6 Month Old Sleeping Too Much?

We go to Dr. Weissbluth, the nationally-known sleep expert at Northwestern because both our kids had trouble sleeping. According to Weissbluth, who has studied sleep in infants and children for decades, babies, including those who are 6 months old, should not be awake for more than 2 hours straight a day--their naps should begin before they are awake for more than 2 hours straight. Weissbluth would say that you are doing the right thing and would definitely use your case as a model! So many of us struggle to get our kids to do what your baby is doing, so you should congratulate yourselves for a job well done!! It's all about brain development--which happens when babies and kids get a good night's sleep without the interruption of waking up every 2 hours or being overtired. For more information about Weissbluth's research, you can check out www.sweetbabies.com. This is not about a growth spurt. Your baby should continue the nighttime sleep schedule for years to come. My 10 year old went to sleep at 6:45 until he was 7. Now he goes to bed at 8pm. My 22 month old daughter has been falling asleep at 4pm since she was 4 months and gets up at 6am. Weissbluth was so happy to hear that and said we should definitely not move her bedtime to a later time. If the babies fall asleep when they are put to bed, then it's time for them to go to sleep! If they talk for more than 40 minutes, then you can move the time up a little, but if they cry when you put them to bed, then you're doing it too late because they are overtired, thus the crying. Your situation is perfect and you should relax and enjoy your evenings!! The naps will probably change sometime in the next year, but some kids continue to nap more than others past their first birthday.

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My oldest, now 7, slept like this. It was strange as a new parent. We went to the pediatrician constantly and I would have written down her "wake schedule" since she wasn't awake enough to warrant a sleep schedule. I was always told that she was fine. I used to wonder how she was ever going to learn how to walk, talk, etc if she was asleep all the time. Needless to say, it all worked out great. Also, she was entirely breastfed at the time you're talking about, and she never had any tummy troubles. So, life was strangely quiet as she never cried and pretty much slept all the time. Try to enjoy this time!

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My daughter is also 6 months old, born June 9th, and her sleep pattern is very similar. She goes to bed around 7:30 pm and sleeps until 7:30. Be thankful! Your baby is fine, more than fine. His brain is developing rapidly, and it also mean he's happy and a good self-soother.
Count you blessings and enjoy!!!

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it is pretty normal for his age. at 6 months about 3 naps a day is about right - the book healthy sleep habits, happy baby is great by mark weisblut. children come in a whole range and some sleep more and some less. if he is getting more active, he may also be more tired due to that. sometimes around certain milestones, children sleep a little more because they process what is going on in their sleep. enjoy the extra nap time. i wish my 19 month old still took 3 naps, she is down to 1 and i miss the morning nap.

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Your other responders have said mostly what I would say: enjoy!! There is a great deal of variability in sleep habits in babies. If you are ever worried though, I would pay attention to whether your baby is hitting all the appropriate developmental milestones and if he's almost crawling I would say you have nothing to be concerned about there. Just keep following your baby's cues and all will be happy.

Congrats on your baby!! Enjoy him b/c it goes by soooo fast.

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Hi M.,

I'm not sure how other moms have responded but my son's schedule was a lot like yours. He will be 11 months next week. He is an awesome sleeper. He goes to sleep and wakes up at about the same time as yours. Probably around 7 1/2 months he started going for longer streches and two naps. He usually takes his first nap around 9 am and sleeps for about 1.5 to 2 hours and goes down again at 2 pm and sleeps for around the same amount of time. I would say there is nothing to worry about, but you can always call your ped to make sure.

It seems to me that is a lot of sleep. I have a sister in law that's children would sleep a lot too. I have 3 children and they always took 2 naps a day at that age. By age 12 or 13 months they would be down to one nap with 2 hours or so and about 11 to 12 at night. But it sounds like your child is sleeping about 18 out of 24 hours. That is only awake 6 hours a day. My question is when does he/she eat? Perhaps he needs more stimulation to keep him/ her awake. I might consider talking to your pediatrician because that's a lot sleep.

You have to remember that ALL children do different things a different. Maybe he's just a contented child and not very interested with things around him. Some babies crawl at 6 months and some not until 9 months..and some don't crawl at all. They just start walking at 11-12 months. If the dr. has checked him for motor skills and such, don't worry about anything.

Honestly...I am sooo jealous! My 6 month old has the same nap schedule, but he still wakes every 3 hours at night to nurse. The only concern I would have with sleeping 12 hours straight at night is his weight gain. A friend of mine has a little girl who starting losing weight when she slept 12 hours because of not eating at night. But if his weight gain is great, then you are one lucky mother!

Ours was doing the same...now at 8 months? Well, she's teething and sleeping a whole lot less!
I nurse her at night while she sleeps, so she's not missing out on meals, so I could see that being your only concern really. But he'll phase it out, and you'll miss it!
Of course, you could talk to your doc, but mine is all about what she needs and what she wants, since she's also healthy.
Happy New year!

It seems like alot of sleep, but if you're worried, I would ask your pediatrician. If he's been more tired lately, he might be gearing up for a growth spurt or teething.
Be thankful - my daughter is 6 1/2 months and STILL doesn't sleep thru the night.

he could be going through a growth spurt. after a certain age growth spurts make babies sleepier so they say. unless we are out and about my son who is 8 months old still takes that late afternoon nap most days (4-530 or so) and is still in bed by 7pm. if your guy is becoming very active then i would say it's normal. he's burning up all his baby energy!

You're one of the lucky ones!!! Kids can't get too much sleep!!! They know what their body needs.
At 6 months old, my son also slept 12 hours at night and took 2 or 3 naps for 1 to 2 hours per nap - he was only able to stay up at most 2 hours at a time during the day.
There is a big growth spurt around 6 months, so your son may be extra sleepy because of that. He could also sleep more because he is more active in his little world.
If you are truly concerned, talk to your son's pediatrician. You have a good sleeper, who is happy when he is awake. Keep it up!

M. I was always jealous of people with children like your baby. Ah how wonderful...I think my husband must have been that kind of baby, he can sleep hours and hours. I was told I was a horrible sleeper. Well, if you are ever really super worried of course always call the doctor, but it sounds like you have the dream baby. Oh give a hug for me!
S.

Babies need to sleep. My children were the same way. They slept 12 hours a night as early as 2 months. It is perfectly normal. If you are concerned, ask your dr, and i bet he will say enjoy it. When i read posts about babies not sleeping through the night at 6 or 8 months or more, i cant believe it. I wouldnt be able to function. So consider yourself lucky.

Count your blessings! If he's happy and thriving then there probably is no need to worry. Just double check with the pediatrician to make sure.

At 7 months, our son was going to bed at 6:30 PM, waking around 6:30 AM, and taking two naps (9:00 - 11:00 or 11:30 and again from 1:00 - 3:30). Although there aren't many infants who do a 3rd nap, some just need it. Looking at what you describe it doesn't seem as if the third nap is interfering with the bedtime.

It appears as if you've done a great job getting him used to a routine/schedule where he is confident and comfortable sleeping - kudos to you mama!

So he's sleeping 12 hours at night, then about 6 during the day? PERFECT!!
I think the charts that show amount of sleep show the lowest possible numbers. But in my experience with home daycare kids that is the perfect amount for his age.
I have also found that right before they do a new skill they sleep tons. Almost like they are sleeping to figure it out. So I bet he is getting ready to do something fun!!

Of course your baby's schedule seems like a dream to those of us with kids who won't sleep more than 1/2 hour at a time. However, I would suggest that if you are really concerned make sure your nanny isn't doing something to make your baby sleep more. Does your baby sleep just as much when you are home with him for several days in a row? Noone wants to suspect their nanny, but it is all possible. You could have blood tested through the dr's office, or set up a spy cam. Sorry to be the only one with this suspect suggestion!

M. -

My daughter (now almost one) was exactly the same - and was perfectly healthy. I was worried too (and wanted to get her to go more than 2 hrs between naps!) but she was just on her own schedule. By about 9 months she was able to stay up for 3-4 hrs at a time and started to drop the third nap. Now she takes 2 naps a day and seems to be moving towards just one. It just takes some time. As long as your little guy seems healthy, he's probably just fine. Enjoy your good sleeper!

My (2nd born) little girl is also just past the 6 month mark and she is basically on the same exact sleep schedule as you described. Per the sleep book that I am reading.....this is exactly what they should be doing at this age.......HAPPY SLEEPING!!

By the way - my 1st born (a boy), also slept this much at this age.

.....sounds normal to me.