How little is TOO little sleep for 8-9 wk old???

[expat-mama]

My LO is almost 9 weeks old and for the past week he's only been sleeping about 9-11 hours a day in total. He will take 2 to 4 really, really short naps during the day for 10-20 minutes and at night he'll only sleep for about 9-10 hours with 2 to 3 wakings for feedings that can last anywhere from 30 mins to an hour. Adding this all up, I'm afraid he's not getting enough sleep.

We try all the time to put him down for naps after he eats and when he is yawning and calm and seems tired. We bounce him, rock him, sing, read, lay quietly...everything. About half the time he will fall asleep but then usually it's only for a few minutes.

I'm worried if this continues it will affect his growth or something. I mean babies need to sleep a lot, don't they? How little sleep is too little? What effect could too little sleep have on him?

What could be the problem? What should I do differently???

[Terrilein]

Well, you just described my dd and ds to a T and while I'm not terribly happy with having non-sleeping kids, I'm not worried. DD is just fine - no obesity as mentioned in recent studies. Some kids just really sleep less. One thing we do though to ensure a longer nap is to strap him onto DP and send him out for a really long walk - like 2-3 hours. That will usually do the job for a really good, daily nap. And it's really only to save my sanity. But sleeping that long on his own? Nope! Not happening here! But I'm not stressing it either.

[newmamalizzy]

I'm with the PP as far as the baby carrier goes. Do you generally use a sling/wrap/carrier? My DD would sleep so long in her Moby at that age I almost thought I was harming her! Otherwise, is it possible your baby is catching sleep at times you're not counting? Sleeping while nursing, etc?

[expat-mama]

He does sleep in his sling and ergo when we are out and about- lately that's only about an hour or two during errands or shopping. We live in a super hot climate here, so wearing him while walking outside is a big sweaty ordeal. I'm going to buy a stroller and start walking outside with him in that and hopefully he will sleep in the stroller!

I try to wear him around the house but he doesn't like the sling and definitely won't sleep in it unless I'm really moving/walking in it and in the house I'm not continually walking around so he tends to get upset and doesn't sleep at all. We recently bought a swing...he hates it. He will sleep in his bouncy chair but not for long.

He does sleep alot when he's nursing...TOO much if you ask me- most of our nursing sessions last waaay too long because he keeps nodding off. But I still don't think that adds up to much quality sleep. Maybe 10-15 minutes each time. And when I try to put him down after nursing he just wakes right back up.

Did your LOs seem tired, Terrilein? It sounds like they were doing ok without much sleep. I'm not sure if my DS is though. He seems pretty tired lately. Fussy and a bit irritable until I can finally get him to sleep. No fun. Then he is all smiles when he wakes up!

He fights sleep so much even when he is yawning and nodding off.

[Knitting Mama]

Well, if motion helps, what about a swing? And do you swaddle? Swaddling really helps Cecilia stay asleep longer. Without it she naps for 30 minutes or so. With it she naps for a good hour or two flat, and up to 4 hours in the swing.

[tessie]

Some babies don't need as much sleep as others, particularly during the day. If he's otherwise healthy, happy and growing I wouldn't stress about it.

My kid has never slept much during the day. At that age I'd count myself lucky if she had 45 minutes but it was often much less. Apparently I was the same as a baby.

And yes, a stroller for naps can often be a lifesaver. Even now it's often the only thing that works. (Not today though, five minutes of sleep all flipping day. )

[Terrilein]

DD never looked or acted tired. She would just suddenly get more intense/active and I was basically the only one who could recognize it and get the heck out of dodge quick. DS on the other hand is like your ds - he totally fights sleep. He at least gets recognizably sleepy and cranky. AND he doesn't always need to be nursed down. We just got a mobile put up over his hanging crib and he totally love it. But then he sleeps well in that crib anyways even if it's only for half hour stretches at the most.

[SubliminalDarkness]

It's not ideal, but some babies just have a hard time sleeping. My DS2 practically didn't sleep, it seems. Even overnight, he was waking every 45 minutes to an hour for his entire first year.

He's 3 1/2 now and quite healthy and normal!