How can I keep my baby awake during the day?

Question

My baby has his day's and night's mixed up. I try and keep him awake during the day but it's hard.

Answer 1

That is very common when they are young. Let your baby sleep when he needs to. Later he will fall into a routine. If a baby is sleepy that is what he/she should do. Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 2

Play baby CD's and dance with him. Get toys with lots of colors and sounds let him play with that. Let him nap for about 2 hours (depending on how old he is, a little longer) and wake him and just be with him, roll around on the floor with him, just keep interacting with him and keep him entertained so he doesn't get bored. Keep the room dark at night and open the shades and turn on the light during the day. Go for walks, but keep the stoller seat up instead of reclined so he doesn't feel like laying down and falling asleep. While you're inside go over to a window and just watch whatever is going on, babies are amused by the smallest of things.

Answer 3

How frustrating-and tiring for you. You don't mention how old your wee one is,and that makes a difference. One of the easiest methods of establishing a routine is to feed and change your baby when he first wakes up and then have play time. Depending on his age that might mean a bath, time in a bouncer, play time with you (peek a boo, blocks, whatever) Then put your baby down to sleep so that he falls asleep on his own (rather than being fed to sleep). Helping babies learn to fall asleep on their own is a gift you'll give to him and yourself. I learned the hard way-trial and error and sleepless nights!

Little babies might be on a 3-4 hour schedule round the clock. As they get older, it's good to get their awake/play time to increase, but not their sleep time. Remember, it's ok to wake your baby and work to adjust his schedule. A good night's sleep for both of you is a necessity-whether it happens at a few months or a year old or whenever. Shorten his day time sleeps, keeping the same pattern of sleep, change/feed, awake time-and then putting him down.

At night, maintain the same pattern before bed. SInce I'm not sure of his age, I'm not sure whether it still might be reasonable for him to need one night time feed. If he does, then again, change him/feed him and put him back down. Your wee man is probably very soft and cuddly and wonderful, but night time isn't the time to play with him. Minimal (but still loving) contact at night is best. Some people recommend letting them cry and I've never been good at that. Often just a little pat on their back and a "I love you. Nights are for sleeping" can help.

Don't worry. Even small changes can have a big effect and your precious boy will settle into a better schedule with your help!

I wish you all the best. God bless you!

Answer 4

some sage great grandmotherly advice that worked for my son:

give him a bath a 7 pm
feed him a bottle
put him to bed

when he wakes at night, don't go in to play and try not to turn on any lights (i used to keep 2 pre-made bottles in a cooler in his room so he wouldn't have to wait and i wouldn't have to turn on any lights)

during the day, don't let him nap more than twice, and keep all naps early on - before 5 pm

had my kid sleeping through the night at 4 months!

Answer 5

I know it's hard, but sometimes you have to start by making them sleep at night. Keep the lights off or dim when they wake up at night for a feeding. Feed them, change their diaper, and put them back in their crib. Put the mobil on, and go back to sleep. My daughter does this, too. And so did my son. My daughter was almost impossible to wake up during the day when she was sleeping, so I had to make her sleep at night, and it helped. good luck.

Answer 6

no driving in the car during day, that makes them sleep. no rocking. when my babies hungry she doesnt sleep...know what i mean. just try not to do things that make him sleep. and do things that keep him awake... good luck

Answer 7

open up the windows during the day and keep it dark at night