your pediatrician.
In the first couple of weeks, its possible that youll need to wake your baby for feedings if theyre not waking on their own at these intervals, especially if they havent gotten back to their birthweight yet.
A lot of development also occurs during these months, so your sleepless nights will pay off with interest.
Recommended Reading: How To Breastfeed A Newborn