Wants to sleep all the time

[Harmony83]

Hey everyone,

Just a quick querie...

My little boy who is nearly 5 months, has started to want to sleep all the time, he sleeps on average for 1 hr - 1.5hrs at a time will stay up for about 1/2 hour to an hour before he starts grizzling and rubbing his eyes and I have to put him back to sleep again, this has been going on for about a week, he sleeps fine of a night time we put him down at about 8.00pm with him waking up a 4am for a feed then sleeping till about 6.30. Its strange because he used to be the complete opposite and want to play all the time.

Is this normal???

Thanks guys :)

[drewid]

Hey there :)

My darling bub is 5 1/2 months old and is much the same. I haven't totalled his daytime sleeping hours recently but he does sleep a lot, and quite frequently. Apart from sleeping on average 12 hours a night, he then has about 5 naps (or more!) during the day, with at least 3 of them being an hour or more.

He just seems to get tired quickly the last month or so. At the moment though he has a bit of a cold and I am beginning to suspect teething as well, so I think he is finding sleep a nice way to escape the uncomfortableness of it all. I don't blame him really! Theres nothing I'd rather do when I don't feel well than sleep all day!

Even though he sleeps a lot though, we do still manage to get a lot of other things done during his awake time - he gets plenty of tummy time, plays with his kicking toy, sits in his walker and plays with its toys, we sit outside and look at the garden, jumps in the jolly jumper and on my lap. So i guess he does have good reason to get tired out too.

I'm trying to really appreciate all this sleep - from all i've read, it only gets worse from here on in! In a few months time I will be looking back at this fondly i imagine....!

[Harmony83]

Oh I forgot to mention that when he is awake, he is usually really whingy and clingy?? Maybe it is because he's teething?!?

[Chickadee]

Like Nicole suggested, all the sleep as well as the daytime whinging might be due to teething pain. You could try some cold chew toys to relieve his gums, or there are some topical gels you can use on his gums.

Sleeping lots can also be a sign of an underlying illness, it's part of how the body copes and heals. If it doesn't improve in a week or he deteriorates (grumpier, not feeding, weight loss, seems confused, etc) you should consider a visit to your GP or CHN. This site (http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/ofhc/Article.asp?articleID=2093) gives general info about increased sleepyness during illness.

[jarrahsmumma]

hey harmony83,
i know when my son is getting teeth he tends to sleep alot, like 2 hrs sleeps 3 times a day and sleep through the nite (he is 7 months). If he is gaining weight and eating ok it might be just a phase , enjoy while you can. Alternativley he might b getting sick. Like MarthaM said check it out with your CHN or doc.

peace
natalie

[star4]

You girls are very lucky. My bub now five months wakes up twice a night for a feed. She will drink 250ml overnight! She has usually two sleeps of an hour long during the day & 1/2 nap in the afternoon.

She has also started teething & finds it hard to get back to sleep due to the pain. I have tried giving her Panadol, but she just vomits it straight up.

[Kamaikia]

I agree that if you are concerned you should see your GP. A child being very sleepy can indicate heart problems (and other illness) but maybe your child is just lazy or having a growth spurt and needs some extra rest.

[Harmony83]

I'm wishing I never complained!!! Now he NEVER wants to sleep day or night!! He wakes up at 2ish in the morning, and from then on wakes about 6 times until 5am, then we have to battle to get him to sleep during the day!! Im so exhausted!

[jaydensmum]

Harmony83 - im not 100% sure but it doesnt sound too bad. Maybe he might be going through a growth spurt. I find when my DS is going through a growth spurt he wants to sleep more. Does he sleep through the night? If he is having interupted sleep it might make him dozy during the day. Im sorry if im not helping very much. Maybe you should try and ask your local baby health nurse as she might be able to help better.

jaydensmum

[tyler's mum]

tyler is waking up every 2-3 hours for a feed... she is only 7weeks old so may change soon i hope anyway,, maybe every second nite if im lucky she will go 4 hours