Nap question

Nicolas takes marathon naps that can last up to 4 hours. Sometimes I wake him up because I'm worried that if he sleeps too long during the day he won't sleep at night (he usually sleeps from 10pm to 4 or 5am and I don't want that to stop!!). I'm wondering if waking him is the wrong thing to do, and that if he's sleeping it's because he needs to rest.

What do you think?? Wake him or let him sleep??

Im no expert, but based on what info I can recall..(and some of my opinion =)

Newborns sleep ALOT so it may just seem like 'too much' to us new mommies at times. There's no need to wake him. If he's sleeping most of the night in addition to his marathon naps, then let him sleep.
As long as he's growing fine (And he sure is!) There's no need to wake a sleeping baby!

Jenn, I've heard that 'sleep begets sleep'...the more they sleep, the more they sleep. This I found out is true for Ryan. He was a terrible napper until about 3 weeks ago when I started enforcing nap time. He now sleeps 2 -3 hours a day and 12 hours at night!! Which is AWESOME for Mommy and Daddy. I think it takes a while for their sleep cycles to get into sync - at least 4 -5 months. I was always told never to wake a sleeping baby!! I'd let him get whatever sleep he needs...my very unexpert opinion!

Thanks for your opinions... that was what I needed to hear! I always felt so guilty waking him, but I thought I was SUPPOSED TO!

My ped had told us to wake JA to feed him since he was a couple of ounces 'under his goal weight' (At a couple of weeks or months old)... well we listened to a few 'old timers' in the family and 'didnt wake the sleeping baby'. and thank goodness.... he's fine !!!

Damien used to nap 3 hours in the afternoon. Since he has been sick and with all the trips to the Dr. and hospital his schedule got all screwed up and I am having such a hard time getting him to nap unles he naps on me

You know that expression, let sleeping dogs lay, well I agree, but put 'baby' in place of the dog!!! I agree with everyone else! Let poor little Nicky sleep!! As long as he's gaining weight, then that's good!!

When we first took Gianna home, all she did was sleep during the day and not at night, so the dr told me to wake her during the day. YEAH SURE, no matter what you did, this kid was out cold. Then she started sleeping at night (and now, Thank God she sleeps 10 hours at a pop) and the naps during the day weren't as long. I do find that she sleeps longer in her crib for a nap as opposed to the bouncy seat, in there she takes catnaps.

And as for the waking them up to feed them, my MIL wanted me to do this a couple of times and I refused to because I felt bad waking her up and I figured she'd get up when she was hungry! Why waste a bottle?

I'm sorry I just babbled on and on, I really need to learn to shut up.

You people ROCK!!!

I let the 'sleeping dog (baby, whatever ) lie' yesterday, and last night he slept from 9:30-7:00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!