Child Behavior

Lisa,

It is common for teens to sleep a great deal, what would worry me is that he had such a sudden change. They don't usually just stop being active and start sleeping, I would keep an eye out and for an illness.

He should be sleeping more and more as a normal teen activity, I think that they have found that teens need more sleep at their age.

M.

Lisa,
Sounds like he is getting ready to grow somemore, sometimes during a growth spurt, is he eating alot that's
another good sign too. Good luck.

K.

Hello ,

I'm a mother of three boys and two daughters of the ages above 16 years old. I do remember 13 though. Oh yes the body changes at this age for most. As boys bodies change they seem to grow more tired need more food and sleep. Oh and lets not forget the forgetfulness they tend to receive. Selective hearing they inherited from there father. Your son is becoming a young man. Just remember patients and understanding of the new changes and feelings they have inside. Anger is another issue, help them in channeling that urge of dominance they feel. It is natural with all species for the male to dominate.

Always remember no matter how old they get, they are mommies lil boys and always will love a head rub from mom.

If all he is doing is sleeping, I wouldn't worry about mono. Other symptoms of mono are a throat so sore that you can't swallow, and extremely swollen glands. If it were mono, he would probably be complaining about some major discomfort. It's probably just a growth spurt, but keep talking to him and listening. Boys tend to talk more if you do something together rather than just ask questions. Fall cleanup chores or just shooting some hoops.

My DD just turned 13 and she is sleeping more than usual also....I remember being a teen and sleeping a lot more too. As long as he isn't acting sick or depressed, he is fine :)

Lisa,
First of all, you should get him in to see your physician. He could have mononucleosis, which is quite common for that age and this time of year (both my children had it at different stages of their young lives). He also could be going through a growth stage where he needs more sleep.

Good luck!

hello lisa, keep an eye on him because mono is going around. The signs are mainly exteme fatigue. he may also have swollen glands, sore throat and headaches. those sign may or may not show up though until later. Hope that helps. B.

This may be a growth spert.(one of his last few ) My nephew did this at age 13 and grew a few inches in no time. He ate alot and slept alot. But you may want to have him checked out by a doctor to be sure.

If it's a sudden and drastic change in his behavior that doesn't go back I might worry a little. If it's accompanied by any other symptoms - sore throat, fever, increased thirst or urination, headaches, anything really - I would schedule a check-up. There are lots of things that it could indicate - or it could indicate nothing but a tired teenager. Mono, diabetes, anemia, depression, just to name a few. I don't want to freak you out, but follow your instinct - if it's a drastic change, keep a close eye on it.

He could be hitting a growth spurt, or he could be suffering through some teenage hardships. Just make sure that you keep the lines of communication open and watch for depression, or if his personality changes. Otherwise, I would just assume he needs some rest.

It could be that he is just going through a growth spurt and that can make him very tired. It would be in yours and his best interest to get a check up just in case.

EBV, epstein barr virus otherwise known as mono could be a possibility. The test is a simple blood test. I had similiar symptoms for sometime and eventually got tested and sure enough.

Yes...kids at this age are beginning a pretty good growth spurt, and often they are fatigued. He needs the extra sleep, so I wouldn't be too alarmed. I had girls, but my friends who had boys noticed more of a marked difference in them as opposed to my girls. So I would make sure he's getting a good amount of sleep.

Lisa,

If he has dark circles under his eyes he may have a allergic reaction to milk that has build up. He could also be going through a growth spurt. I would keep an eye on him and if it continues call your doc.