6 week old slept all day

[Catk34]

My 6 week old has pretty much slept all day only waking briefly to feed. I’m really worried he has never been like this before. No other obvious signs of illness.

I would call 111

My DC was very sleepy so I got him seen. He had a chest infection. I was surprised as he wasn’t coughing but apparently small babies don’t display the classic symptoms of infection.

Definitely get you baby seen.

I agree with this and would do so regardless. It most likely will just be nothing but best to speak to a professional.

It won’t be this but just by way of example, when my baby had a kidney infection they didn’t have a super high temperature but were very clingy and wouldn’t be put down to sleep. So my point being the signs of illness are not always obvious.

Things to think about that might be useful for 111…Have you taken their temperature? Is that normal? Have they drunk as much as normal/had as many wet nappies as usual? Do their hands and feet seem blue (which is also a sign that something is going on)?

I agree with calling 111 that is. Good luck. Hope that they are fine.

Mine did this and was very sick indeed… check temperature, call 111 at the very least.

Actually, at 6wo I’d go to A&E. 111 told me to wait at home as temp wasn’t quite high enough to go in immediately - and they were wrong. Don’t hesitate to get help, or at least checked, with such a little one.

Straight to A and E

@Catk34 hope he’s ok - just popping on to add don’t bother with 111 with this time of night they will ask you to go to A&E so if you’re worried enough to call 111 you may as well go to A&E and cut out the middle man as it’s impossible to assess a child this young over the phone / reassure you properly. It could be something or nothing but sounds like a dramatic change and sleepiness could be so many things at that age some of them serious.

hopefully it won’t be too long of a wait there. I’m sure someone more experienced than me will be a long to say that it could be x y z but honestly from your description I would want my child having a professional look them over. Just be aware that obviously there is an increased risk of them coming out with an infection if waiting in the children’s waiting room for any length of time.

Only other thing to add was the maternity triage had open access until around 6 weeks so you could call and see if they would see him too but I suspect they would probably refer to A&E too

Mine slept a solid 24 hours and it was bronchiolitis, they were extremely ill.

Please don’t hesitate to get them seen ASAP. I hope all is ok!

Yes agree with A & E. Do let us know how you get on.

Definitely A&E love. Maybe nothing wrong at all but at this age best to get checked

We had something similar happen at a similar age. I managed to get hold of the GP before they closed and they looked her over (only over the phone) and thought she was OK. Luckily she was back to normal the next day. However considering the age and the time I agree with the others that A&E would be best. I guess you have probably been by now though. Hope it is nothing in your case too!

Hi everyone,

I took him to a&e. They couldn’t find anything out of ordinary and had no concerns but have given me direct phone number for a paediatric Dr for the next 24 hours if anything changes or he deteriorates at all.
I will be keeping a close eye on him

Glad he is OK! Perhaps watch some youtube videos of small babies with retractions, I found this useful after not immediately spotting breathing difficulties in my small baby.

I have had this with mine immediately before a growth spurt, and also when coming down with a bug. Normally if they are going to be ill you know quite quickly. Hopefully normal baby service resumes for you shortly!

I wondered about growth spurt. He was weighed today and seems to have gained a pound in just 4 days.
Im still so worried about him. He still seems really sleepy. Just woke up for a feed then straight back to sleep. Considering we’ve just got back from A&E a couple of hours ago I’m wondering how long I allow this to continue before asking for him to be seen again. I don’t want to be waiting until night time and spending all night again in hospital. I got no sleep last night.
They checked his oxygen, blood pressure, temperature, blood sugar, listened to his heart and lungs, checked his fontanelle. All was fine. Dr said while he was awake that he was having normal reactions - Alert, making little noises, crying when he was annoyed by the stethoscope, looking around etc, he had a few smiles too. The sleepiness is just so out of the ordinary. I’m sick with worry

Is he waking to feed? Or not taking feeds? Plenty of wet and dirty nappies too?

He is waking to feed and plenty wet and dirty nappies - it’s just that he’s basically straight back to sleep after his feed. I’m taking notes of how long he’s awake through the day today

A big weight gain is possible, my baby was born a bit early and below projected centile, and gained back up to that centile between 2 and 3 weeks - 525g in seven days - crazy week of cluster feeding. But you expect nothing but feeding and sleeping at that point!

Cluster feeding is exhausting! I am also supplementing with formula. My boy was close to 11lbs at birth, he’s a big boy. According to his weight today he is now a stone! 98th centile! He’s just been awake for the past 3.5 hours. I’m starting to panic a little less now

Eeek well done you at 11lb 😶 mine had a bit of jaundice, so I gave formula once a day to help LO wee it out. And it suited us so kept it up.

It sounds like you've done everything you can with going to A&E, you could always push for a GP appointment tomorrow if you are still worried. I'm pretty fortunate that my GP always sees the baby same day if I call at 8.