“My baby sleeps for over 12 hours in a day. Is it normal?”
My baby was a preterm and was in the NICU for about 20 days. Since he has come home he sleeps for about 12 hours in a day. Is this considered normal?
2 Answers
Normal newborns sleep 20 hours a day. That will decrease to 14-17 hours after a few days. Generally, sleep time is the time for the baby to grow and for the brain to develop. As long as he/she wakes up to eat that is perfect. These are general terms in normal newborns. [cid:c1dbefbe-e8bc-47cd-b4b6-071b7e9eb2e6] Hany Aly, MD, MSHS, FAAP Chair | Division of Neonatology Medical Director, US News & world Report Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital Professor of Pediatrics, Ob-Gyn & Reproductive Biology Case Western Reserve University, Lerner's College of Medicine 9500 Euclid Ave. M31-37 Cleveland, OH 44195 Tel. (216) 444-2568 Fax. (216) 444-7625 Email AlyH@ccf.org<mailto:AlyH@ccf.org> [cid:15f9ff71-37c5-433d-afc0-e9aa09f5e63a]
Some babies seep more than 14 hours a day, but not all in one stretch. He should wake up and feed every 3-4 hours or more often than that.
