My Daughter Is Sleeping a Lot!

Yup. She's growing. Totally normal.

The specific information about her physical development isn't really necessary for us to understand that puberty has begun. Prepare to be called out as a pervert or a troll.

I remember being like this at this age. I think that there is something about a teenager's internal clock. It was beyond hard for me to get up early for school. When I would get home after school, I would often take a nap before doing homework.

Normal, but have the doc check for anemia or low iron. When you get your period, this can happen. I had crazy low iron as a teen - got light-headed. Wasn't fun.

Totally normal! It takes a lot of energy to grow. Great that she's getting her rest. Make sure she's eating healthy and drinking lots of water. I would mention it to her doctor at her next appt., but am sure it's normal.

As a teen, I used to always be anemic. Make sure after breakfast she takes a good multivitamin with iron.

Totally normal growth spurt.

Those growth spurts can really tire you out!
It's totally normal and happens with the boys too.
I'm just glad she's getting the sleep she needs instead staying up and being a grouchy moody pre teen.

Normal. Lots of changes going on.

Fighting off a bug? the flu? a cold? growth spurt?

As others already mentioned, I would definitely start out with a good multi-vitamin. If she is still so tired all the time after a week, you might consider checking with her doctor to have blood work done. While it probably isn't anything other than normal growing, she could have an under active thyroid or some other thing that might be easily detected through blood work.

I was in my early 20's when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I remember being so sleepy all the time, gaining some weight, really craving fatty foods/ice cream/etc. Blood work indicated a thyroid problem, and things started feeling much more like normal a few days after I had started my thyroid medicine. No one else in my family has had a thyroid problem, so I never expected to have this, either!

Keep an eye on her. Watch for signs in addition to being tired all the time. Start her on a multi-vitamin, and check with her doctor if things don't improve soon!

A friend of my daughter was acting that way for a while, and eventually they found out she had Mono. In fact, the mom was telling me about her symptoms before they discovered it and it sounds almost exactly the same as your daughter. So I would just have the doctor check that out just to be safe.

My daughter has had her period since last August and honestly never went through a period of extreme tiredness. So while hopefully it may be nothing, you still should get her checked out.

I don't remember my daughter sleeping this much. Not even my boys and they are 12 and 14.

I would take her to the doctor and get a blood panel - make sure she's not anemic or Vitamin D deficient.

Does she have any other symptoms?
Is she eating right?
Drinking enough water?
Is she sleeping the night through? Is she snoring?
Losing weight?
Gaining weight?
While she's growing, does she tell you about her urine color and if she's having a bowel movement every day? If her urine is dark, I'd take her in immediately to get checked out.

I guess I have more questions than answers. I would document her activity, sleeping patterns and such for a week or two, and then take it to a doctor and say - I realize she's growing, this just a lot to me. Can we check to make sure she's not anemic or having problems?

Good Luck!!

Has she had any cold or flu symptoms? It might not hurt to have her tested for mono.

If she's alert during the day, eating and functioning as usual, then I'd say it was normal.

If she is tired during the day, activity she used to like exhausts her, she isn't eating/drinking in her typical way, then I'd wonder about mono.

She is growing and changing to a teen. She needs her rest to grow. If you feel there is something going on with her physically, have a check up with her doctor to put your mind at ease. If she has any questions at the time have her doctor go over them with her.

It is better to be proactive than reactive with our lives.

All children go through the growing, sleeping, cranky as ever, mood swings as they prepare for adulthood. I just wish we parents didn't get all of the fall out that they spew. Soon they will be gone off to school and you will wonder where did the time go?

the other S.

It seems excessive. How long has this napping thing been going on?

It could be hormonal, it could be emotional, it could be mono. I'd have her see the doctor and get some blood work. Note that not everyone tests positive on the first test for mono so ask for the more accurate and precise test (she'll have to go the lab - the office test isn't as accurate). My son had it - all he complained about was leg muscle aching but he was a cross country runner so that wasn't a red flag. Turns out he was so sick he tested positive on the in-office test - and that's how we found out how bad it was.

And don't write off anything with the idea that "it's just emotional" - that's just as deserving of your attention and possibly the professionals' attention.

It sounds like a lot to me. As long as she isn't tired during the day, then I think you can assume it's normal. But if she's still tired during the day with all this sleep, then something is wrong.

You should definitely have her tested for anemia and mono, and anything else the doctor suggests for excessive tiredness.

why wouldn't girls go through the same thing? they're all putting a lot of energy into growing!
it's probably just that, but if it persists, a check-up couldn't hurt.
khairete
S.

My daughter, now 20 still sleeps a lot. Granted, she stays out late now with friends, etc and may not go to bed until 2am.

She has always been one to need a lot of sleep. I mentioned it a few years ago to her pedi and to be on the safe side, pedi did a blood workup to make sure everything was ok and it was.

I was advised that she must need the sleep. She is fully alert and does well with her classes, studies a lot to maintain a 4.0 in her 2nd year of college and be a major officer in her sorority.

She will sleep well into the mornings and will sometimes nap after her classes. She lives on her own now so I don't know exactly how much sleep she gets but I believe as long as health issues are ruled out, she is alert, and gets her work done, it is ok.

I also need a lot of sleep. My hubby can sleep 4 hours and be good to go for a long day of work. Not me...