Question

A newborn is 21 days old and refuses to sleep during the day, while sleeping well at night. Recently, the newborn no longer sleeps during the day, requiring being held to fall asleep. If placed on the bed, they will wake up. Despite having a sufficient appetite, they still do not want to sleep. What could be the reason?

Answer

At 21 days old, the newborn refuses to sleep during the day, but has good sleep quality at night. Lately, it has been observed that the newborn no longer sleeps during the day, needing to be held in order to fall asleep. If placed back on the bed, they will wake up. Even with a sufficient appetite, they still cannot fall asleep. This could be a mild symptom of calcium deficiency, with more severe cases possibly presenting similar symptoms at night. It is recommended for parents to take their child to the hospital for a detailed trace element test to confirm the diagnosis. If calcium deficiency is confirmed, early calcium supplementation should be initiated, along with fish liver oil and exposure to sunlight to enhance calcium absorption. Generally, symptoms will gradually improve after calcium supplementation. This is the suggestion for the question ‘Reasons Why Newborns Refuse to Sleep During the Day’. I hope it helps! Wishing you health!