Sleeping Too Much?

Updated on November 09, 2007
M.S. asks from Independence, MO
25 answers

My son is now 7 weeks old. He has been sleeping through the night for over 3 weeks now (approx 10:30/11 PM to 6 AM). Is this ok? People tell me not to wake him up and let him be, while others tell me that he should be eating at least once during the night. Even in the mornings, when he wakes up, he's not screaming or anything as if he's starving. He eats about 5 to 6 times a day, about 4 oz each feeding, with the last one being right before bedtime. Any info is appreciated!

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

So What Happened?

Thanks for all the responses. I feel a lot better about him sleeping through the night. It's actually entertaining to have to wake him up in the morning. He reminds me of me when I didn't want to get up in the morning as a teenager. He closes his eyes tight as if I'd disappear if he tried hard enough. Thanks, again!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Kansas City on

hey M.! feel lucky that he sleeps through the night. my son did the exact same thing right when he came home. i was worried as well...but he slept through the night right off the bat. i was the one who had to wake up to pump because i was so full of milk...but that just helped my production instead of letting it dry. it won't last forever...so enjoy it now! don't worry about him sleeping too much...my son is now 2 1/2 and i wish he slept like he did when he was a baby! every child is different so it will be ok! :)

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

Some babies start sleeping though the night early, some babies wake up during the night for the first year. He's eating fine, and i'm sure his development is on target, enjoy the fact he sleeping though the night. My lil guy who is now 6 1/2 months old has been sleeping though the night for a couple months now, but now he has started having teeth come in and he wakes up sometimes. Also remember patterns will change as they develope, my baby used to sleep from 9pm-5am, he now sleeps from 7pm to 6:30am.
PS if he's hungry during the night he'll wake up and let you know, let the lil angle sleep

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.W.

answers from St. Louis on

As long as he's gaining weight like he should & wetting enough diapers I'd just THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS!!!

Congrats on the little one!
L.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from Tulsa on

He's fine. My daughter was like this and I found it to be a blessing then and now. If he's not waking up in the middle of the night, hungry, then he is satisfied and fine. Believe me, he isn't laying in his crib thinking that he should just ignore those hunger pangs and sleep through them. His metabolism may not be as fast as someone else's baby and that's fine.

Are you breastfeeding him? Because if you are, it sounds like YOU'RE eating right in order to provide him with adequate nutrition to get through the night. Even if you're not breastfeeding, you're doing something right. The human body - at any age - experiences hunger as a chemical reaction to a depletion in nutrients. Our metabolism, activity and diet are involved in that process. So he eats... how is his activity during the day when he's awake?

Also, the Old Mothers always said that they grow when they sleep (and hiccup). Other, important, chemical processes occur when we sleep too. So your 7 week old son is fine and doing what he's supposed to do.

As long as his bowels are regular, his eating stays consistent (and even increases as he grows), and he stays clean, healthy and happy - you're golden.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.S.

answers from Kansas City on

My little one slept through (7 hours) when she was 5 weeks to the day. I really wouldn't worry about it. She's a rambunctious 19-month-old now and still a super great sleeper! We are blessed!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.O.

answers from Lawton on

My little boy did this and my doctor told me to thank my lucky stars and let him sleep-that we were some of the lucky few! If anything, he was always more than healthy. I think the sleep helps them out and he always slept even more when he was growing. I worried at first like you, but then I learned to enjoy it because the next one may be a whole different story. You are right too in saying life is a miracle. I love being a Mommy!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Champaign on

Hi M.,

When I first brought my 1st born (who is now 10 1/2) home from the hospital - he slept through the night on the very first day. I was concerned at first and asked the dr. Dr says AS LONG AS he's happy, gaining weights and eating when he wakes up. So if hes not eating then there is something to be concerned about.

Just use this as a blessing and u don't want to go through like the other sleep deprived mothers. I was with my 2nd born! It was a nightmare but now it's ok! LOL... Enjoy your moments and just use this a great blessing!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.A.

answers from Champaign on

First of all.. CONGRATULATIONS on your new addition to your life. He and my son shares a birthday ;) My son just turned 4. I would NOT worry about him sleeping thru the night. Some babies sleep thru the night immediately, some at a few months old, some much later. I was fortunate that all my boys slept thru the night at a few months. As long as he's eating well during the day. Your baby WILL tell u when he's hungry, amongst other things. :)

Good luck with motherhood! It's a JOY! :)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.

answers from St. Louis on

Ok, from my personal experience (my boy is now 9 months old) NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY! Unless you sense something's wrong, of course. He'll get up if he's hungry. And if he's gaining weight I wouldn't worry about it. Consider yourself lucky! :) Enjoy the sleep because when he gets bigger (and his tummy gets bigger!) he'll start waking up every night to eat. That's our routine with my son now... Anyway, enjoy the sleep while your getting it! :)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.D.

answers from Oklahoma City on

M. First of all Congratulations. If he is sleeping through the night and he is not waking up to be fed, I would just let him be, and you get your much needed rest. He will let you know when it is time to eat. Good luck T.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Peoria on

Hi there M.,

I would say not to worry about his sleeping so much. As long as there are no health or weight concerns, enjoy it girl! It may just be a phase, you should enjoy it while it lasts!

Good luck!
C.
www.EnhanceYourWayOfLife.com

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I was told by my pediatrician to never wake a sleeping baby unless a doctor says otherwise. As long as your baby is gaining enough wait then there is no need to wake him in the night time to feed him. My baby was sleeping through the night very early on as well and I just let her sleep. At about 4 months she started waking in the night for feedings but from about two months to 4 months she was sleeping through the night and missing feedings but the pediatrician wasn't worried b/c she was gaining like she should. I wouldn't be too concerned but you should maybe ask your pediatrician if it would help ease your mind. Remember that every baby is different and will develope their own little schedules that work for them. I say enjoy the sleep, you're one of the lucky ones.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

I am a first time mom also, so I worry about everything. My baby, now 6 months and very healthy, was exactly the same way. I am a nut about how much he eats and I look into everything way too much. But my mom just kept telling me not to wake him let him sleep b/c my sister was the same way, and he did just fine gaining weight. I also asked the Doctor and he said it was fine if he was still eating about every 3 to 4 hours during the day. He still isn't screaming to eat when he wakes up in the morning, he just as soon play for a little while before he eats, and babies are so fun in the morning!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.F.

answers from St. Louis on

Count your blessings! I'm still struggling with getting my 2-year-old to sleep through the night. On a more serious note, I would tend towards thinking that if he's hungry enough, he'll wake up. As long as he's gaining weight appropriately (and your pediatrician will be able to let you know), I don't think there's anything to worry about.
T. (highly caffeinated and craving a good night's sleep)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.G.

answers from St. Louis on

Both my kids (Now 8 and 4) started sleeping through the night at a very early age (3 wks and 4 wks respectively.) Your baby is scheduling out and that is a wonderful thing. My pediatrician always told me "never wake a sleeping baby." As long as he is gaining weight and is happy and healthy, then go with that good ole Mommy gut feeling and let him sleep. He will let you know if he is hungry!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.V.

answers from Kansas City on

My son did that, too. I just counted myself lucky and got some sleep! He is 4 years old now, and the only times he's ever woken up during the night have been when he's sick.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.Y.

answers from Topeka on

If your son seems fine, then I wouldn't wake him. There was one night when my son slept for 6 or 7 hours and the pediatricain we saw yelled at me because that was too long for my baby to go without food, he could get low blood sugar, etc. Frankly, it's so difficult to get sleep when you have a baby that I say let him be and you get some rest too!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Enjoy the sleep! He's perfectly normal. My little guy started sleeping 6 hrs a night at 6 weeks & still (almost 2yrs old) loves his sleep. He sleeps at least 10 hrs a night & takes 1, 2-3 hr nap during the day. As long as he continues to gain weight, he's fine. Take care!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Let him be. He will wake up if he is hungry. 2 out of my 3 kids started sleeping all night at about 2 months old.

J.G.

answers from Oklahoma City on

My daughter was the same way. Her pedi said to let her sleep through the night if she would. She would go to sleep around 10 or 11 and get up around 6. If it is really concerning you or feel that something is not right then I would talk to your pedi about it. Good luck!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.D.

answers from Springfield on

My pediatrician always told me that if the baby is gaining weight there's no reason to wake him/her for a feeding at night. If your little one is sleeping through the night at 7 weeks you should count yourself as one of the luckiest parents in the world and enjoy it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.

answers from Oklahoma City on

As long as you know he is eating and getting enough fluids I think he is ok. I would make sure he is peeing about 6 times a day and you are getting at least one poop out a day. If you are not check with you dr about dehydration. We delt with it with our daughter, but she was nursing so I didn't know the exact amount of her intake. She poop several times a day, but didn't pee. A wet diaper is very heavy you will know it is wet if he is poopy too there should be no doubt. Sorry all the medcail people told me if she poops she pees NOT the case.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.A.

answers from Kansas City on

As someone whose firstborn was "the Amazing Awake Baby" (at 5 weeks, once stayed awake 13 hours straight. 3 PM-4 AM!) this does not seem like a problem to me! As long as he's eating well, and gaining weight, he's probably fine. You probably have a 2 month well check coming up, so take note of his weight then. Meanwhile, count your blessings - your next one might be like my first!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.K.

answers from Springfield on

If he is gaining weight and he is isn't small for his age, then I wouldn't worry about him getting enough food. My boys didn't start sleeping through the night until they were about one, so you are very lucky.

On thing I hate to bring up is that I wonder if your son is sleeping too well? I know that babies that fall into deep sleeps cycles for too long are more likely to suffer from SIDS. Have you ever laid next to him and watched his breathing? If you ever notice him going a while without breathing then get him checked out.It is normal to go a few seconds without taking a breath, but not very long.

I'm assuming you already know the ways to prevent SIDS. There is a lot of information out there on the subject. As long as you are following all the sleeping rules, then I'm sure your son will be fine and you will be a well rested mommy. Just keep an eye on him and ask his doctor if you have any concerns.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.S.

answers from Wichita on

HiMaggie,

My son is just now a little over five weeks and he already eats and sleeps like your son. I have spoken to the doctor a few times about it and he says that it is fine- that babies will wake up to eat if they are hungry. My son goes to bed approximately the same time and sleeps through the night until seven or eight in the morning. He eats quite a bit during the day at four ounces each time.

Hope this helpseaseyour mind...

Thanks,
R.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches