Increased Sleep

[genicol]

Is it common for toddler's sleep to increase after being gluten free? Carrigan used to sleep around 12 hours at night and take a 1 1/2 to 2 hour nap during the day. Now she sleeps around 14 hours a night and has been taking about a 3 - 4 hour nap a day. I know that you grow when you sleep and she hasn't done much of that in her little life, so I'm hoping that this is nomal. Did any one else notice this with their children or themselves? Thanks!

[plantime]

It sounds like your child is getting ready for a huge growth spurt. I noticed this with all toddlers when I had a home daycare: they always took longer naps for a couple of weeks before outgrowing all of their clothes. Since your toddler has not grown much before being gluten-free, that might very well be what is happening now.

[GFBetsy]

I would continue to keep an eye on her, though. If she acts really lethargic while she's awake, or keeps sleeping this much for an extended period of time, I'd worry about there being something else going on. (Of course, that's just the "mommy" in me - I don't have any medical training, this is just my 2 cents).

[mamatide]

Is it common for toddler's sleep to increase after being gluten free? Carrigan used to sleep around 12 hours at night and take a 1 1/2 to 2 hour nap during the day. Now she sleeps around 14 hours a night and has been taking about a 3 - 4 hour nap a day. I know that you grow when you sleep and she hasn't done much of that in her little life, so I'm hoping that this is nomal. Did any one else notice this with their children or themselves? Thanks!

Maybe she's just (finally) getting some good sleep - good pain-free sleep without being wakened by cramps and BMs?

My 5yo DD is sleeping so well - still getting 12 hours a night and is so so happy and energetic in the daytime. Quite a change from her gluten-eating (and writhing in pain) days only three months ago.

I'm sure it'll level off in a few weeks. Enjoy your quiet evenings!!!

mamatide

[Izak's Mom]

My little guy will be 1 next week and I've found that since going gluten-free he does sleep a bit longer - pretty similar to Carrigan. Ike is ready for bed around 6pm, give or take 15 minutes and sometimes even closer to 5:30pm. He sleeps through the night and is up in the morning anywhere between 5am and 6:30am. When he's home with me (he's in daycare 3 days a week), he'll then be ready for a nap around 8 or 8:30 (though sometimes around 7:30am) and will sleep for 2-3 hours. Then 2-3 hours later, he's ready for another 2 hour nap. So he's also getting quite a bit of sleep! [i should add, at daycare he only takes one nap, usually not longer than 1.5 hours, but when we get home at 5:30 he so beat he usually goes right to bed without wanting any dinner or even a bottle/sippy]. The thing is - and I would guess that it's true for Carrigan also? - when Ike is awake, he is AWAKE. All over the place, touching everything, Mr. Endless Energy. So I figure he needs to extra rest! I also find that after he's gone through a bout of teething where he's been restless and Crankenstein for a couple weeks, he seems to sleep a bit longer to 'catch up'. And like plantime said, she could just be gearing up for a major growth spurt. If she's got her regular energy when she is awake, then I personally wouldn't worry too much about it, but if she seems lethargic when she should be rested, you might want to get a professional opinion.