Are you a parent of a baby who is prone to sleeping all day, but wakes up at night? You are not the only one. It is very common for newborns to be confused at night.
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Let’s discuss why day-night confusion occurs and how to help.
What is the reason why newborns have day-night confusion?
The circadian rhythm is our internal clock as adults. The circadian rhythm is controlled by hormones including the sleepy hormone melatonin. It is also affected by light and darkness outside, and the routine you follow. Are you finding that your weekend alarm goes off at the same time as your week’s? This is your circadian rhythm at work.
How can you get your baby to sleep through the night?
1. Your day should begin between 7:00 and 8:00 AM.
This will be so difficult, I’m sure. Perhaps you have been up since the early hours or have been awake since 4 a.m. to care for your baby. It’s not something you want to do when your baby is sleeping.
Remember that your goal is not to keep your newborn awake all night. Your baby is dependent on you to tell him the difference between daytime and night. Therefore, it is important to start early. This will allow your baby to get a full day of sleep before bedtime.
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2. Offer daily full-food meals.
Babies who have been awake all night love to snack. Perhaps you have seen it yourself. The baby awakens for a brief time and then eats. After that, they go back to sleep. This cycle continues all day and night. They only eat enough to satisfy their hunger.
3. You should be mindful of your wake windows throughout the day.
Understanding sleepy cues and wake windows can help you to get the much-needed sleep time your baby needs without making him tired.
The first few weeks of a newborn’s life will be very short. These are the common wake windows for newborns, sorted by age.
Although it may seem like you have to feed your newborn all day, try to include at least a few moments of playtime. This active awake time signals to your newborn that the day is for play and interaction.
4. You can use light and dark to your advantage
Your newborn will learn that light and dark are visual cues to tell them that day is for play and night is for sleep. Your baby’s brain will be stimulated by natural daylight and lights in your home.
To help your baby remain awake, use daylight throughout the day. Turn on the lights, open your curtains. Your newborn should understand that the light indicates it is time to get up, play, interact, and move. Go outside if the weather is good.
For naps, you don’t necessarily need to have a bright and sunny room. For your baby to rest, we still need a dark place for naps.
When you are getting your newborn ready to go to bed at night, dimm the lights in your home. It’s a great way to signal to your baby that it’s time for bed. A bedtime routine is one way to achieve this.
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5. My newborn class is open to you.
This class will teach you how to manage day-night confusion, understand your baby’s sleepy cues and set a flexible schedule. It will also help you calm fussy babies.
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What length does day-night confusion for newborns last?
Each baby is unique. Some babies adjust quickly, while others take longer. These tips will help you get on the right track as soon as possible. It can be difficult to parent a newborn.