[M&Ms]

My DS must have been exposed to some kind of virus - started with a fever on Monday night with few other symptoms. Took a couple of days for the on/off fever to clear, and then after that he just hasnt been himself. He has been crying a lot - arching his back, but if I distract him he stops.

Usually he goes 2.5-3 hours awake time, but I now realise that for the past couple of days he has started getting cranky at 2 hours. In hindsight I should have given him an extra nap today, as I have just had to put him to bed at 530 (usual 630) coz he just couldnt cope for a minute longer. As soon as I put him down in his cot he stopped crying and rolled over to go to sleep.

Have talked to the nurse, and GP over the phone, but they both said it's likely to be a virus he is fighting off.

He has slept quite well this week, in fact some longer naps than usual, but has just go so tired so quickly. I feel like crap as I should have realised much earlier that he was tired.

In your experience, is this common to have shorter awake times than usual when LO is unwell or fighting off an infection?

[imamumto3]

yep normal, his body needs rest to help fight the infection

[NotBitzerMaloney]

Absolutely, mine would sleep more often and for longer. Once he stopped naps and got sick he would go back to having naps till he was well.

[Guest_Nyz31_*]

Definitely! My daughter slept almost non stop for 3 days before breaking out in a rash, turned out it was roseola. Not saying that's what your munchkin has but the sleep thing is definitely a coping mechanism for their little bodies.... they're just little adults, what do you feel like doing when you're sick?

[bubba13]

Very normal for my DS, he was sick a couple weeks ago and would need to go back to sleep after 1.5 of awake time, and was hardly drinking his milk. When i took him to the doctor they said its fine aslong as when he is awake he will play and not just want to sleep and is still producing at least 3 wet nappies, sleeping is just the way they fight the virus.

Hope he gets back to his usual self soon.

[WaffleGrrrl]

My 9 month old has a cold this week, started with sweats a couple of days ago and had a couple of times since (though no temp) and her first really runny nose (OMG - so much snot!).

Her daytime naps have been about double the norm - just this morning she was up for only 1.5 hours before needing to go down, and she's been down for nearly 2 hours so far - this is after a full nights good sleep.

She has also been going 2 to 2.5 hours in the afternoon, or else having an extra hour late in the day. Seems much happier every time she wakes, so fighting off the cold must be pretty tiring for her.