Do you have a newborn who likes to sleep all day and be up all night? You’re not alone. Day-night confusion is so common in newborns.
Let’s talk about why day-night confusion happens and tips to help.
Why do newborns experience day-night confusion? #
As adults, we have an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. That circadian rhythm is regulated by our hormones, including the sleepy hormone, melatonin. It’s also driven by the light and darkness outside and the schedule you typically follow. Do you find yourself waking up on the weekend at the same time your alarm normally goes off during the week? This is your circadian rhythm in action.
Your newborn doesn’t have this rhythm quite yet. They are still developing that internal clock that tells them it’s time to sleep, and those sleepy hormones aren’t regulated until closer to 3-4 months. This is why we see babies who sleep all day and are up all night.
How do you fix your newborn being up all night?#
1. Start your day no later than 7:00-8:00 a.m. #
I know this will feel so hard. Maybe you’ve been up every hour or awake since 4 a.m. with your newborn. Starting your day early is the LAST thing you want to do, especially when your baby is finally sleeping.
But remember, your goal is to break the cycle of your newborn being up all night. And since your baby relies on you for external cues about the difference between day and night, starting early is the first step. This allows for your baby to have a full day before bedtime.
2. Offer full feedings during the day.#
Many times newborns who’ve been up all night LOVE to snack. Maybe you’ve seen this? Your baby wakes up for a short time, eats, drifts back to sleep, and continues this cycle all day and all night. They eat just enough to take the edge off their hunger. Instead of allowing for snacking and sleepy eating, we want to really encourage full feedings.
3. Be intentional with your wake windows during the day.#
Understanding wake windows and sleepy cues can help you get that much-needed awake time for your baby without making him overtired.
Your newborn’s wake windows will be short at first. Here are common wake windows by age for those first few months.
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