SLEEPLESSNESS

  DEAR DOCTOR,
  MY SON IS 5 MONTHS OLD. SINCE BIRTH HE IS NOT HAVING ADEQUATE SLEEP
  LIKE A NORMAL CHILD SHOULD HAVE. HE SLEEPS TOTAL OF LESS THAN 6 HOURS
  AND HIS EACH SLEEP IS LESS THAN 1 HOUR. ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF HIS HEALTH
  AND GROWTH IS EXCELLENT AND ABOVE NORMAL. HIS HEIGHT IS 72 CMS AND WEIGHT
  IS 9.5 KGS (90% ABOVE NORMAL AS PER THE GROWTH CHART). IS IT A MATTER TO
  WORRY. HIS PEADRIATICIAN IS GIVING FULL POSITIVE REPORT. WE ARE SOLICITING
  YOUR COUNSELLING FOR SECOND OPINION.

[HFHS.RN-AM]

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Shah,
Children have many different patterns of sleep, as well as require different amounts of sleep. While your son's sleep pattern isn';t ideal, it certainly is within the range of possible! Your son's growth is excellent! I assume his development is along the same lines. Your son is probably just very bright and curious and has better things to do than sleep. I know this is very exhausting but he will probably begin sleeping for longer periods of time when he starts taking cereal and is crawling.
The important thing is keeping such an active child safe, especially at night. Be sure the bed is in the lowest possible position, keep toys and other distractions out of the crib, and discuss with your pediatrician about adding cereal to his diet.
You didn't mention is he is breastfed...these children tend to sleep for shorter periods as well. Dont stop nursing! Its the best thing you can do for him until he's a year old! Plus, he is obviously getting enough food!
Good luck to you both.
HFHS.RN-AM
  THANKS AND REGARDS,
  MAYUR SHAH