My colleague Jenny was preparing to conclude her 3-months maternity leave. I met her at the baby shop shopping for new clothes for her 10 week old son, who has grown chubbier and taller. As we laughed at how babies work hard to burst their newborn clothes fast, she told me about her 10 week old sleeping a lot.
For the past week, her 10 week old munchkin has been sleeping 9 hours straight at night, approximately 22 hours in total (night and day). Well, a longer sleep interval means more relaxing time for any parent. However, like Jenny, when they suddenly start sleeping for exaggeratedly long hours, there’s a reason to worry.
Your concern is justifiable but stay calm. I have put together reasons why your 10 week old baby sleeping a lot, remedies and helpful tips to stabilize the baby’s sleep pattern.
10 Week Old Sleeping a Lot? Here are the Reasons Why
Some factors associated with a 10 week old sleeping a lot include growth spurts or development leaps, illness, infections, Jaundice and starvation. Such reasons could make your baby sleep more in bits or for long straight hours.
At 10 week old, your baby consumes more breast milk/formula since their initially tiny bellies can now accommodate more food. They develop an interest in new colorful toys and love music. The AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) recommends 12-16 hours of sleep every 24 hours for newborns.
Depending on individual babies, 14- 17 hours of sleep is within the normal range. Anything above that could be too much. If you feel concerned about your 10 week old baby sleeping a lot, don’t hesitate to visit your doctor or paediatrician for further medical assessment.
Below, read on to find out some of the reasons I have listed based on expert opinion, that could make your little munchkin sleep unusually long.
Why is My Baby Sleeping a Lot at 10 Weeks?
1. Growth Spurts and Rapid development leaps- At ten weeks, your baby notably increases in length, width and height. You might need a new wardrobe as they grow physically chubby and tall. While these new developmental achievements occur, the baby’s body needs extra rest, thus sleeping more regularly.
When you start noticing those following objects with their eyes or responding to their musical toys, it’s a good sign their body is rapidly developing and needs to reenergize during sleep. I assure you it’s a normal process.
2. Illnesses and Infections- Just like adults, illnesses such as cold and flu make your 10 week old baby weak, lousy and irritable. This might be a reason your baby sleeping a lot at 10 weeks. While they may wake up after short intervals due to discomfort, they return to sleep quicker as their bodies need to relax often.
Fatigue leads to increased amounts of sleep in babies. Experts explain fatigue and fever as the body’s way of fighting illness. In addition, your baby sleeping a lot at 10 weeks could also result from viral infections. Cold and flu are easily treatable at home but visit your healthcare provider for an expert diagnosis and treatment.
3. Jaundice- If your child develops yellowish skin and eyes plus sleeping longer than usual, they could be born with a medical condition called Jaundice. You may notice increased crankiness before falling asleep too. Before you get panicked asking yourself “why my 10 week old baby sleeps a lot”, your pediatrician is best suited to expertly help you tackle prolonged sleep and any other underlying condition.
4. Rare chronic medical conditions- I don’t mean to scare you, but when your 10 week old baby sleeps a lot, it could be a sign of respiratory and heart conditions. Additionally, if you had a pre-term baby, they nap more to achieve developmental milestones. Seek medical advice if your baby sleeps for extra-long hours over 5-7 days.
5. Starvation- Essentially, a well-fed baby has quality and quality sleep. When your sweet bundle doesn’t eat enough, they grow weak and may stay asleep to preserve energy. Common signs of starvation include-:
- Dry, scaly skin due to dehydration
- Loss of weight
- Slow, stunted growth
6. Vaccination- While vaccines help build your baby’s immunity, they may present side effects similar to illness. Recently vaccinated babies may prefer resting longer than usual, and this might be a reason for the vaccinated baby sleeping a lot at 10 weeks. However, the sleepiness should last for a day or two. Anything above that should worry any parent.
What to do if My 10 week Old Toddler Sleeps a Lot
For a 10 week old, I recommend visiting your doctor for a proper diagnosis. However, there are remedies you can apply to improve your 10 week old baby’s sleep routine as follows:
- Keep your munchkin at the right temperature- Don’t under/over dress them to protect them from minor illnesses such as cold, flu and fever. Further, putting layers of clothes on them makes them feel lazy and tired.
- Feed your baby often and adequately- Bearing in mind the increased food consumption at ten weeks, feed your baby after two hours. Be keen to establish and meet their food demands to offer the right amount.
- Create a sleep log- An article by Medical news today suggests the need to track your child’s quantity using a sleep log. You can make a table to establish how many hours your baby sleeps during different days of the week. This way, you’ll get an accurate picture of your baby’s sleep intensity in a day. The log helps you understand the prolonged sleep habit making it easier for you to address the issue at home or visit your pediatrician.
- Adopt a healthy relaxing routine- Your youngster’s sleepiness could be their way of dealing with discomfort. I’d recommend you try giving them a warm bath, full body massage and lots of cuddling before bed.
When is it Time to Visit a Doctor?
To some extent, ten week old babies sleep up to 17 hours as their bodies grow and develop. Interestingly, every baby has a unique story, with some sleeping for 22 hours a day. Anything from 12-22 hours could be pretty standard for your baby.
The above tips are beneficial in the event baby is sleeping too much. Nevertheless, you should consult a doctor if you note the following signs coinciding with sleepiness within 5-7 days:
- Wheezing while sleeping- if your baby starts wheezing suddenly in their sleep, seek medical advice.
- Coughing and shortness of breath-The baby might be experiencing discomfort due to heart issues.
- Loud breathing noises- This could mean your little guy has an underlying respiratory condition that needs urgent attention.
- Constant Fever- Stubborn fever that lasts for a few days is dangerous and warrants a visit to your doctor.
- Difficulty in feeding- If your baby starts using fewer diapers suddenly, it’s a sign that they aren’t feeding well.
FAQs on 10 Week old Toddler sleeping a Lot
Is It Normal For My 10 week old Baby To Sleep Longer Some Days?
Yes, it is normal for the baby to sleep long on some days and take shorter naps on others. For babies, every day is unique. They experience growth spurts randomly, so don’t worry if they get sleepier occasionally.
Could Teething Make A 10 Week Old baby Sleep Too Much?
Ideally, most babies get their first tooth at around six months. However, there’re unique cases of teething from 10 weeks or babies showing signs of the same at that tender age. Like any other illness, your baby’s body needs extra rest during such times. Aside from sleepiness, you may observe other teething symptoms such as ear pulling, irritability, coughing and lumpy gums. Visit your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Should I Wake My 10 week old Baby To Feed At Night?
You may be torn between waking your little one and risking endless crying or letting them nap and wake up at will. I assure you that it’s okay to wake them up. Doctors recommend babies feeding every 4 hours to enhance healthy growth and development.
How Much Sleep Is Recommended For A 2-Month Old Baby?
At two months of age, your adorable munchkin should be sleeping for 12-17 hours within a 24-hour cycle. It includes short day naps and nighttime sleeping time. However, don’t panic yet. Remember, every baby is unique and may sleep less or more during some days. If you notice a new trend in your little one, track the pattern for 5-7 days, then visit your healthcare provider for further assessment.
Wrapping Up
For any parent, excess sleepiness could be a cause to worry. While it’s common for babies to enjoy 17 hours of sleep in 24 hours, napping for more hours consistently for a week is dangerous. As the brain and body rapidly develop, growth spurts consume more energy; hence a 10 week old baby sleeping a lot. Further, flu, cold, viral infections, heart/respiratory conditions and lack of adequate food may make your little bundle feel extra sleepy.
Home remedies include feeding your baby constantly, protecting them from cold/flu and creating a sleep track table. If you have any concerns, your pediatrician is best suited to assess the sleep situation. They can professionally diagnose and treat your baby in case of underlying medical issues.
More to read:
