A New Mother Is Visiting the Pediatrician Because Her Baby

A new mother is visiting the pediatrician because her baby is sleeping up to 17 hours a day. She jokes with the doctor that her husband, who is quite older than she, sleeps only 5 hours a day and seems fully rested. Which of the following would be the most likely response from the physician?

A) "I will refer you to a sleep center as both your baby and husband need to be evaluated for sleep disorders."
B) "The normal sleep cycle is 8 hours. We need to hospitalize your baby for observation."
C) "Your baby is sleeping too much, but since your husband is up, have him play with the baby."
D) "Your baby is fine. It is normal for babies to sleep up to 17 hours a day. By the way, it is also normal for older adults to need less sleep as they age."
E) "Your baby is fine. It is normal for babies to sleep up to 17 hours a day. However, you probably need to send your husband to a doctor since a person needs to sleep at least 8 hours a day."