Seeking Answer to Sleep Question

Updated on January 11, 2010
A.F. asks from Richmond Hill, NY
14 answers

Is it possible for a newborn to sleep too much? I have a 15 day old baby and she sleeps 18 hours a day. Is that normal?

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K.H.

answers from New York on

that's definitely normal. new babies sleep much more than they are up. In fact, the more they sleep the better. Their brain is coming together and developing as they sleep.

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A.D.

answers from New York on

Hi A., Congratulations mommy! I know babies do need sleep but you should wake her for a feeding. If you are nursing you must hurt and your milk supply will be less. I'm sure you will get more specific posts from other moms. My children are grown. Grandma Mary

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L.S.

answers from New York on

Can be totally normal as long as baby is gaining weight properly and having adequate pees and poops (6-8 wets and 2-4 or more poops a day). Trust your "gut" and call your Pedi if you are concerned :-)!

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S.H.

answers from Hartford on

Yep - they pretty much just sleep all day. I remember being quite shocked at that realization myself. Early on I learned that the afternoon "fussy period" was merely nothing more than my little guy being tired and needing to go to sleep. The naps become fairly predictable because they are, or soon will be, about 1.5-2 hours apart.

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S.S.

answers from New York on

Yes, very normal for then to sleep that much. Enjoy this time while they sleep and you can nap and cuddle with them. I usually would wake up my son if he slept past the 3 hour mark during the day to feed him. At night I would let him sleep as long as he wanted.

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C.D.

answers from New York on

enjoy it wont last forever

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

Totally normal! Just wanted to say that :) It will change before you know it. Eat, sleep, dirty diapers, THATS IT for now! =)

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G.S.

answers from New York on

If my newborns ever slept that I'd be thanking my lucky stars. My oldest never slept - whereas my youngest would sleep thru the night 8pm-5am once she hit 3 months. Each child is completely different, but I wouldn't worry about anything unless she's sleeping so much during the day that she has her days & nights mixed up. Just enjoy it and hope that it stays this way for a while. I'm sure you'll have a lot of envious moms!

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B.A.

answers from New York on

My daughter is 10 weeks now and she probably sleeps 18 hours a day. During her first couple of weeks she probably slept 22 hours a day. She was only alert for an hour or two a day and always appeared to be sleeping while eating.
The doctor has not been concerned since she is gaining weight and is on track developmentally.
This baby sleeps way more than my fist. I guess each on is different.
all the best,
B.

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E.O.

answers from Rochester on

newborns are supposed to sleep for 20 hours or more a day. They eat, sleep and poop. That's it. At three months my daughter is up a bit more at a time, but sleeps longer at night too... thank god! but she still sleeps a good chunk of time. It's perfectly normal. Good luck.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

Congrats on the brand new baby A.. This is normal sleep for a brand new newborn, very normal to sleep 3/4 of the time. Newborn sleep can be anywhere from 12-22 hours per day. I would consider yourself lucky!

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F.E.

answers from New York on

Consider yourself very lucky and fortunate :) My daughter was not so bad with her sleep pattern, she's now 4 yrs old. My son on the other hand, totally different, he just turn 1...come to find out he didn't like to be on his back. There were days when I was begging him to sleep and I was crying. As long as, she eats when she wakes-up, I'm sure she is fine. They say sleep make them grow, so she is growing. You can try feeding her the bottle when she is sleeping, I bet she will take it ;) She is normal and precious. Enjoy her at that age.

Faby

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R.E.

answers from New York on

make sure baby is eating.

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K.M.

answers from New York on

as long as this is okay per your doctor - trust me - you are SOOOOOOOOO Lucky! My daughter never slept and it was very trying!
Cograts as long as the dr again says thisis okay!

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