Reasons Why Your Baby is Sleeping More

A question I’m often asked is, Why is my baby sleeping more than usual? And while it might not seem to be something to be worried about (especially if you’re reading this and your baby is currently sleeping erratically, and you’re more tired than you’ve ever been!) Usually, parents joke that extra sleep should not be cause for complaint, but at the root of the question is always a concern. When our babies suddenly do something that is out of the norm for them, we are instantly curious as to why. And there is always a reason! This post explores three reasons why your baby might be sleeping a little more than usual.

Illness

Just as suspected, your baby could be sleeping more because they’re unwell. This is the one that parents worry most about and with very good reason. It’s horrible seeing your child ill, and when they’re babies, it’s all the more worrying as they cannot effectively tell you how they are feeling or what is wrong. Use your instincts here and consult your doctor if you are concerned. Remember that the human body uses sleep as its chance to recover and fight off illnesses, so don’t be surprised if your baby wants to sleep and sleep and sleep when ill.

Growth spurt

I know that this theory can be overused, and too many of us put new behaviors (including interrupted sleep) down to a growth spurt. Still, it genuinely can be a reason why your baby is suddenly sleeping more than usual. Growth spurts are usually the first thing we can look at in this case. Have you noticed that your baby is taking longer naps? Sleeping later in the mornings? Wanting to go to bed a lot earlier than usual? If the answer is yes, then a growth spurt is probably the reason.

In this case, I would advise going with the flow. Be led by your baby, and adjust your schedule to accommodate the extra sleep. The extra sleep is important and won’t hurt one bit. Make the most of the extra time to yourself and have a nap too!

Teething

You probably already knew that this one would make the top three reasons why your baby is sleeping more than usual! Yep, teething really does have a lot to answer for. While most babies suffer interrupted sleep during teething, some can actually sleep a little more instead. So why does teething mean more sleep for some? Well, it depends on how badly your baby is teething.

Sometimes, the symptoms that accompany a tooth coming through are very like the symptoms experienced when you have a cold. So think lots of mucus and low-grade fevers. Not nice. But these symptoms are often combated by the body requiring more sleep than usual, which is why you may find that your baby is napping longer and waking later. Keep an eye on the temperature and seek medical advice if you are at all concerned.