Can my baby sleep too much?

It's a question that makes most of us cringe: Can my baby sleep too much?

I know, I get it. You’re already exhausted and feeling like you can barely string 2 hours of sleep together at a time. Hearing the phrase “You have to wake your baby up” would make me want to spill my precious daily cup of hot coffee all over you. It’s just that soul-crushing. 

But here we are. You’ve typed that question into your search bar, and you’ve landed here. So let's get down to it:

Yes, baby can get too much sleep. There are times where waking up baby is the best thing for you and for them.

I’ll give you a minute. 

There are two main types of sleep that can run too long. Well, the only types of sleep babies have, really: Day Sleep and Night Sleep.

Let’s start with Day Sleep. Each baby has a certain amount of sleep they need for all of their wonderful growth and development. These needs are age-dependent. If baby’s naps run too long, then they meet their “quota” of sleep for the 24 hour period too quickly. 

This is problematic because too much Day Sleep then causes things like: difficulty falling asleep, extra night wakings and struggling to get back down after a night feed, waking up super early in the morning, and so on. 

But have no fear, there are perfectly reasonable ways to avoid this:

First, know what your baby’s sleep needs are. You can find them here, in my free Awake Times Chart.

Second, if your baby is 12 weeks or older, end those naps when they hit 2 hours. This will ensure that baby doesn’t get too much sleep during the day. For newborns and babies on only one nap, you can end naps at 3 hours. 

Even though you’re getting a shorter nap “break”, that night sleep will be much more consolidated, resulting in a healthier you. 

Now let’s talk about Night Sleep. 

Unless your doctor has specifically asked you to wake your baby up for feeds, then there is no need to wake your baby during the night.

However, when Night Sleep runs too long, it can really mess with baby’s circadian rhythm.

What am I getting at?

It is incredibly helpful to wake baby up at the same time every day.

Having the same wake up time helps to make naps more consistent, and works with the body’s natural release of chemicals that aid sleeping and waking (the body clock). If it’s possible for your family, then I recommend a 7am wake up time. This is because melatonin is released in the body around 7pm, making that 12 hour rhythm work for you instead of against you.

So there you have it. Let baby get all of that good sleep in, just avoid extra long naps and starting the day at different times. 

And remember that if you are ending a sleep early, do it calmly and gently, giving baby the space and grace to come out of sleep slowly.

Need more help with sleep? Head on over to my YouTube channel for some quick and informative videos on newborn, infant, and toddler sleep. Or check out my game-changing (yes, I mean it) sleep courses that will have your little one sleeping happily and calmly through the night.

Sleep Sweetly,

Anna