12 Week Old Sleeping a Lot During the Day

Updated on June 11, 2008
C.B. asks from San Francisco, CA
17 answers

My 12-week old son sometimes sleeps 7 hours or so during the day. It usually happens on days when I'm out and about - he'll fall asleep in the stroller or car and stay asleep for 3 to 4-hour blocks of time (he doesn't nap well in the house). It happens about 2-3 x per week. He sleeps well at night, so I don't think he's making up for lost night sleep. Does this seem like "too much" sleep for his age? I am always checking to see if he is sick and wondering if I should wake him up. Maybe I should just be happy that I have time to myself on these days?

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A.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Well, as long as he gets enough to eat you shouldn't have to worry. Does he gain weight according to the way he should? Does he pee enough? Usually when kids sleep that much, they can be exhausted from not getting enough food. But as long as that is ok I wouldn't worry. it will probably pass soon. It changes constantly.

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S.S.

answers from Fresno on

I think it's fine. Babies need a lot of sleep, especially when they are growing. If it doesn't affect his nighttime sleep I wouldn't worry. The older he gets, the less he will probably sleep so take advantage of the time now!

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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Two longish naps during the day is very common for a young baby. To help with napping at home, try running something that makes "white noise" and possibly try a crib vibrator, since he seems to like motion to take a nap. (That is also not uncommon, since he just spent 9 months listening to your noisy blood-flow and being rocked around in your uterus when you were moving around.)

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H.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Your 12 week old is gearing up for his 3 month growth spurt! Probably, before his days of sleeping, he had days of eating. He is going to wake up one day in the next week and you will notice he is an inch longer. They actually do grow in their sleep.

My son went through the same thing at 3 months.

After all this sleep and growing I think it was back to eating with my son. He's 18 years old now so its a little hard to remember. But he was three months old on July 4th and I remember him sleeping that entire long weekend.

Cheers!
H.

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M.C.

answers from San Francisco on

C.,

New borns must sleep 16-18 hours a day, so it's perfectly normal that your son sleeps so much. Get your rest while he's resting, too, so your feeling well when he's awake. You can check with your pediatrician, as you son grows and matures he will obviously sleep less, but even my 3 year old still need 12-13 hours daily. Teens do for that matter as they're growing, growing, growing!

Enjoy motherhood, they sure do grow up fast.

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C.M.

answers from Chico on

Babies go through phases of sleeping, waking and eating. It is probably normal, but if it continues for more than a couple of weeks, I would call the advice nurse at your Pediatrician's office just to double check. :D Better safe than sorry...

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A.J.

answers from San Francisco on

When he wakes is he alert and interactive? If so, He is probably going through a growth spurt. If not, you may want to make sure he is eating enough and not running a temperature.

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I remember my daughter doing that same thing around 3 months...although she didn't sleep well at night. I tried to stop going out and about and set up a nap schedule for her at that time. Looking back now I wish I would have been a little more "go with the flow" on her sleeping.

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C.L.

answers from Fresno on

My daughter slept all the time when she was little and she was always a good sleeper and napper. She is a very active 15 month old now, but still takes 2 naps (2 hours). I think some kids need more sleep than others. Unless he has symptoms of being ill, I would just enjoy the sleeping baby.

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

The pattern you described sounds completely normal.

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C.S.

answers from San Francisco on

As long as he is eating well, gaining weight and alert/not lethargic when awake, it should be ok. A fabulous resource for information on sleeping is the book The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems. I love this book! Both of my kids were sleeping through the night at 3 months and on a regular napping schedule. I also remember reading that children shouldn't sleep more than 3 hours at a time during the day or it will affect their sleep at night. I don't recall if it was that book or another book. This doesn't seem to be a problem for you right now, but I thought I'd pass it on in case that changes.
I hope that helps!
C.

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E.P.

answers from San Francisco on

My little boy also slept a lot (he's now 5 months and still a good sleeper). There is a range - some babies sleep more and some less, and we are at the lucky end of the range, believe me :D I recently read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and he has graphs showing the expected amounts of sleep at different ages (and it is quite surprising what a big difference there can be between different babies at the same age).

E.

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A.B.

answers from Merced on

I had the same problem with my daughter. I asked the doctor every time we went if it was normal. She kept telling me as long as she sleeps good at night, its fine. She has now grown out of sleeping all day and only takes 1 nap for about 2 hours. She has just turned 1.

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J.K.

answers from Fresno on

If you are out and about in the car that is what makes him sleep so much. Most children fall asleep everytime you get in the car. I wouldn't worry but a better schedule would be better for both of you.

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

C.,

Take advantage of the time that he is sleeping- he is probably in another growth spurt-- it doesn't last F. and so I would utilize this time for you!

Molly

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N.K.

answers from San Francisco on

C.,

This is totally normal. Most babies hit a growth spurt around three months. My son slept a lot for about two weeks and was eating tons when awake.

You might find after another week or two that the sleep pattern changes again and he is waking up more in the day and the night.

Good luck and enjoy your little boy,

N.

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J.H.

answers from Sacramento on

I don't think that is too much sleep at all. I found some information on naps; and how long you should depending on their age. Here is the link: http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-chil...

I tried to paste the info in this note but it's a chart and it wouldn't line up properly and it was all confusing! They suggest that for a 3 month old they should have 10 hours of nighttime sleep, and about 5 hours of sleep during the day. I just use this as an average; every baby is different. My son is 10 weeks old and he used to sleep a lot, and now all of the sudden he is fighting his naps, and now I want those sleep days back! I used to worry he was sleeping too much but my husband just told me to enjoy the time, and he was right. I still pop in and check on him if he sleeps a lot, but I think you may just want to be happy he's sleeping! Hee!

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