Is There Such Thing as Too Much Sleep?

Updated on September 30, 2009
T.B. asks from Round Rock, TX
18 answers

My 15 month daughter is sleeping a ton - I keep saying she's just growing and needs her sleep but is there such thing as too much sleep? For example yesterday I woke her up to take my son to school at 7:30 (she'd been asleep since 8pm the night before), when we got home she went back to sleep from 8 til 11am. Then she napped again from 3:30 to 6pm. And was ready for bed at 8 last night. She was only awake 6 1/2 hours all day. I don't remember my son ever sleeping this much! And its been like this, not the exact schedule but her sleeping alot, for a few weeks. Nothing else seems wrong - she's not sick. Should I be concerned?

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Houston on

Has she recently started walking? If so, maybe she is just getting more tired from the increased activity. I would definitely talk to her pediatrician though to be on the safe side.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.H.

answers from Houston on

The sleep sch you just described is my 5 month old to a T! She does the same thing!! Let me know what you find out!! I just say she just likes to sleep!! My son was a sleeper too but not this much! Again, let me know what you find out. Thanks!!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Houston on

This is not normal, take her to your doctor because that is a sure sign of Low Thyroid and children can even be born with it. If you do not get help from your doctor go to another one, even better take you toddler to an "Endocrinology" doctor, they are very good at this kind of problem.

1 mom found this helpful

J.B.

answers from Houston on

Is she teething? They can sleep a ridiculous amount of time when they teeth. Check her little gums and see if you can notice if they are puffy. As you said it could be a growth spurt which can cause more sleep as well. If she seems to be healthy and happy, I wouldn't worry too much:)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.T.

answers from Victoria on

the night schedule sounds normal. the day dosent seem right though. my son and most toddlers from one year only took one nap in the afternoon. did she eat breakfast when you got home then went back to bed? our son napped in the afternoon from about 1 till 3- 4 at the latest and we woke him up. at daycare he naps for about an hour starting at 1. i would ask the nurse or the pedi on your next visit. she might not be getting enough food or is getting too much stmuliation? not sure let us know though.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Houston on

My 14-month old sleeps a lot too. 7pm-7am, 9:30-11:30am and then an hour or longer in the afternoon. I really think it's just her body going thru a growth spurt. If your baby is happy and healthy when she's awake and eating well, then I wouldn't worry about it. Take advantage of her sleeping and get a nap in yourself! :)

PS. My older daughter didn't sleep this much either...but, like they say, every child is SO different! Take care!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.B.

answers from San Antonio on

That is about right for this age- My daughter is 17 mos old and sleeps from 8 at night until about 9:15 the next morning. Sometimes she will wake around 7 for a small bottle but that is usually when teething. Then she goes back down for a nap at around 2 and sleeps for 2-3 hours. She has been doing this since she dropped her morning nap. It is almost as if she combined morning nap with night time. She can get up early and not go back to bed but she is ready for a nap by noon and sleeps more than 3 hours if that happens. Pediatrician says it is great for her growth and that it won't last forever. Hope this helps!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.E.

answers from Houston on

I would say take her to the doctor, because it is not normal for a 15 month old to be sooo lethargic. and it could be nothing. but i would still get it checked out--she could be anemic or dehydrated which causes lethargy.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.D.

answers from San Antonio on

I would absolutely get her cked out. It surely could be something like low thyroid and untreated that can be dangerous for a developing baby. That much sleep at that age does not sound right at all. good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.H.

answers from San Antonio on

No that is not normal. But is she lathargic when she is awake. I would definetly just have her checked out. Always better safe than sorry.

good luck,
D

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.K.

answers from Houston on

T.,
I would be very concerned and get her some bloodwork done. My youngest daughter is hypoglycemic and sleeps a lot when her sugar levels are too low, (as well as i do) and this is very dangerous. I would get her some diabetes testing and different variables of sugar levels tested in her blood sugar. i know the easiest and fastest way to get my daughters sugar levels up is to give her a couple of sips of sprite or coke( normally my kids are not allowed soday) but it helps her sugar and makes her alittle more normal.
God Bless

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Houston on

Sounds like way too much sleep. Definitely something going on there that needs investigating. Go to the pediatrician.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Houston on

lack of vitamins n minerals, iron especially can cause a person to be tired and have lack of energy. If it's over a long period of time, I would take her in and have blood drawn to check her iron levels. Otherwise growth spurts and teething have caused me kids to sleep a lot (over a few days though then back to normal.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.W.

answers from Houston on

Hi T.,

Sounds like she is sleeping too much. My son is the same age, and they should be getting 13 1/4 to 14 hours of sleep total daily. You may want to take her in to the pedi to get looked at. Hope this helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.L.

answers from Austin on

My son is 4 1/2 yrs now; but when he was btwn the ages of 15-20 months.........he used to sometimes go down for an afternoon nap at 3ish & not wake up until 7AM the next morning. This would happen anywhere from 2-5 times a week.
We'd go in there to check on him & the first couple times were worried he'd end up waking up at midnite after we'd gone to sleep. He never did - just slept straight thru the evening w/o dinner. My pediatrician said it was a "growth spurt" time for him.........and now sometimes we wish our 4 yr old would sleep that much again :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.D.

answers from Dallas on

Hey T.!!

Look I'm sure you've hear that every child is different. So I won't go into that. However, I do wawnt to recommend a great book that I was told about when my little one was struggling with sleep. It's called The Baby Whisperer and it's written by Tracy Hogg (i believe) She writes so well and her book is a great reference to have around.
I actually found and bought mine at the local Half Price Books for less than ten dollars. Money well spent, I'll tell ya!!!
Best of luck and let me know if it helped some!!

L. D.L.
www.livetotalwellness.com/4lifedreams

www.workathomeunited.com/4lifedreams

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Austin on

sounds like she is growing! also, i wonder if she might wake during the night and just sort of chill out in her bed? My daughter used to wake up and sometimes I could here her babbling or singing softly in the middle of the night. She'd just be kicking back in the bed and relaxing. It was the cutest thing ever.

If you're worried, check it out, but it just sounds like a growth spurt to me. Some adults ZI knows still sleep that much ;)

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches