How Much Should My 5 Week Old Preemie Be Sleeping?

Sleep is a good thing it's how their body grows. My 10 week preemie was always sleeping. I liked to have him sleep on my chest (kangaroo care). I'd sing to him and it was a great bonding experience. Also, they get into a schedule in the NICU. Be grateful, there's plenty of time for the all night parties. :)

My identical twins were also 34 weekers and all they did when they got home was sleep and eat - which was great for hubby and I so we could get them on a schedule of eating and sleeping at the same time!!. My son was a 37 weeker and the first couple of months all he did was eat and sleep and he is normal size now, so are my twins. Enjoy the quiet time now!!

M.
mom to Ryan 10 (DS and a long list of other problems)
Abbey and Alexa 4 (my identical "normal" girls)

I had 2 preemies. One was 6weeks and one was 7weeks early. They both came home and did NOTHING but sleep and were very boring sleeping babies. They also hardly cried to little and weak so they sounded like they would meow. Don't look at his weight for how he should be doing. My one preemie was 6lbs and chubby and acted just like a preemie don't let their size fool you. My other preemie was 4lbs and actually was more advanced at times.

I expect his increased sleep (since he is waking to eat) is almost exclusively because he's catching up on growth.

Even much older kids will sleep a huge amount after recouperating from illness.

It sounds about right to me. Enjoy it while it lasts! My 6-month-old is down to 1 or 2 naps/day.

Our son, born in April, was full term and weighed 8 lbs. 4 oz. at birth and slept just as you described until he was about 9 weeks old. Then he started to stay awake longer. I would say that your son is sleeping normally. My sister in law and cousin both had babies the same time we did and their babies were the same way. Enjoy the time while it lasts!

First of all, Congratulations! Second of all, I completely understand everything you just went thru with having a preemie and him being in the NICU...I'm impressed with him only being there for 2 weeks! (both of my preemies who were 7 & 6 weeks early were in for 3 weeks each) Now, Liam is still 1 week premature according to his due date. Preemies will usually hit their milestones and act like their adjusted age. He may be 5 weeks actually age, but with his adjusted age, he's not even here yet. Basically, he should still be doing everything that a newborn would be doing. My preemies both slept A LOT! I was a little concerned at first, but had to keep reminding myself that they were preemies and will act differently than my first did who was full term. Liam will continue to have more and more awake time in the next few weeks.

the constant sleeping is normal. I have a son(17 mons) and a girl(6 mon) they were both premie. They seemed to sleep all day. For almost the first 2 months all they did was sleep,eat,sleep and eat. It was nice for mommy cause I was able to catch up on much needed sleep. Once they started gaining more weight, they got more alert and stayed up more. So be patient, the nurses always told me "as long as they are eatting and you are getting plenty of wet diapers and a few messy one, everything was fine".(my first one I called to nurse many times a day, since he was so small-5lbs)

I am not a doctor, though you should probably check with your pediatrician to be sure. My first child was born 2 weeks early and I remember for the first month he did nothing but eat and sleep too. He almost never cried. If he's growing and putting on weight normally I'm sure he's fine. You must be having frequent check-ups for him, so ask the next time you take him in.

After that is settled just relax and enjoy!

Hi Amy:
When babies are growing they sleep alot. My son, now 32, slept for the first 7 months of his life. It seemed as though all her did was sleep and eat and grow. He was 8 lbs 2 oz at birth and grew and grew. I would double check with the doctor's office, just call and talk to a nurse and voice your concerns, but I am sure he is fine. But since he said a difficult first couple of weeks it might be a good idea to call the doctor's office just to make you feel better.

I would thank my lucky stars if my child would sleep unless it was time to eat. At this point he's may need the extra sleep to catch up to his peers. It could be that he needs the extra sleep or he may need some sort of stimuli to keep him awake. I am sure you will have a Dr appoint soon at 6 weeks I believe or call your physician and make an appointment just to to put yourself at ease. Since he is waking up at night to interact is there something different at night then there is at night? I know it can be helpful when he sleeps so long especially when a 2 1/2 year old that also demands your attention. You may have to start giving him some stimuli during the day. Check with your Dr first.

my daughter is 16 months old and was also a preemie. she was born 8 weeks early and was only 2 lb 1 1/2 oz when born and was in NICU 6 weeks. she had no major complications and is now 20 lbs! so, if you ever have an preemie questions, feel free to ask me! :)

as for the sleeping.......i would say that our daughter did sleep alot. in fact, i think we were pretty lucky as far as her sleeping through the night. after a couple months, she was almost sleeping through and only got up because we had to wake her up once during the night to give her medicine for her acid reflux. during the day, she did sleep alot but was also up often because we actually had to stay on a feeding schedule so she could gain weight. during the 6 weeks she was in the hospital, she did seem to sleep alot but the nurses always said that was a good thing because they grow in their sleep and she had a lot of growing to do. :) so, i think definitely mention to your pediatrician your concerns but unless your pediatrician is concerned, it is probably fine.

congrats! :)

my son was one week late and he slept all the time too. as long as he is waking up to eat i wouldn't think you need to be to concerned he is going to do what his body needs. if he is hard to wake then maybe talk to the dr. but my son was more around 6 to 7 weeks before he really wanted to have "awake" time. and then he wanted to be awake all the time, lol. Congrats on your little one 7 lbs and that early sounds like a good size kid he would have been 13 lbs if he made it to 40 weeks :)

Amy-
I have had two boys - both preemie. One was three weeks early and weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and the 2nd was 4 weeks early and weighed 5 lbs 9 oz. My youngest is 15 mos and I can still tell when he is having a growth spurt because he sleeps a lot more than other times. Sleeping was good for my boys. As long as they ate, and at the doctor appointments everything was fine, I was happy. And remember, being a preemie is HARD plus your little guy was sick. They do have a lot to catch up in physical & mental growing. It took my oldest until he was four (last year) to catch up in weight and height with others in his class. And my baby is still in the 5% area of the chart. Be sure to ask questions at the doctor appointments but, as long as he is waking up to eat and everything else is OK, enjoy watching him sleep - it is soon enough that they are walking and running around!
J.

My second child was a sleepy one. The doc told me to try to enjoy it; that she didn't realize that she was born yet maybe and was still sleeping like she was in utero. She also told me to enjoy it...so that would be my advice to you.

As long as your babe is eating, peeing and pooping...enjoy the quiet.

The doc also warned...watch out! That baby may wake up and be a handful (she had a similar situation with one of her children) and she was right. So just try to enjoy. Know that you're doing everything right. I'm guessing it takes premies even longer to "wake up."

Amy, our daughter was not a preemie and she did the same thing. She was NEVER awake during that first month. We had to undress her and totally make her uncomfortable just so she would eat. Even then we had to re-wake her several times during the nursing process. She was just a really tired baby. She eventually outgrew it. Just enjoy the rest while you both need it!

If he is only 5 weeks old and was born 6 weeks premie, then he is now considered basically full term and is just like a newborn. With that in mind, eat, sleep pee/poop is what their day consists of as a newborn. He will gradually have more times where he stays awake for more than just feeding.