So... I asked my 1 year old son's pediatrician if my son was getting TOO much sleep and she could hardly answer my question for telling me how jealous she was that he even sleeps (compared to her household of 2 toddlers and one on the way).
But I wanted to pose this question to see what other moms thought before I took him to a sleep specialist for a consultation….
THE FACTS:
My son just turned 1 year old this past January. He typically goes to bed really early... 6:00pm early. Then he'll sleep through the night until about 6:30-7am. So on an average night he's getting about 13 hours of uninterrupted sleep. That's great, however when he wakes in the morning, he still seems sleepy! So much so that he'll stay up long enough to eat breakfast and play a little, then by 10am he's cranky and ready for a nap. He'll take a 1-2 hour nap and then ANOTHER nap around 2am for a couple hours. Then it's back to bed at 5:30pm. This is his weekend routine where we let him nap when he seems tired. This past weekend he went to bed at 6pm. He woke the following morning at 7am, took an hour nap at 11am, took a 3 hour nap at 1pm and was off to bed at 6pm.
At daycare they take one nap at noon where they allow them to sleep until they wake on their own. He usually naps for 2 hours. But by the time we get him home in the evening, he's awake long enough to eat dinner and play a little then he’s rubbing his eyes like he's sleeping. We also NEVER get a fight out of him when it's time for bed. I literally lay him down in his crib and 10 minutes later he's out like a light. He used to move a lot at night and I would joke he wanted to make sure all 4 corners of his crib were equally used. But now he seems to be in a pretty deep sleep, turning over only occasionally.
OPINIONS???
While it makes for a quiet house and a lot of free time for me and my husband, I miss my little guy and have to be concerned why he's so tired all the time. Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas?
Thank you so much for ALL your feedback!!! I LOVE this website. Bouncing "mommy concerns" off my husband is like talking to a brick wall sometimes because he thinks I over react being a first time mommy. So I truly value the opinions of other mothers.
I definitely feel a lot more comfortable about his sleeping habits now that I've heard that so many other kiddos did/do the same thing. So I can rest easier. He has his well-baby checkup in a few weeks so I'll probably mention it again and have her check his blood (since he's getting shots anyway) to see if there's anything out of the ordinary going on in there. I also intend to start incorporating the Flintstone vitamins as well.
Again, thanks for all your feedback. It's truly appreciated!
You SERIOUSLY need to read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child!!!! 3 naps is completely normal! And I would probably add that he's not completely asleep all 13 hrs of the night- it's most likely that he wakes 2-3 times a night, but just doesn't cry. He probably plays quietly, or just lays there and looks around.
This is the exact schedule all three of my children have had. My baby (a son) also requires a lot of sleep and is very easy to put down for bed.
Don't worry and before you know it (around 18 months) he will give up his morning nap.
From everything Ive read and heard from friends at that age, that's perfectly normal. He's just a GOOD sleeper! That's great for his development too. I think he's fine and you are blessed!
It sounds to me like he is not getting as much sleep as he needs during the week at day care and so he is making up for it on the weekends. You are lucky, neither of my kids were big sleepers. Kids often need more sleep at different times in their life, growth spurts, etc. My teenager doesn't get enough sleep during the week and so he will sleep for 12 hours or more at night on the weekends.
my son had a slightly different schedule with about that much sleep around 1 he could sleep about 14 hours at night then a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. i wouldn't worry unless it is hard to get him to wake up at all. give him some time my son went back to 11-12 hour at night and 2 hour afternoon nap around 18 months but still has some days where he just keeps sleeping in the morning until almost 9 am
We were on a very similar schedule when my son was one. Somewhere after 18 months, he dropped the morning nap, but he still took 2+ hour naps in the afternoon (sometimes 4 hours!). And he still went to bed at 7pm and slept 'til after 7am. He was a sleeper extraordinaire! A wonderful book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child," should make you feel better. Sleep is SO important for the their growth and development. Most children aren't getting enough.
Just beware - when he is 3 and doesn't want to nap any more, it's an adjustment for mommy to no longer have all that time to get stuff done! :)
It sounds to me like you know him best and he is getting the rest that his growing body needs. Not to mention he has developed great sleep habits that will stay with him his whole life. Check out a book called Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby (http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Sleep-Habits-Happy-Child/dp.... I am not a doctor, but it sounds like he is getting the sleep he needs. My twin boys didn't drop the 2nd, and sometimes 3rd nap, until about 18-19 months. They sleep from 11.5 to 13 hours a night and nap for about 2 hours everyday and they are 26 months now.
Also, it sounds like your pedi isn't worried. I would wait till he is about 2 and see if his wake time has changed. If not then talk to you pedi at his 2 year appointment. Sounds like you have a happy & healthy child and I wouldn't be in a rush to change his schedule he really will let you know when it is time.
My son is 13 months old and does the same thing!! I always considered it a consequence of daycare. Since they only take one nap during the day, he comes home completely exhausted. Some days he falls asleep in the car at 4:30 and stays asleep all night!! (We usually change his diaper around 8pm and he just goes back to sleep).
Daycare is a really stimulating environment and I think that has a lot to do with the sleep. I know what you mean though about missing your lil man. I always feel that I never get enough time during the week to spend with him, so I try to spend as much quality time with him on the weekends.
So as long as he's not lethargic all day and is still eating, drinking and playing, I think its OK, but you're definitely not alone. Enjoy the romance with your husband! :)
the amount of sleep your child is getting is totally normal. What MOST babies/toddlers get is not nearly enough including just one nap in daycares. My daughter slept 12 to 13 hours at night plus took 2 daytime naps until she was almost 2 years old. She is now 5 years old and still sleeps roughly 12 hours at night and takes an afternoon nap 2 or 3 times a week. Overall, she is a much happier and easier to get along with child than my younger daughter who has never napped as well. Hope this helps.
My husbands side of the family are huge sleepers and nap takers.....they just require it. You should consider yourself blessed that he is such a great sleeper. Obviously he needs it. He's growing. Trust your doctor!
I don't think it's too much, some kids need more sleep than others. Considering he's only 1, he needs more sleep than a 2 or 3 year old. If you're really concerned try giving him Flinstone vitamins or Pediasure. Also, tell (don't ask) your pediatrician to test his blood (especially his hemoglobin, anemia can make you tired). Thyroid problems can also make you tired, so if you have a family history, have that checked also.
No need to worry! My little fellow does just about the same thing. I think that they get so worn out playing during the day, that they just need the extra sleep. One weekend we put our son down at 6 and he didn't wake up until 11 the next morning. I say just enjoy the time! I have friend that can't get their kiddos on a routine and the kids are still running around at 10pm. Sounds like you have done a GREAT job on getting him on a good sleep schedule. Enjoy it!
It sounds normal for your child. My friend had a baby who did the same thing. Down at 5:30 p.m. up at 10:30 a.m. Babies need lots of sleep. I read the book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and children need 12 - 13 hours of sleep at night. It's totally normal for a baby to want to go back to bed within two hours of getting up. It's a continuation of the night time sleep. My friends are shocked that my kids go down by 5:30 or 6. But they are ready!
Hello! 15 hours of sleep is recommended for a 1 year old, but that's just an average. It sounds like your son gets about 17 hours, but really, that's just two more than average, and likely well within normal. If you are still concerned, by all means, talk to your pediatrician (or another!) again, but I suspect all is well.
He's fine! My DS did the same thing. (he was in bed by 5:30, that sucked!) But by the time he was 2.5 he was sleeping 13 hr nights and no nap during the day. He slept for the first 18 mo's of his life -so it seems! Now that he's almost 4 he's making up for lost time and will barely sleep 12 hours a night and gave up his nap well over a year ago.
How much light is he exposed to? Sometimes when kids don't get enough natural light or even a bright artificial light it throws off their circadian rythm If that isn't the issue I would consider taking him to see a neurologist at the Child Study Center or something.
I have a 13 month old and he's pretty much on the same schedule. To bed by 6 or 6:30 and up by 6:30 or 7. He takes a 2 hour nap at daycare, but on the weekends, takes one 1 or 2 hour nap in the morning and another hour nap in the afternoon. Don't worry about it! Right now he's trying to learn how to walk and do so many things that he needs the extra rest. Their bodies have to rest for their brains to configure properly to master a new skill.
I guess I'm the minority; I don't agree with everyone else. Sounds like alot of sleeping to me, especially the comment you made about him barely making it through breakfast and then up to 5 hours of more sleeping for naps! I do agree with another poster about seeking a 2nd opinion from a doc. He/She will hopefully listen to you, take you seriously, and then may say that's totally normal and not to worry. Then you'll be relieved.
Suggestion: Maybe he's bored. Get him outside to play, even if it's cold (just bundle him up a lot), take walks with him, play blocks/puzzles/games with him, take him to the mall to play in the play area or just walk around in the mall and look in the windows.
Good luck and keep us informed as to what happened!
My now 8 year old was a big sleeper - would sleep 12 or 13 hours at night, wake at 7am, then nap 9-10, again 1-3 and again 5-6 at night or else he was an emotional disaster, then in bed between 7 and 9! He napped like this for a LONG time. He's just a kid who needed a lot of sleep. If we cut out naps, he woke up a lot through the night from being overtired. He dropped his naps by age 5 for kindergarten (though he still took an occasional after school nap) and was just fine. Some kids just need a lot of sleep - just follow his body's cues.
First, I would look into a new pediatrician. You asked yours a question and you got a lecture about her kids? Um, not good. But honestly, I suspect she's right that nothing is wrong, and your child is just growing quickly and needs his sleep.
Some kids do need more sleep than others. There could be other things going on as well, though, especially if he appears tired during his waking hours as well. Do you make sure he is getting lots of iron (protein) and carbs? Carbs and protein are where our energy comes from, so make sure you're feeding his brain. At this age, he should be eating several table-spoons worth of oatmeal, wheat bread, or pasta at every meal, and also at least 1 container of yogurt a day (meats and veggies and fruits are important, too, of course). If you know for a fact that he is getting all the natural sugars and proteins he needs, then you might consider having his blood tested for anemia, just to rule it out.
However, I suspect nothing is wrong. You might try pushing your son's bedtime back to about 7 (6 is a very early bedtime for a 1-year-old) and you can fill the time with a bath, story time, singing lullabies, etc., and make sure you get that extra snuggle time in there. But if you don't think your son could hold out for another hour, don't push it. If the behavior continues for more than a couple more months, then I think it would be time to seriously investigate what's going on. Good luck.
All your responses are pretty much the same so I will just say DITO and enjoy the peace and quiet while you can. Because it wont last much longer.
I do suggest that you find anothe Pediatrician. Any doctor that doesnt take your concerns seriously and go out of her way to ensure a new mother that things are normal just isnt a very good doc in my books. What if you had a concern that really could be a problem and she blew you off. I wouldnt take the chance.
I do agre with the doctor on one thing. You are lucky, my 3 girls did not sleep at all, except for my now 15yr old who would sleep all day if I let her.
Definitely sounds normal. Especially if he's going through a growth spurt, he could really just need the extra sleep right now. Of course keep an eye on him but if he's not acting sick or not running a fever, he's just getting the rest that he needs. I do understand missing out on seeing him and wanting to play but nothing is fun when a toddler is cranky!
1 year olds are rapidly growing - physically, emotionally, mentally, socially - so, while it may seem like a LOT of sleep - kids this age still need a lot of sleep - pretty soon - he will be giving up one of those naps... as long as he is healthy, meeting developmental milestones, eating normally and active when awake... I would not be concerned.
Sounds normal to me, especially if he is a very active child. Count your blessings, but be prepared. If you're this lucky with baby one, I'll bet number 2 never sleeps! Just kidding!:)
have them run a blood test to see if he's anemic (low oxygen levels), that could make you tired. Or maybe he has apnea, where he isn't getting into the 4 levels of sleep and therefore not feeling rested.
If your Dr. isn't listening, either be more insistent or find a new one.
Good luck!
Yep, you're super lucky! And yes, this is normal. At one year it is 11-13 hours a night and 2-5 hours in the day. It stinks that when you get to see him he is mostly sleeping, but I bet he drops one of his naps soon, especially since daycare is getting him in that routine already. My son had a big growth spurt around 15 mos and then dropped the second nap right afterwards.
Has the doctor checked his iron level? I ask because my daughter was the same way. She'd go to bed at 7ish in the evening and would sleep until 10 or 11 the next morning and then still take naps. I thought we were blessed with a "sleeper". When we took her for her annual checkup, they checked her iron and she was anemic. We started her on half of a Flintstone multivitamin with iron and saw an immediate change. She then had what would be normal sleeping patterns where she'd go to sleep around 8 and wake up at 6 with one nap during the day. I know what you mean about having a lot of quiet time but knowing that it was her health being affected outweighed the peace. :) Just a thought for you...
This sounds very normal. My daughter that is now 3 had the same routine at that age. She only got one good nap at daycare, so by the time I picked her up she was very tired. On the weekends, it was like she was trying to catch up on her sleep. She would really need those 2- 2 hour naps. I felt the same way. It is hard enough to be a working mom, but then when they sleep so much with you it is even harder.
My girls are sleepy kids. My now 14 year old still goes to bed at 9 and can't seem to get up before 10 on the weekends. She has always been this way. In kindergarten she was the one who was still sleeping hard at naptime in January.
He may be going through a growth spurt. Or may be just a sleepy kid.
I agree with Robswife, you are in charge of your babies health not your pediatrician. If you really think something is wrong tell her you want some tests done.
That's the AVERAGE one year old who naps well. It's 12-13 hours at night. And two naps a day of 1.5-3 hours each.
By 1.5-2 years old, he may drop his nap to 1 a day.
My son is 21 months and sleeps 12 hours, naps 2-2.5 hours a day (1 nap).
He will be so healthy physically and mentally with all the nap he's getting. Sleeping is when a baby's body and MIND is growing!
Consider yourself blessed.
If it bothers you that much, you could always have him tested for peace of mind, but I wouldn't worry; just sounds like you have a good sleeper. As someone else mentioned, babies this age need minimum of 15 hours of sleep. Also, most babies don't give up on 2 naps and transition to 1 nap until closer to 18 months of age. He just barely turned one, so a long night sleep with 2 naps throughout the day sounds about right. He may be sleeping a little more than average, but not ridiculously so. If he is 18-20 months and still sleeping this much, then I'd be a little more concerned. But if he is active and plays well, interacts, etc. in his waking hours then I would just count my blessings!
First of all, I would get a new pediatrician. Have they checked his iron level? IMO, he's sleeping waaay too much. How is he supposed to stay awake for a full day of school? I would definitely get him checked out by a different dr.
