My baby is 4 days old and is my wife and I's first child so we are not sure exactly what we should be expecting.
I read that newborns will sleep 17 to 20 hours a day. My baby seems to want to sleep his hours during the day and stay up from midnight to 6 or 7am.
So I guess I have 2 questions. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to start changing the baby's schedule?
2007-03-01 03:13:19 · 5 answers · asked by midnight 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
yes its totally normal. When he was in the womb he was rocked to sleep by mom's activity during the day, and then while she was still and sleeping he would wake up more. circadian rhythms are set in the womb, and dont really have much bearing on night or day.
Yes you can, and need, to change it.
Keep him in the noisey parts of the house and in bright light during the day, when he should be awake. Dont keep him awake for hours on end, but keep him in active areas. Remember he will need about 4-6 hours of quite sleep time during the day, in a quite dim area.
At night, even if you are up with him, keep it dark and very quiet. Dont talk with him or play with him.
It takes time, but it will change.
Took my guy about 1.5 weeks, but it certainly can take much longer. Just be consistant about it.
2007-03-01 03:30:13 · answer #1 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just had a baby last month (he's a month and 1 week today!!) and for the first three weeks it was hell...but now when he wakes up in the evening he'll stay up on his own from 6-10 so I just do things to keep him up til I'm ready to go to bed. He hates laying on his back so I give him his bath, play with him, read, and just plan out bother him lol til its time. Around eleven I'll change him again, give him a full bottle and he's out for the count for a good 5-6 hours at night. He wakes up once or twice for a feeding but he goes right back to sleep.
2007-03-01 03:31:37 · answer #2 · answered by juiced_peach 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
New borns can sleep as much at 22 hours a day. Sounds like yours has nights and day's mixed up. do some internet searches on changing babies schedule from day to night. Also, I have ready 2 good books that help with sleep: The baby whisperer: How to calm, connect and communicate with your baby" and " healthy sleep habits, Happy Baby."
If people tell you to keep him awake during the day for better sleep at night DO NOT listen to it. Good night sleep is directly related to good day sleep. Sleep deprevation during the day does not help them sleep better at night.
2007-03-01 03:18:24 · answer #3 · answered by kittynala 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like baby has its day and nights mixsed up...its only 4 days old so you will have to work around his schedule for a bit. You need to try and keep him awake more in the day time. Put hiom down at around 10pm...and keep trying to get the schedule reversed.
2007-03-01 04:31:58 · answer #4 · answered by mommy_2_liam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually babies dont go back to sleep becuase they are not full. if u feed the baby enuff they will sleep longer.. so maybe dont let the baby eat as much.. DONT STARVE THE KID... but just limit the amounts during the day and then at night feed the baby alot .. new born babies fall asleep while they are eating... beacuse the fullness comforts them so just try that!!! let me know how it goes.. i have a 3 year old!!! get used to the late nights!!!
2007-03-01 03:26:04 · answer #5 · answered by melanie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋