How can a parent tell if their baby is excessively sleepy? Should parents be worried?
Answer: A newborn who is excessively sleepy will not wake up at regular intervals to feed, nor will (s)he cry for feeds. Noises and loud sounds like a dog barking or thunder will not wake them. Generally, they do not do any activity except for sleep.
If this is the case, then parents need to be concerned as the lack of feeding can lead to problems like dehydration and low blood sugar, this is usually due to underlying illness.
Parents should go for screening tests which are available in hospitals in Singapore. They have tests which can exclude serious conditions like congenital hypothyroidism, metabolic disease and hearing impairment. If the parents have difficulties waking their babies or their babies have a fever, they should seek medical attention immediately.
Excessively Sleepy Baby Question Answered by
Dr Lee Le Ye
Associate Consultant
Department of Neonatology
National University Hospital