<p>My DS loves to sleep, and it’s not unusual for him to go 10-12 hours (or more) on the weekend, however…this past week we were at our snowy vacation home, away from video games, computer, texting, etc., and he slept a couple of days 18 hours…literally all day. I know he was bored, but am I being paranoid to think it might be something other than teenage sleep?</p>
<p>It’s just teenage sleep.</p>
<p>My ds was like a bear in hibernation the first week he was home. His brothers did everything they could to roust him out, but he’d just mutter and roll over. </p>
<p>My vote is normal :-)</p>
<p>I used to do that when I was in my 20s. I typically worked out 15 to 20 hours a week and would sometimes be really, really tired.</p>
<p>Just teenage-hood (especially for boys, who can continue growing into their 20s). I’d sleep that long if I were given the choice.</p>
<p>I agree that it’s nomal (mom of 2 teenage boys). Unfortunately for my boys I always make them get up no later than 9:00 in the morning (regardless of what time they went to bed). It helps keep them going to bed at a reasonable hour if they know I’m going to make them get up.</p>
<p>It used to drive me nuts when my teenage son slept till noon. Then I read an article about how sleep deprived teenagers were and how bad it was for their brains, learning etc. It changed how I viewed it. Kids are too busy nowadays to be able to sleep that long but when they can, let them catch up. I wish we all could!!!</p>
<p>I’ve been sleeping 12+ hours most nights I’ve been on break (usually more along the lines of 13 or 14, haha). At first I was just exhausted from not sleeping during finals week, but then I just got in the habit of sleeping forever and decided I liked being a lazy bum…</p>
<p>DD could probably sleep your son under the table. It’s winter, after all. Being awake in January is overrated if you ask me.</p>
<p>I would keep an eye on him. My youngest went through a very sleepy period that we chalked up to teenage boy syndrome. We became concerned when he seemed to always be sleepy and scheduled a physical with our PCP. It turned out that he did have a medical condition and the lethargy was a big symptom. My one regret is that we didn’t get him checked sooner. Good luck, hopefully it’s nothing.</p>
<p>Yeah, I would add that sleeping all the time that is accompanied by withdrawal and changes in personality can be a big sign of depression…</p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback! He’s always slept a lot on the weekends (well, the past few years anyway), this just seemed extreme. I thought it was less unusual than a couple of the other adults.</p>
<p>I’m going to keep an eye on him…while he has withdrawn from us the past couple of years, he hasn’t with his friends, fortunately.</p>
<p>“It’s winter, after all. Being awake in January is overrated if you ask me.”</p>
<p>add February to that as well…Seasonal affective disorder is alive and well…</p>
<p>My college freshman S is a world class sleeper also. Since he has been home, I’d say he averages 12 hours per night give or take and hour here and there but has been known to sleep longer. He never goes to sleep before midnight (often later than mid). He has spent almost every night of winter break out with friends and rarely comes in before midnight, then watches tv for awhile before going to sleep.</p>
<p>^^^^sounds like it’s a conspiracy; same exact pattern here with D…day starts at around 1:00pm with breakfast…I’m up by 6:00am with D2 so needless to say; it’s like “two ships that pass in the night”…</p>
<p>I keep telling my kids they need to move to South America. Lunch at 4 and midnight dinners suit them.</p>
<p>My S is a little later, breakfast about 3, lunch at 7, dinner at midnite! Thanks for the reality check that, while he may be an outlier, he’s not a total freak!</p>
<p>If there are no other symptoms of anything awry, I would not worry. Kids often do not sleep well at college–roommate issues, just ongoing noise in the dorms (elevators, doors slamming, toilets flushing) at all hours, hard work studying and/or partying, stress and extra work of finals. It may just be that he is able to sleep soundly for the first time in a long time.</p>
<p>S2 complained of trouble sleeping for the first half of the semester. Had a lofted bed and room was on the 4th floor. If he got tired and returned to the dorm, by the time he climbed the 4 flights he was wide awake. If he got tired in his room, by the time he managed to climb into his bed, he was awake again. However, by mid-semester, when I asked, he said it was no longer a problem as he was so tired, he could go to sleep anywhere. He also discovered the value of naps.</p>
<p>H went away on a sabbatical a few years ago, and neither of us slept soundly while he was gone. Whenever we did reunite (whether at his efficiency apt., at home or in a hotel), after about 30 min., we both fell asleep and slept soundly for at least 10 hours. It got to be a running joke that we would look at each other and promptly go to sleep.</p>
<p>I don’t know, guys – 18 hours is a really long time to sleep. Are you sure some of this time isn’t him just hanging out in bed on his laptop or reading? I’d give it several days because he may just be recovering from school and late nights, but after that I’d want it checked out. If he thinks he’s sleeping normally, I’d maybe give him the benefit of the doubt, but if he’s feeling tired a lot and actually sleeping for 18 hours straight every night, I’d call a doctor. I’m in college, and when I’m really tired, I can sleep for twelve hours or so for one or two nights. Guys can maybe put in a couple more hours than that. There’s a big difference between twelve or thirteen hours of sleep and eighteen hours of sleep.</p>
<p>You didn’t say what is he like when he’s awake. Is he full of energy? Is he still sleeping 18 hr a day ?</p>