When do you worry about too much sleep?

[stardust599]

For the past 2/3 weeks my 17month old has slept 12-14 hours a night and 3-4during the day (with me waking her).

Yesterday she didn't sleep as we were out all day and she was awful.  She then slept 6pm - 8.30am and napped 12.30pm - 3.45pm when I woke her.  She has gone back to bed at 6.30pm.

She has had an ear infection but it seems to be gone now although we are on the last day of amoxicillin which I don't think is meant to make her sleepy.

When she's awake she's generally happy and active/physical for 2-3hours and then a bit clingy and tired again.  She eats well and has normal nappies.

I'm starting to worry there's something seriously wrong with her with the amount of sleep she needs :-(  She has always been higher sleep needs but this is really getting extreme!  I'm wondering if we should go back to the doctor?

[skatty]

It is probably worth talking to the doc though in our experience penicillin for ear infections always made our high sleep needs dd sleep even more, it was the only positive that came from the meds! It sounds like ehr body is tired fighting the infection but always ask if you are worried 

[stardust599]

We went back to the doctors this morning.  Doctor agreed she was a bit poorly. She screamed the whole time we were there (late for nap though) and felt hot to me although doctor said her temperature that's fine.  She has a nappy rash that's not clearing (probably fungal from being on antibiotics?) that doctor didn't even glance at.  Ear infection is apparently gone or almost gone but has left a sore ear with swelling and redness :-S 

Came away with a prescription for Chlorphenamine Maleate 2mg as LO had a tiny bit of runny nose and doctor couldn't see anything else wrong.  I have no idea why I would want to use it, it makes LOs sleepy apparently and we certainly don't need anymore sleep in this house, will be going straight in the bin!

So, a few more days of sleeping things off and if no better I'm taking her back on Friday as she just isn't "right" or her usual chatty self!

[skatty]

After ear infections have cleared up there can still be fluid left in the ear which can be really painful, it is worst with a runny nose so maybe that is why he prescribed it  I have to admit I don't have much faith in GPs knowledge of ear infections, we have an ear specialist and he has told us docs who haven't specialised don't really understand ear problems and often miss infections  In our experience one round of penicillin doesn't always clear and infection up so definitely go back if things don't improve and ask for a different antibiotic, don't let them prescribe you another course fo the same. they did this for my dd who had 3 lots of back to back penicillin and it gave us a lot of horrendous stomach issues 

[stardust599]

I am positive her ear is still hurting!  She keeps putting things in it, pens,toys and keeps grabbing my fingers and plugging her ears with them.    I am going back on Friday if no improvement.

Ahh, could be why we were given it :-S  I'm not going to use it unless she's in too much pain to sleep though!

Is penicillin the same as amoxicillin?  We were given a 5day course which I have finished but have enough in the bottle for another 4/5doses.  Haven't given it though as it's been making her sleepy and she also has a horrible nappy rash which I think is from antibiotics.

She has slept well again today. Late start as waiting for doctors but still 1.30pm-4pm (woke her for dinner as she was restless anyway) and back to bed at 6.50pm.  She was really restless all last night although still slept until 7.30am.  May pop in with Nurofen tonight.

[skatty]

Yes I believe it is, I think that is what my dd used to get. I found nurofen helped a lot as did raising the head of the bed and if she will do it sleeping with her ear against a hot water bottle though not much good when it is both ears  Nappy rash sounds horrible, poor babe