I can still remember being amazed at how much my baby slept after my first birth.
He slept pretty much all day and I soon began to worry about whether my little one was okay.
So I can understand all new mothers who are surprised by the great need for sleep, especially of their newborns, and who may be asking themselves for the first time: Is it normal for my baby to sleep so much?
In this article, I explore the question of how much sleep babies need, what reasons might be behind a baby suddenly sleeping more than usual, and what signs should prompt you to take your little one to the doctor.
How much sleep do babies need daily
According to an article in Healthline, babies actually sleep most of the time in the womb . This is no surprise, since that’s where they feel safe and secure, listen to the voices of mom and dad, and receive the nourishment they need through the umbilical cord.
Babies also sleep most of the day during the first six months of life, as the following table shows. I took the information from an article by Stanford Medicine .
In the first 2-3 weeks after birth, most babies do little more than sleep and eat, explains pediatrician Karen Gill . After that, sleep patterns develop individually, and some babies are better sleepers than others.
It is important that your baby wakes up 8 to 12 times in 24 hours to eat.
3 possible reasons why your baby suddenly sleeps a lot
It’s remarkable how much development a baby goes through in the first year of life, isn’t it? When you think about it, it’s no wonder babies need so much sleep.
However, if a certain routine has been established after a few weeks and parents notice that their baby is suddenly sleeping more than usual, this can be unsettling.
Your baby’s increased need for sleep may be related to the following reasons.
1. Growth spurt requires a lot of energy
You’ve probably heard about the infamous growth spurts babies experience . These are the times when little ones develop important skills and learn new things.
This naturally requires a lot of energy, so according to NetDoktor it is completely normal for babies to sleep more than usual during these phases.
If this is the case for you, you can actually consider yourself lucky, because some babies sleep worse or less during growth spurts than parents are used to.
In any case, a great deal of understanding and affection, as well as avoiding overstimulation, are especially important during these phases. If your baby tells you with certain signs that they’re tired, lovingly guide them to sleep and let them rest without worry.
2. Vaccination is processed
According to BabyCenter, after a vaccination, the baby’s body may be busy building up its immune system. This process can be stressful for little ones (and therefore for parents, too).
So if you notice that your baby is sleeping more than usual after a vaccination, it is simply because he or she needs this time to recover and adjust to the vaccines.
Support your baby and care for them as if they were sick. Make sure they’re dressed comfortably and offer them the breast or bottle often. More frequent cuddles are also needed now to help your little one feel safe and secure.
3. Fight against an infection
Fighting viruses is exhausting for adults too, and this is especially true for babies who have a cold or are battling the flu.
Of course, your little one will need more sleep than usual to fight the disease, as an article from SleepAdvisor informs .
If your child needs more sleep and is particularly fussy, has less appetite, has a runny nose or is blocked, these are all signs of illness.
If symptoms don’t improve after a few days, you should take your baby to the doctor. If you notice that your child has a fever, you should also see a doctor.
When you should take your baby to the doctor
It is challenging for new parents to distinguish when their baby is behaving normally and when increased sleep needs are a cause for concern.
If your baby shows the following signs, you should definitely consult a doctor as soon as possible.
1. The baby does not eat well or regularly
According to health information I found, parents don’t need to wake most newborns older than one month to eat.
However, it can also happen that a baby doesn’t wake up when they’re hungry. If this is the case with your child and they sleep for more than 4-5 hours at a time, you should wake them up to feed them. If your baby doesn’t want to eat, you should consult a doctor.
Don’t worry if, for example, your baby doesn’t wake up two hours later to eat again after a breastfeeding marathon , but instead sleeps a lot.
It is difficult to assess whether your baby is drinking the necessary amount when breastfeeding.
But just look at the wet diapers: If there are fewer than four wet diapers per day, your baby isn’t getting enough nutrition. Sometimes babies sleep more than usual for this reason.
Take it to the doctor urgently to avert weight loss and the associated dangers.
2. The baby is very difficult to wake
There’s no need to worry if your baby doesn’t wake up immediately when you wake them up for a feeding. As lactation consultants explain , every baby is different. Your little one might not only sleep a lot, but also fall asleep quickly while breastfeeding.
Newborns need time to adjust to the outside world and develop a sleep rhythm. Babies’ sleep phases are also different from those of adults and change over the course of the first year, as experts know .
However, if your baby cannot be woken despite caresses, skin-to-skin contact and changes in breastfeeding positions, you should take him or her to the doctor as soon as possible.
3. The baby has breathing problems
According to medical research, breathing problems occur in 7% of newborns. Contact a doctor immediately if you think your baby is sleeping too much and exhibits the following symptoms:
- It gasps or gasps loudly for air.
- It breathes very loudly.
- It has a fever.
- Your baby’s skin looks strange when breathing, as if it is indenting around the ribs.
- Your baby’s nostrils become very large when he or she breathes.
- You suspect that your baby has touched, eaten or inhaled something poisonous.
Final thoughts
I can understand if you are amazed at how much your newborn sleeps and are also worried about it.
But this is completely normal, as most babies spend most of their day sleeping and eating for the first 2-3 weeks after birth. If your little one wakes up 8-12 times a day to be fed, everything is fine.
If your baby is not eating well or regularly, you have trouble waking him or her, he or she is wetting fewer than four diapers a day, or has breathing problems, you should take him or her to the doctor as soon as possible to avoid any impending danger.
In this article, you also read that growth spurts, vaccinations, and infections can cause your baby to suddenly sleep more than usual. As long as your baby doesn’t have a fever and everything else is fine, you don’t need to worry.
Try to relax and use this time to catch up on some sleep yourself. If you have other concerns, such as your baby’s head rolling or flat head , you can learn more about this from us.
