Question
A newborn who is just seven days old, besides being continuously in a state of sleep, shows no other abnormalities. The examination results also indicate everything is normal. The newborn is awake for no more than five or six hours a day. Is this sleepiness phenomenon within the normal range?
Answer
For a newborn who is just seven days old, the main activity is sleep, with an average of about 20 to 22 hours of sleep per day. As long as the newborn is in good spirits when awake, eats normally, and shows no symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea, the sleepiness is considered normal. If the newborn’s mental state, eating, and defecation are all normal, there is no need to be overly concerned about their tendency to sleep a lot. It is recommended to breastfeed on demand and that the mother should increase her nutritional intake.