There are few things worse than having a sick baby: they’re upset, you’re upset, and sleep may be disrupted for you both.
Yes, being sick or having a cold can really disrupt your baby’s sleep, and your peace of mind, too, leading to lots of questions, including “Do sick babies need more sleep?,” “Will being sick disrupt sleep coaching?” and “Should I give my baby cough medicine?”
To help you help your little one gets the rest they need when sick, I’ve compiled some expert advice on how to tell when your baby is sick, how to help your baby sleep better when they’re sick, and ways to nurse your baby back to health, when they’re sick.
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Do Babies Sleep More When Sick with a Cold or Illness?
In general, when your baby is sick, they may sleep more. It’s normal to see your sick baby sleeping all day – or at least that’s what it feels like! Babies need more sleep when sick to feel better, so you should let them sleep. However, it’s important to make sure your sick baby gets the fluids and nutrients they need to feel better.
There are illnesses that may cause your baby to struggle to sleep. For example, a congested baby sleeping may wake often or a baby with an ear infection may wake or struggle to fall asleep because of pain. A baby with a fever may be irritable and struggle to sleep without their temperature being lowered.
These illnesses may make sleep hard for both baby and you. If you’re wondering if it’s possible to help sick baby sleep, the answer is yes.
Do baby’s take longer naps when they sick?
Whether babies or toddlers sleep more when sick depends on the type of illness. Often babies need more sleep when they’re sick, and that includes naps. If your sick baby struggles with sleep at night they may nap more during the day.
Why Do Babies Sleep More When They’re Sick?
If your sick baby is sleeping a lot, their body likely needs it. Being sick is a drain on your baby’s energy. A sick baby may be struggling to eat as much as usual – which can make them sleepy too.
If it feels like you’re seeing your sick baby sleeping all day, remember that sleep gives your baby’s immune system the opportunity to focus on fighting the illness and getting better.
Can I Sleep Train My Baby if They’re Sick?
If you are choosing to sleep train your baby, we recommend you stop sleep training if baby is sick.
The number one priority when your baby is sick is to help them get the rest they need to recover fully. Sleep training should be a secondary concern, especially because illness can throw your baby’s sleep schedule off track.
This means if your sick baby only sleeps when held, go ahead and pick them up. How to get a sick baby to sleep can be tricky, so do what you can to help them get the rest they need to recover.
You can pick back up sleep training a sick baby when your baby is back to their normal, healthy self. Check with your pediatrician if you have questions on restarting sleep training after your baby is sick.
Take this free 3-minute sleep quiz to get a personalized plan for getting your sick baby’s sleep back on track once they are feeling better.
Should I Wake My Baby When Sick?
If your baby is sleeping for way longer than usual, you may want to wake them to make sure they eat and, more importantly, drink fluids, formula, or breast milk.
While babies need to sleep when they’re sick, and babies often sleep more when they’re sick, if your baby is sleeping all day and their nap doubles their typical nap time, it may be time to wake them up – this will give you an opportunity to feed them and make sure they are well hydrated. If you think it’s helpful you could choose to extend their wake window a bit so your sick baby sleeps at night, too.
Many parents ask should you wake a sleeping baby with fever, and the answer is the same – you want to ensure your baby drinks every few hours during the day to keep hydrated. If your sleeping baby with a fever is a newborn with a fever, call your pediatrician immediately.
Keep track of your sick baby’s wet diapers and wake them if you suspect they may be dehydrated. If your sick baby shows signs of dehydration, contact your pediatrician.
Baby Illnesses That Affect Sleep
When a baby is sick, they may want to sleep more. However, sometimes if they are uncomfortable or in pain they may struggle to sleep.
Conditions that may affect sleep:
- Ear infection
- Congestion and cold
- Colic
- Fever
- Dehydration
If your baby is dehydrated, they may seem extra sleepy. It’s important to make sure if your baby has diarrhea to give them plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
If your baby is 2-months-old or younger and has a fever of 100.4°F or your baby is between 3-6 months old and has a fever 101°F or higher, contact your pediatrician immediately. If your child is over 6-month-old 103°F or fever for longer than 5 days, also call your pediatrician.
How to Help Sick Baby Sleep
Here are some tips to help get a sick baby to sleep.
- Swaddling: Swaddling makes babies feel warm and safe by mimicking the womb. Note, you can only swaddle a baby until they’re about 2 months old.
- A Warm Bath: Warm water works wonders to calm and soothe a sick baby.
- Cuddles: Like swaddling, being close to you will help your baby feel warm and safe – this security and love really helps soothe them when they’re sick.
- Soft Singing: The sound of your voice is one of your baby’s favorite sounds, so soft singing their favorite lullaby may help lift their spirits if they’re under the weather.
- Calming Sounds: White noise and other “sonic hues” are wonderful ways to soothe an upset baby when they’re sick – and when they’re not.
- Hold Them or Baby Wear: If your sick baby only sleeps when held, that’s okay. It’s more important to help them get the rest they need to feel better. You can resume healthy sleep habits once they are well again.
- Back Sleeping: Putting your sick baby to sleep on their back is the safest way for baby to sleep if they are under one-year-old. Even this is the best sleeping position for a congested baby.
- Comfortable: Make sure to dress your baby appropriately and use a humidifier to keep their sleep environment comfortable. Keep a sick baby in their usual sleep space.
- Fluids: If your baby is sick, make sure they are well hydrated with breast milk or formula, or if they are older than one milk. Offer warm, clear fluids, such as warm water or soup broth, can be used for older babies.
Make sure to speak to your pediatrician to see if there are any safe medicines or other treatments to help your sick baby sleep.
How not to help sick baby sleep
Cough medicines are not safe for children under 6.
Final Thoughts
It can be incredibility upsetting when your baby is sick and unable to sleep. However, there are ways to help sick babies be more comfortable so they can get the sleep they need to feel better.
Reach out to your pediatrician if you ever are concerned about your sick baby’s sleep. They can give you personalized guidance around if you should let your child sleep all day, what to do if your infant is sleeping more than usual, or how to get sick baby to sleep.
For personalized guidance on how to get your sick baby’s sleep back on track, download the baby sleep app Smart Sleep Coach by PampersTM . The app's smart schedule will tell you the exact time to put your baby down for a nap or bedtime to realign their circadian rhythm after being sick and help them get back to sleeping through the night.
All babies are different, and all illnesses may affect sleep differently. Sleep is one of the best medicines, so doing what you can to help sick baby sleep is important. Sometimes, patience and cuddles can work wonders!
