How do I get my infant to sleep at night instead of during the day.?

Question

I tried waking her but she just goes back to sleep. (shes almost 2 wks old) We only get about 2hrs sleep a night! HELP!

Answer 1

Keep a consistent routine going from day to day until she gets the idea that day is awake and play, and night is for sleeping; babies love routine so they know what's to come next. For example, after mommy and I play for 1/2 hour then it's nap time. Keep her up during the day by playing with her and stimulating her. Do structured naps during the day and do not let her sleep for too long; wake her up if necessary. Make sure her room is not dark during the day for her naps.

Here's an example of a routine (it's my baby's routine):

Wake at 7:30 am
Play for 1/2 hour
Bottle at 8:00 am
Breakfast at 8:30
Play time until nap at 11:00 am
Awake at 12:00 pm
Play for 1/2 hour
12:30 lunch
Play time
Bottle at 2:30
Play time until nap at 3:30
Awake at 4:30 pm
Play for 1/2 hour
Dinner at 5:00 pm
Play time
Bottle at 6:45 pm while we watch Baby Einstein DVD
Bath at 7:15 pm
In bed by 8:00 pm

My daughter is 8 months old so your routine will be somewhat different as I'm you’re your baby will have more bottle/breast feedings and more naps. But it was just an example of what we do each day so my daughter knows what to expect.

At night a bed time routine is very important to relax and unwind your baby. That's why we do the Baby Einstein movie, she will sit quietly for the whole thing, and it's very calming. A bath before bed is also very relaxing for a baby. At bed time make sure your baby's room is dark when it's time to put her down. DO NOT make eye contact with your baby as she tries to fall asleep, eye contact equals play time. If she wakes up during the night, go in and soothe her but don't pick her and don't make eye contact. Keep this up until she can flip back to a normal day and night routine.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

2 hours of sleep is better than some new mothers get when their child is 2 weeks old. Try your best to get the baby on a routine. Try giving them a bath then try to plan a feeding right around when you want them to sleep. A warm bath and a full belly will help them sleep more sound. She's obviously very tired so try to just LET her sleep at this age. She's new to the world and being born was exhausting for her. Best of luck.

Answer 3

My daughter was mixed up with days and nights badly! I was like you and tried to wake her but nope! she was sleepy and would just close her eyes and go back to la la land! I just let her work it out herself..what I did was when she slept during the day made sure there was alot of sunlight and at night made it as dark as dark could be with tinfoil over the windows!! She eventually switched on her own and has been sleeping through the night since 6 weeks :) hope this helps...I know its tiring but take it easy for it wont be long.

Answer 4

it may take a week this worked for my son who did the same thing i started a schedule i would wake him up after each feeding with a wash cloth then sit and talk to him for a while during the day than at night i would give him a bath around his latest feeding and then feed him and put him in bed and then the trick is when baby wakes back up in the night have that bottle or breast ready so you can have the lights out and don't talk to the baby at all or very little during that feeding and rock or lay baby next to you till baby goes back to sleep and place baby in bed all done with lights out it will work good luck

Answer 5

Unfortunately at that age they tend to have their days and nights backward and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. Most new parents are exhausted like you are. Just start a night time ritual now, like at 6:30pm have bottle, take bath, read book, rock in rocking chair and play music. Bed at 7pm, or something to that effect to get her used to a routine and in a few months she'll have it pretty much figured out. Hope that helps.
Oh and ignore the insults of the ignorant, you are doing fine, it's hard to get no sleep and you have to learn a lot of things about babies through trial and error. Good luck.

Answer 6

most 2 wk old babies do not sleep alot during night time...
they are 2 wks old they cannot control there bodies from waking up or going to sleep....when they get older to about 5 to 2 months old they start to sleep GREAT hours during the night....when you refer to your child as an infant your referring to her/him as a 12 month old baby.....i hope that i answered you question.....

Answer 7

My son began dozing nonetheless the full night when you consider that he became right into a month previous. He sleeps next to me and he's likewise breast fed, i in no way awakened to feed him when you consider that I sleep without a desirable and he facilitates himself to feeding. He won't be able to take a snooze after 6 and a tub constantly facilitates till now mattress time.

Answer 8

Don't let her take as long of naps during the day. Keep her awake as much as you can. Do it for 2 days and she'll get her days and nights flipped back to the right way.

Answer 9

Thats normal theres nothing that you can do. once they get a little older maybe 5-6 months she should sleep through the night.

Answer 10

sweetie, this is something we all went through and your baby will eventually sleep at night. the older she gets the more alert she will be during the day and then she will sleep at night. you'll make it, it's just tuff at first.

the best thing you can do right now is sleep when the baby is sleeping so you won't be so tired.