Does your infant have a sleep disorder?

The average infant sleeps 14 to 16 hours within a 24-hour period, while some babies even sleep up to 18 hours a day. At some point, your baby will sleep longer stretches at night, spending more time awake during the day. But, keep in mind that there is no deadline for when this happens; your baby’s temperament is the key factor determining when he or she sleeps through the night. Waking up during the night is normal and typically not a cause for concern.

However, if your baby’s sleep struggles go beyond waking up every two or three hours to feed, you might want to consider the following questions:

• Is your baby making noise as he sleeps?
• Does your infant sweat during sleep?
• Do you notice your baby moving a lot during sleep?
• Is your infant’s breathing labored during sleep?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, make sure you talk to your pediatrician, as these behaviors could indicate that your baby has a sleep disorder.