How much sleep is a 4 week old supposed to get?

Veronica - posted on 02/05/2009

Quoting Paulette:

Hi Veronica, They need as much as possible. Getting up only to eat every 2-3 hours to eat. Or if they need bathed and a diaper change. What is your concern over their sleep?

 

Thank you so much for the advice, my little one will sleep 4 hours no problem then stay awake for 3-4 hours then sleep only two hours?

Kanaan - posted on 02/04/2009

For the first several months of an infants life all they do as I like to say is "eat, sleep and poop". :D  Children have to sleep in order to grow, so when you stop and think the rapid rate that you're daughter is growing at there should be no concern if she is only awake roughly 4, 5, or 6 hours a day. Here before long she will be awake more and more. Enjoy the quiet time while you can momma because before too long you will be counting down the minutes until naptime and then you won't know what to do with yourself, pick up the aftermath of having your own growing human tornado, or take a nap yourself. (between you and me I would opt for the nap)

Kelly - posted on 02/04/2009

Hello! I was unable to find anything with exact numbers, every baby is different. My three all slept very well (constantly). They would wake up to eat and stay awake while being changed then go back to sleep. As they got older they slept less. If you are concerned ask your Dr. Good luck with your beautiful baby!

Tanya - posted on 02/04/2009

Hey, congrats on your new little babe.  As far as I can remember, they should sleep more than they are awake.  I tried to read the sleeping books myself, but they actually made me mental, because my baby was not doing what the books said they should do, once my husband told me to put the book down and our baby isn't like that baby in the book, I went with what our daughter seemed to want.  But I can remember for the first month, month and a half, she slept more than she was awake - except for at night.  lol.

Paulette - posted on 02/04/2009

Hi Veronica, They need as much as possible. Getting up only to eat every 2-3 hours to eat. Or if they need bathed and a diaper change. What is your concern over their sleep?

Wendy - posted on 02/04/2009

According to a chart that I have from Parent magazine, 0 to 2 month olds need up to 18 hours of sleep. Most often, infants wake up when they need to eat. Bottle - fed babies go three to five hours between feedings while breast - fed babies go two to three.

Hope this helps.

Dianna - posted on 02/04/2009

My son is almost 6 wks and he had slept most of the day I want to say he was only awake about 4-6 hours at the most total.

Kristen - posted on 02/04/2009

Even at four weeks old they have their own little personalities so to say they should or shouldnt do something is mute.  All I can tell you is at four weeks my kids slept, ate and pooped with small intervals of being awake and staring before they hooked back onto my boob or went to sleep.  Is your baby not sleeping a lot or sleeping too much?  If they are really not sleeping and are REALLY cranky there maybe something amiss and you should see your pediatrician.  If they are awake and happy then they may just not be tired!