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Original poster

sleeping too much?!

23 replies

dot1 · 23/12/2002 13:15

Just wondered if there are any other babies out there like our ds - we're almost starting to get worried!

He's just turned 1 and sleeps from 7pm - 8am/8.30am (sometimes nearly 9am), then always has about a 2 hour nap two hours after he's woken up, and then about a 1 hour nap every afternoon!

He's very lively when he is awake - running around etc., but it seems weird he gets at least 13 hours sleep every night and needs about 2 - 3 hours during the day aswell.

Any other sleepy toddlers out there?!

OP posts:
GillW · 23/12/2002 15:07

Sounds idyllic! I've got one who's the opposite - 10 hours is a good night, and he still only seems to need half an hour during the day.

Crunchie · 23/12/2002 15:21

My little one always slept well at night, 7.15 - 8am, and then had a 2 hr nap after lunch. She is just dropping the nap and she's 21 months. So doen't sound bad at all to me.

Lindy · 23/12/2002 16:30

Yes, my DS, 21 months, also sleeps about 12 hours at night and 2-3 hours in the afternoon. In fact I am feeling quite cheated today as he woke after just one hour this afternoon!! I am sure he would also have a morning snooze if I let him!

He NEVER sits still the rest of the time so I just assume he needs the sleep - and take advantage of it!!

Tissy · 23/12/2002 19:41

IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!

I WANT ONE!!!

mckenzie · 23/12/2002 20:59

I logged on tonight to post a very similar question dot1 so it's nice to read that others are in the same situation. My ds is 18 months old and in the last month or so has gone from being a good sleeper ie, about 12 hours at night and an after lunch nap of about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to a great sleeper with 13/14 hours at night and still the 2 hours after lunch. Like you, I was starting to worry that something might actually be wrong for him to need this much sleep but it seems that some children do (lucky for us) and some children don't.

Having said that, I met a friend at the weekend whose dd is about 4 and she sleeps an awful lot and it turns out she is aneamic (not sure about spelling) and that's why she is tired all the time. From what my friend was saying, I think as long as they are happy, active and lively when they are awake then there is no problem. As opposed to her ds who is aways very tired. My sister did suggest that my ds could just be growing through a huge growth spurt and so to make the most of the long sleeps as they probably won't last forever. What a shame.

Holly02 · 24/12/2002 04:37

My ds used to sleep around 14-15 hours a day too at that age. Now he's 2, it's dropping off a bit but he still sleeps about 11 hours at night and between 2 - 2.5 hours during the day, so I still think that's pretty good.

Nothing to worry about - consider yourself lucky!

Original poster
dot1 · 24/12/2002 09:05

thanks everyone - it's reassuring there are other sleepy ones out there!

This morning ds woke up at 7am - after only 12 hours sleep - it felt like the middle of the night! So maybe the lie ins are already over...!

OP posts:
Bumblelion · 24/12/2002 10:35

Dot1, have no fear. My DD2 (aged 14 months) is also a heavy sleeper. She also sleeps from about 7:15 until about 7:30, but then is back in her cot by 9:30/10 where she can sleep until about 12 (although it was 1:30 one day last week when my mum was looking after her). She also has an afternoon sleep, anything from 1/2 hour to 2 hours and is still in bed by 7:15, even if she has only woken from her sleep at 6.

Like your son, my DD is very lively, active, etc. when awake, although she is not yet walking (nor crawling - just bum shuffling) but loves standing up walking around the furniture.

I would say not to worry - my elder two children are just as good sleepers although that is changing slightly with DD1 (now 10). She still likes her sleep but has got into the routine of reading every night before turning off her bedside light.

My DS (5) is also a brilliant sleeper and loves his bed. My friend popped round last night with her two children (girl of 12 and boy of 5). My DS was about to go to bed but that obviously went by the wayside as his best little friend had turned up. Saying that, at 8:30 (over an hour past his normal bed time) he asked to go to bed, knowing that his little friend was still in the house.

slug · 28/12/2002 13:37

Wonderful isn't it. We woke at ten to ten this morning, the sluglet was perfectly content to sleep until we were ready to get her up. She regularly goes down for 2 hours at lunch and drops off at 7.30pm without a complaint. Mind you she's also capable of staying up till 10pm if theres a party or social gathering going on. My friends are all jealous.

threeangels · 01/01/2003 23:25

Hi dot1,

My ds (25mo) sleeps from 7:30/8:00pm - 7:30am. He also takes a 3-4 hour nap in the day time. Sounds as if many moms here have the same type of children as far as napping.

Moomin · 14/03/2003 17:13

Dd has always been a good sleeper since she was tiny. She's now 18mo and still seems to need lots of sleep.If she's with me or dh at home she'll sleep for up to 2hrs in the morning and then also seems to need another long nap mid-afternoon. She goes to bed at 7.30pm and sleeps through until between 7.30 and 8am.

We know she's tired when she whinges and is bad-tempered and sometimes rubs her eyes. But now she's 18m she's whinging a lot more anyway. I'm just feeling a bit guilty that I put her up to bed when she gets like this (ie. tiresome!) more for me than for her. It doesn't seem right somehow that I spend my days off with at least 4 hours in the day able to do what I want, with her snoring away upstairs! Am I encouraging her to sleep too much? BTW, she's very lively when she's up so I don't think she's ill, or anything like that...

Moomin · 14/03/2003 17:13

Dd has always been a good sleeper since she was tiny. She's now 18mo and still seems to need lots of sleep.If she's with me or dh at home she'll sleep for up to 2hrs in the morning and then also seems to need another long nap mid-afternoon. She goes to bed at 7.30pm and sleeps through until between 7.30 and 8am.

We know she's tired when she whinges and is bad-tempered and sometimes rubs her eyes. But now she's 18m she's whinging a lot more anyway. I'm just feeling a bit guilty that I put her up to bed when she gets like this (ie. tiresome!) more for me than for her. It doesn't seem right somehow that I spend my days off with at least 4 hours in the day able to do what I want, with her snoring away upstairs! Am I encouraging her to sleep too much? BTW, she's very lively when she's up so I don't think she's ill, or anything like that...

Moomin · 14/03/2003 17:15

Sorry didn't mean to post twice. Was trying to get rid of bloody persil pop up - it's making my eyes jar, bobbing the screen up and down!

threeangels · 14/03/2003 20:54

My ds (28mo) sleeps 11 hrs straight at night and then a 3-3 1/2 hr nap in the day.

forest · 15/03/2003 12:28

So jealous....

webmum · 15/03/2003 14:44

WHERE DID YOU GET YOURS?????????

Moomin · 16/03/2003 13:44

So no-one has any advice then? I wasn't meaning to brag - honest!

KMG · 16/03/2003 18:58

Moomin - I don't think you can make a toddler sleep too much. So no, I don't think you're encouraging her to sleep to much. She is probably going through a growth spurt, or something. The amounts of sleep do seem pretty high though, but it's quite possible that she is awake for some of the time in her cot, and just plays quietly and entertains herself - which is an impressive skill at that age. Might be worth keeping a diary for a week or so and recording exactly how long she does sleep.

But basically if she's happy and active as you describe, then I don't think there's any reason to worry - make the most of it. When she can get out of her cot, or bed, then she will probably spend less time in it.

.. and get used to the jealousy!

judetheobscure · 16/03/2003 19:37

Moomin - sounds very similar to my 18 month boy - he has 12-13 hours at night and then about 2 hours in the morning and perhaps another 1/2 to 1 hour on the afternoon school run. All my children have been the same (yes, I know I'm lucky).

When your dd gets tired and grumpy I wouldn't view it as you having time off - she needs the sleep at that point and you wouldn't be doing either of you any favours if you kept her up. However, if you found it was interfering with getting her to sleep again in the evening I would wake her early from the afternoon nap.

One of my friends has a similar age baby who sleeps from 7 at night until about 10 the next morning and then sleeps in the day as well and the hv/gp have both said that's OK.

As long as she is happy and active when awake I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Lindy · 16/03/2003 21:19

My DS is very similar - but today & yesterday seems to have been a record - we were out for the day yesterday so he didn't get to nap until 4pm - went straight through until 7am this morning; again today I put him down at 3.30pm & he is still fast asleep - is this normal? He has been rather unwell for the last week so I assume he could just be sleeping to make up for feeling poorly?

SnoobyKat · 17/03/2003 05:56

DS (17.5 months) is also a good sleeper(8pm - 7am + 3 hours in an afternoon). I was talking to my Mum about this as like you I was wondering if he was sleeping too much but she was saying that as he is active during his waking times, contented and happy that's fine. I don't think toddlers can sleep too much. If they seem lethargic during waking hours or irritable after sleep I would have a word with your GP. Lindy I do think they sleep more when they're poorly. DS had a couple of extra naps when he was off colour last week and we put him to bed early.

SimonHoward · 23/03/2003 15:43

Dot1

My DD sleeps for 11-14 hours a night, has a short nap after breakfast and a couple of hours most days in the afternoon.

So no your DS is not alone.

calcium · 24/03/2003 09:15

Dot 1 I hate people like you who have children that sleep, why oh why worry? Swap yours for a week with a friend who has one that doesn't sleep (you can have mine on loan) then you will thank your lucky stars and wonder what all the fuss is about!!

tongue in cheek here I'm just jealous

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