Hopefully not a totally stupid question: should we worry about our very sleepy 3 week old?

[Anglepoise]

DD is three and a half weeks old. She has been soundly asleep now since just before 2 pm, when we got in the car and went to see my parents. She had a ten minute feed while we were there (but seemed more or less asleep during it!) and endured being held by half a dozen different people, a walk round the garden and a nappy change without ever really waking up. Around 6 pm we tried to wake her because my boobs were about to explode, with no success. Got home and DH put his cold hands on her tummy until she woke up long enough for a feed (and I expressed the other breast) and we changed her again, but she's now conked out next to me again.

She used to sleep like this when she was a newborn but has been more alert the last week or so. She's warm, pink and still has her startle reflexes. My dad (retired GP) wasn't worried. Should we be? Partly from an entirely selfish POV I think she's going to be up all night! Last night she was up a few times but shouldn't be too exhausted. I realise I should be grateful she's sleeping so peacefully (and should be asleep myself) but getting a little worried now ...

PFB, in case it isn't obvious

TIA

Completely normal - some days they sleep more than others. Doesn't always mean they will be awake all night.

BTW found my 3 woke up properly for more of the day and consistantly at about 6 weeks. Enjoy the sleepy baby - it won't last for very long!

Was she born by caesaerian (or however you spell it!) My dd slept so much during the first month, there's a theory about babies born by c/s being sleepy. She has loved her sleep ever since (she's now 5yo) and slept through at 9 weeks onwards. Lovely lovely days!

I wouldn't worry too much at such a young age. The only cause for concern might be if she starts getting her days and nights the wrong way round and doing long sleeps in the day and short ones at night (which my DD did for a while). The advice in the Baby Whisperer, which I have found a great help, is to not let a baby sleep longer than three hours at a stretch in the day. But if she just wakes for a quick feed, that's fine. A nappy change is a good way to wake them up sometimes.

Enjoy your PFB!

Thanks for the reassurance - she is now very much awake Glad to hear it won't necessarily mean we have a terrible night. She was VB - Hadn't heard the CS theory. Now she is noisily awake, I'm already missing her being asleep!

My PFB (oh how I wish the other 2 were like him!) was like this too. He would wake (or be woken) for a feed and then nod off again. He seemed to spend the first few months asleep and slept through the night really early on. He also still needed daytime naps for years longer than his sisters!

At 6 he still loves his sleep and needs his 12 hours. It seems that some children are just like this.

As long as you are keeping an eye on feeding (my mum used to regularly wake my brother after 6 hours for a feed) and not getting too uncomfortable, you should just enjoy it!

dd did this at about the same age - remember being quite anxious when she basically slept from 2pm to 4am with a couple of feeds I woke her up for. She woke up shortly after, and didn't really go back to sleep until she was 1!!!

DS2 was also like this - was sleeping over 95% of the time to begin with - I was told that so long as he was alert when he was awake (feeding ok etc) then not to worry and to enjoy the peace! if sleepy when feeding then strip baby down to nappy and keep her cold to ensure she feeds enough

Any suggestions on how to wake a sleeping baby? Yesterday I changed her clothes and she slept through ... (Sorry, now 1-hand typing)

My daughter has always been a sleepy baby... when she was that age. We just let her sleep but made sure to wake her every 4 hours to feed during the day and every 6 hours during the night

The only problem may be if they're a little yellow as not feeding enough may mean they don't flush their kidneys.
To wake a sleepy baby strip them off and bright light.

Yep I found a nappy change under bright light worked well... Its heartbreaking to wake them from their sleep though!

my dd the same, she slept at least 22 hours out of 24 for about 8weeks (got less as she got older), she only wanted feeds every 5-5.5 hours (got roasted by hv) if i woke her earlier she wouldnt taket much so lost out on bottle. when she was weighed hv apologise and said to keep on letting her go when she wants (max 5.5hrs) slept thro at 6 weeks and been fabulous slepper since now nearly 7.
12 hours and 1-2 naps in day upto 4 years
if its out of the norm for her i would try to keep her awake for a bit now 1-2hrs and see how you go.

I will keep my fingers crossed that we have a good sleeper then (people are always remarking on how calm she is, even when awake - we've been very lucky I think). Thanks