I think my newborn sleeps too much – should I worry? It is normal for newborn babies to sleep a lot, often 16 to 18 hours per day (24 h period). In fact, babies sleep a lot because they need sleep to grow and develop their bodies and brains: sleep is essential for their growth and [...]
How do I know if my baby is sleeping too much? All babies are unique and have different sleep needs. The range of normal is quite wide. So even if your baby seems to sleep more than others, there is a good chance they are just a super sleeper! The amount of sleep babies need changes with every [...]
What is narcolepsy, and when does it develop? Do I have to be concerned about my toddler? Narcolepsy is a rare, chronic neurologic disorder that causes people to have excessive sleepiness during the daytime even though they are getting plenty of sleep at night. People with narcolepsy often describe [...]
I have narcolepsy. Do I need to worry about my baby having it too? Narcolepsy can certainly run in families, but this is actually more the exception rather than the rule. Fewer than 5% of people with narcolepsy will have a first-degree relative (parent, child, or sibling) who also has narcolepsy. [...]
My baby was born prematurely. How will that affect her sleep? Generally speaking, the more premature your baby is (the earlier she was born before her due date), the higher her risk will be for sleep problems. Your preemie (baby born prematurely, or preterm infant) probably will not start sleeping [...]
How can I tell if my toddler is sleeping too much? Most toddlers will require between 11-14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including nighttime sleep and daytime naps. If your toddler seems to be sleeping more than this, he may be sleeping too much – and there can be several possible reasons [...]
When will my preemie sleep through the night? In the first couple months, all newborns will sleep for about-equal amounts of time during the day and during the night, and each of their sleeping periods may be pretty short – even just minutes at a time. Babies start getting the bulk of their sleep [...]
Is lack of sleep causing my child to act up during the day? If your child is not getting enough sleep, it is likely impacting his or her behavior during the day. Likewise, children with daytime behavior problems are more likely to develop certain sleep problems. When it comes to sleep and [...]
I just had a baby, how can I get the best sleep possible? (is there a difference between whether I room-share with my baby or not?) You’ll be woken up, it’s almost inevitable – but try not to worry about when you will be woken up next; you’ll sleep better. You should expect that your sleep [...]
I’m pregnant. What can I expect about my sleep? Many women experience sleep disturbances during pregnancy, but this does not mean that every woman will have poor sleep when pregnant. You may end up being one of the lucky ones, although most women experience changes in their sleep. Studies that [...]