It is normal for babies to sleep a lot, especially during the first months of life, and can sleep up to 20 hours a day, divided into periods of a few hours, as they often wake up to feed.
Generally, from 1 and a half months of age, the baby begins to relate the cycles of light and darkness, sleeps a little more at night, and from 6 months onwards, the baby can sleep almost the entire night without waking up. .
If the mother suspects that the baby sleeps more than normal, it is recommended to consult the pediatrician for an evaluation and see if there is a problem.
How many hours should a baby sleep?
The time a baby spends sleeping depends on their age and growth rate:
The number of hours of sleep may vary due to the baby’s development rate. Find out more about how long your baby needs to sleep.
Is it normal when a baby sleeps a lot?
The baby may sleep more than is normal simply due to its growth rate, the birth of its first teeth or in rarer cases, due to an illness such as jaundice, infections or after certain medical procedures, such as circumcision, for example.
Furthermore, if the baby is very stimulated during the day, he may become very tired and fall asleep despite being hungry.
If the mother thinks that the baby sleeps too much, she must ensure that the baby does not have any health problems and take him to the pediatrician.
Make an appointment with a pediatrician in the nearest region:
Taking care of your health has never been easier!
What to do if your baby sleeps a lot
If the baby does not have any health problems, so that they sleep the appropriate hours for their age, you can try:
- Take the baby for a walk during the day, exposing him to natural light;
- Develop a calm evening routine, which may include a bath and massage;
- Try to remove some layers of clothing, so that he is less hot and wakes up when he is hungry;
- Touch your face with a damp cloth or lift it to burp before moving it to the other breast.
If your baby is gaining weight steadily after a few weeks but still sleeping a lot, it could be perfectly normal. The mother should take advantage of this time to catch up on her sleep.
Bibliography
- DE BERITTO, TV Newborn Sleep: Patterns, Interventions, and Outcomes. Pediatr Ann. 49. 2; e82-e87, 2020
- BATHORY, E.; TOMOPOULOS, S. Sleep Regulation, Physiology and Development, Sleep Duration and Patterns, and Sleep Hygiene in Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 47. 2; 29-42, 2017
