Can a Baby Have Too Much Sleep?

Updated on January 27, 2009
B.H. asks from Glencoe, MN
19 answers

My son is 2 months old. It seems like all he does is sleep. He'll wake up to eat every 3-5 hours and two to three times a day he stays up for 1-2 hours. Can a baby get too much sleep?

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So What Happened?

Thank all of you for putting me at ease! I'm not going to be concerned. I'll take it now while I can! You all are great!

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B.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I don't think a newborn can get too much sleep. If he needs it he needs it. Don't worry! Just tell his doctor next time he goes, and he/she will probably tell you the same.

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B.K.

answers from Des Moines on

My FIRST thoughts were ENJOY!!! Then I read the other responses and laughed as everyone else said the same! I'm a mom of 4 kids and I wish they all still took naps! What is nice is that you then have that alone time to spend with #1 child. -- At 7 weeks of age my #2 child started sleeping in in the morning and so I was able to spend that time with my first. It was SO nice to just have him all to myself. So, ENJOY!

B. K.

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C.D.

answers from La Crosse on

Wow B., you are really blessed! If your instincts are causing you to be concerned enough to take him to the doctor then by all means, indulge. I don't think anything is wrong though. You just have the type of baby everybody wants!!

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L.G.

answers from Minneapolis on

That sounds exactly normal. :)

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K.G.

answers from Omaha on

enjoy! my first son was awake alot! i use to ask people what happened to babies sleeping all the time. seemed he was more into sleep routine and naps from the get go.

he slept through the night at 4 weeks and my second son at 5 weeks. neither seemed to sleep tons during the day. wonder if thats why they sleep so much now... ?? LOL they are 19 and 21 :)

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T.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Sounds like he is right on track.

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M.H.

answers from Minneapolis on

That sounds just right. He's only 2 months old. Staying up for 2 hours a time is a lot for that age. My boys never stayed up for any more than that at that age. My youngest is 3 months old and is only awake for an hour before he's ready for a nap.

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H.A.

answers from Waterloo on

My husband used to worry about the same thing when our 1st son was little. I'll tell you the same thing I told him: Babies are not like us, they don't roll over and think, "5 more minutes......" They WANT to be awake! They don't want to miss anything! LoL If they are sleeping it's because their body is telling them to sleep. If you're really worried go ahead and talk to your dr about it, otherwise enjoy it! =)

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L.W.

answers from Iowa City on

My daughter has a 3 month old baby, and she has been told that babies should have about 18 hours of sleep. I know that seems like alot, but my grandbaby sleeps alot too. I always thought that while they are sleeping, they are growing, which, I think, is an old wives tale. Apparently, your baby is very content.

Grandma L.

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

B.,

Enjoy it while it lasts. He is a good sleeper. I had one of those - had to wake him up to eat every time. You will probably see him awake more in the next month or two.

S.

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C.D.

answers from Sioux City on

Thanks for the question:

I was wondering the same thing. My 8 week/2 month old daughter sleeps a lot and I read that babies this age will start having morning naps. ANd, I was like, huh? Morning naps? She isn't awake long enough to call that naps in th emorning. She jsut started to sleep through the night and doens't wake till 8 am to eat, before she'd eat every 2 hours - and after she eats at 8am she goes back to sleep till noon, then she is up off and on though out the day.

But, now reading the responces yo got, I feel better and will stop worring so much. :)

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S.M.

answers from Madison on

Like the others have said...ENJOY!!! My second slept a lot and it was a bit of a concern for me. The doctor said she was fine and that some babies just take a little longer to "realize" that they're not still inside you. Sounds sort of strange, but I can see how it would be that way. As long as your babe is eating, pooping, and peeing...ENJOY!! Because a day will come when you wish you could have them sleep for so long.

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N.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

I hope my second is like yours! My first has been a curious and AWAKE little guy since day one. In fact he was up at 4:50am this morning ready to take on the day -- and he is almost 2 & 1/2 yrs old.

Enjoy it!

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M.M.

answers from Green Bay on

If you are concerned enough to ask I recomend calling your pediatrician/clinic nurse. some babies sleep a lot but if you feel this is not "normal" it never hurts to call the office.

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C.T.

answers from Grand Forks on

It sounds normal, but just a tip from my own experience. My son is now 5 mo., but we didn't know he wasn't getting enough breastmilk (he's never been a big eater or fussed much to eat) which caused him to be extra sleepy, making him look like an "easy" baby...just make sure baby is getting plenty to eat and enjoy!

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C.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Nope he can't get too much sleep and it is perfectly normal! I just went thru this with #2 too. I think #1 didn't sleep as much because we didn't put them down as much, or we didn't remember because we were so exhausted the first time!! :) Just enjoy the time, it will be over before you know it and then you will have your hands full!

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A.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

I too used to worry about the same thing! I only have one child at this point, so being a first time mom, I even called the nurseline at one point to make sure my little guys wasn't sleeping too much. Now that my son is older, my advice is to enjoy it now while you can!! Remember, his body is growing in enormous ways, so he really does need all of that sleep. When he gets older, you'll look back longingly at those nap-filled days! Take care.

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M.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I think a baby will sleep as much as he needs to and that there isn't such a thing as too much at this early age. The one thing I would watch out for (happened to a friend's baby who slept all the time) is his head getting a little flat on one side if it is always in the same position. My friend was encouraged to have her daughter sleep in different positions/ends of her crib so that there wasn't too much pressure in the same spot during all those hours of napping/sleeping. It wasn't a big deal at all :) Enjoy the peaceful moments...he'll be more "awake" and running around before you know it!

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E.I.

answers from Duluth on

nope!
this sounds completely normal. remember this time, and cherish it because in just a short month he will 'wake up' and you might never be the same again! hahah!
enjoy!

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