It is common for many babies to sleep all day and be awake all night. Many new mothers find themselves desperately seeking a solution to this problem. The infant has just spent forty weeks sleeping whenever they wanted. Babies have no idea that they are supposed to spend their nights sleeping when they are first born. The following solutions may help mothers dealing with a newborn/infant days and nights confused.
Infants Confused About Day and Night-What You Should Know as a Parent?
1. Why Does My Baby Have a Mixed Up Sleep Cycle?
Babies inside of the womb often sleep when the mother is moving and active when they are awake. It is expected for the baby to experience some sleep issues. Your baby may not just be more alert during the night time. It also may eat more, be more active, and require more attention. The child may also be more prone to disruptions during the day, which makes it necessary to make up nursing at night. You child may also consume most of their calories at night due to shortened nursing sessions, which can be caused by being away from the mother during the day. This may be another reason why the child is most active at night.
2. What Are the Sleep Patterns of Most Newborns?
Most newborns spend most of their time sleeping. The average newborn wakes up to eat often. This can upset their sleep schedules and make it difficult to sleep during the night. Newborns typical sleep nine hours during the day and roughly eight hours at night. Until a child is around three months of age or thirteen pounds, it is unable to sleep through the night entirely. Some children may not sleep through the night until they are12 months old.
3. How Often Do Babies Wake Up to Feed?
Newborns have a small stomach, which means that they have to eat every few hours. Most babies will wake up every three hours, but this can vary on a case to case basis. This can depend on how much your child weighs. Be sure to track your baby’s sleep patterns and report any major changes to your child’s doctor. Your doctor can help you determine whether or not your child needs to be awakened to be fed. Do not attempt to put your child to sleep on an empty stomach.
Infants Confused About Day and Night – What You Can Do About It
Infants being confused about day and night will make it difficult for you to have a sound sleep. Here is what to do to make your baby differentiate night and day and to help him sleep longer at night.
1. Don’t Force the Child to Stay Awake
Instead of forcing your child to stay awake, try to stimulate them so that they want to stay awake during the day time. Try playing with your child to keep them alert during the day. The idea is to increase their desire to stay awake during the day. In addition to playing with your child, you should also nurse frequently and keep the baby cool (by taking a walk outside with him). Not all babies will respond to these attempts. Each child is different. Keep trying different approaches until you find something that works for you.
2. Try Different Approaches to Stimulate Your Baby
Try different methods of keeping your child awake until you find something that works for them. Try singing, dancing, and other forms of exciting play that will make your child want to stay awake in the day. Use stuffed animals and brightly colored toys that make noise to keep your child’s attention. It may take some time for your child to catch on, but be patient with them. Try an idea a few times before you completely give up on it. If one technique of stimulating your child is not working, set it aside and come back to it later.
3. Don’t Let Your Baby Snooze All Day
You have probably heard the expression that says to never wake a sleeping baby, but this is not always true. If your child tends to sleep for hours at a time during the daytime, you should consider waking them up for feedings or playtime. Even if your baby is sleeping, you should wake them up and make them want to stay awake during the daylight.
4. Keep Things Calm in the Night
Create a soothing and calm place for your child to sleep at night. Make sure the air temperature is comfortable. Try not to play or engage with your baby while they are in their crib. Keep playtime as a daytime activity. A wipe warmer is a great idea to keep your baby from becoming startled during middle of the night changes, which may make it easier for them to fall back to sleep.
5. Be Careful with Diaper Changes
Consider buying a larger size of diaper to prevent leaks so that you can let your baby sleep during the middle of the night. Be aware that if you buy a diaper too big for your child, it could make leaks worse. Try not to change your child during the middle of the night unless they cry. While it may seem important to keep your child fresh and dry, it is also important to help them develop a sleep schedule.
6. Keep Your Baby Comfortable
Make sure that your child is wearing comfortable clothing to sleep. Make sure that they do not have too many blankets or are swaddled too tightly. Nurse your child at night in the dark to keep the baby from becoming too awake during middle of the night feedings. Feed your child during the daytime in a brightly lit room to help your child distinguish night from day.
7. They Don’t Sleep at Night– Is It Something You Eat?
If you are breastfeeding, you may want to consider whether or not the stimulants that you consume are keeping your child up at night. Coffee, tea, and soda are full of caffeine, which is a stimulant that will keep you and your child awake at night. Your stress and anxiety levels can also affect your child. It is important to keep these things in mind.
8. Is It Food Allergies or Other Health Problems?
Your child may not be able to sleep through the night due to food allergies. Colic, gas, or digestive problems may be the source of the problem. This is something that you may want to consider speaking to your child’s doctor about. Colic is a common problem that many infants experience.