Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

I am a new mother and a panicked one. My newborn loves to sleep all the time and if we don't wake him to eat he would keep on sleeping.

The doctor said to wake them up during the day like every 2-3 hours and to keep the feedings no longer than 20-30 minutes. That's easier said than done when you are trying to feed a newborn that falls asleep while you are trying to feed him.

I am so worried that my little one won't get enough to eat if he only eats 1- 11/2 ounces a feeding. He was drinking 2 ounches and a few times 3 ounches now it's down to 1- 1 1/2 and I fear the doctor will tell me he is not gaining enough weight. And sometimes he'll burp and sometimes not and I don't if I should be concerned about this. I am really feeling worried. DH keeps telling to stop panicking.

I don't know what to do...Doctor says to encourage him to drink 2-3. I'm lucky if he can finish 1 1/2

What do you ladies think?

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

I would say listen to your pediatrician. Because Joseph was a preemie, the neonatalogist was concerned about his weight. He had to keep showing weight gain or he'd go back in the hosptial. We were told to flick his foot to wake him up to eat.

I made myself crazy & so did everyone else telling me how they didnt think he gained weight, etc. That was the week, he gained.

Best way to know he's getting enough is to count diapers. Feed him with the lights on, music going.

Sometimes they dont' gulp as much air while eating. Just try to burp him anyway. If you can get the burp out while it's in his diaphram, it's much better. IF you don't get the burp out before then, it becomes intestinal gas which is very painful --- and we've all heard intestinal gas pains --- they're heartbreaking.

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

For the 1st month of a babies life, they will sleep "A LOT". They are still circulating their "Mommies" hormones in their system from birth. They will need a lot of encouragement to be awake & eat. Be sure to undress baby to help wake him for feedings. Try changing him diaper 1/2 through the bottle, that will wake him some. Do wake baby as suggested for feedings, so that he doesn't miss. Don't stress, he will be awake more often before ya know it. Enjoy the "peacefulness" now... it doesn't last long.

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

I never woke my baby to eat, but she would not usually go more than 6 hours without eating. She is gaining fine. I just felt that she always woke herself when she was hungry so I didn't wake her. I read that they should be drinking 19-30 ounces per day. Sometimes she was a little under that (like 17-18 ounces), but I never worried about it. I just found that trying to wake a sleeping baby was hard enough and then trying to feed a baby that was sleeping was even harder. That's just my baby though.

If your baby really isn't eating enough because of sleeping and your doc says to wake him, besides the foot flicking, diaper changing and undressing, the lactation nurse in the hospital also said to rub their ears (the top of the ear kind of rubbed between your thumb and forefinger). The ear always wakes my baby.

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

I just don't know what else to do. I'll try the ear thing but nothing gets this kid up. Changing diapers in between has woken him but then once i'm done and I try to feed he starts drifting off again. It will get to the point where he gets upset and won't take the bottle. And then burping is so much harder when he's drifting off.

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

I'm a 3rd time Mom and still questioning if the baby is sleeping too much/not eating enough so its not just new Moms. My Matthew is just starting to sleep a bit less @ 2weeks old. But he still will take only 2 ounces per feeding. But he was back to his birth weight at his 1 week ped visit so all is fine. Its very hard (impossible!) to get them to take more if they dont want it. Theyre all so different too so what works with one wont always work with the other Ive learned. Your little guy sounds fine to me.

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

Posted by Elizabeth

I'm a 3rd time Mom and still questioning if the baby is sleeping too much/not eating enough so its not just new Moms. My Matthew is just starting to sleep a bit less @ 2weeks old. But he still will take only 2 ounces per feeding. But he was back to his birth weight at his 1 week ped visit so all is fine. Its very hard (impossible!) to get them to take more if they dont want it. Theyre all so different too so what works with one wont always work with the other Ive learned. Your little guy sounds fine to me.

Re: Is it normal for newborns to sleep alot?

As they say, if the baby is not crying or fussing, he must be content so what youre doing is perfectly fine. now stop worrying already Wait till he gets his first boo boo, thats when the real stress starts

Matthew was so warm and cozy in your belly that he's still used to that, and thats why hes so comfy swaddled and sleeping all day.