how much sleep should 5 week old be having?

[LimesMum]

My 5 week baby seems to sleep almost constantly in the day (not so much at night tho!!) the has episode of persistent crying around 6-10pm.

Just wondering how much sleep others peoples babies had at this age and what they should be having?

I'm presuming they should just sleep when they need/want to at this stage?!

[TheHubblesWindscreenWipers]

Seems normal, be glad he sleeps! Ours was up for entire days at a time at that age....

They will gradually sort out night and day. Keep days light and busy and get out in the daylight. Keep nights dimmer and quieter.

[LuchiMangsho]

I don't think there is a set amount. As the other poster mentioned, if the baby isn't sleeping as much at night and sleeping in the day, then gently trying to reset the circadian rhythmn might be the way forward. I would wake up for regular feeds in the day time, lots of fresh air and sunlight, and after 7 pm keep things dark and quiet and feed in the dark. On the insistence of my slightly bonkers but lovely MIL we began doing this at 2 weeks and I kept a little diary and I noticed that by 6 weeks, DS 'knew' day from night. He was still feeding at night ever 3 hours or so but would go back to sleep promptly and was a tiny bit more alert in the day time.
But yes they need lots of sleep. And good sleep usually begets more sleep. Don't keep a baby up to get them into a schedule. It will lead to over tiredness and crankiness.

[FATEdestiny]

It's awake time you want to watch, not time asleep.

Awake time (the time between waking from one nap and falling asleep for the next nap) should be around 20-40 mins at this age.

[LimesMum]

Thanks ladies

So she should only ever be awake 20-40 mins at a time??

[FATEdestiny]

Well, it's not set in stone, do follow your instincts. But that would be a reasonable approximation in the first 6 weeks - raising to around 40-80 mins awake time from 12 weeks.

[LimesMum]

I didn't realise that!! Thanks!!

[YellowSquirrel]

And evening crying or crankyness is normal too! Mine fed on/off boob for about 4 hours every evening or cried.