2 Week Old Has Days and Nights Mixed Up

Hi J., I feel for you my daughter is 11 weeks and we are finally getting along to a good schedule. I agree with everyone who wrote so far; it's normal (which doesn't really help anything other than to know you're not alone!), keeping a schedule, waking the baby throughout the day to feed (the whole never wake a sleeping baby I agree with at night!!), we also do a bath at night which helps, my daughter seems to sleep better with background noise, but not lullabies-she wants some loud dancing music and she's out like a light. It's trial and error! my daughter was a big baby at birth, at 8 weeks we started her on cereal (with our pediatrician's blessing--that was her miracle turn around) before that she just seemed miserable all day/night! but I know that is the exception not the rule...also we prop her up for about 20 minutes after eating with her bobby pillow, or in her seat, or holding her whatever....that seems to help too! good luck!

Hi J.,
That's very common, at least to me, since all the infants I've known had days and nights mixed up.
What worked for me was to play music or let the radio on low or even watch TV when my boys took their long "day" naps. But we made sure it was pin drop silent during the night. It helped my boys readjust quickly.
Just about any kid of noise will work, make sure it's not overboard. Or better yet, keep on with your daily chores:dishwashing in the machine, vacuuming the rooms around baby's room, let people call you during the day and talk normally on the phone...etc
Good luck.
L..
Helping Moms Work From Home.

My pediatrician advised me not to let my son sleep for longer than 4 hour stretches during the day - to keep him from getting his days and nights confused. Since I swaddle him for naps - I just simply unswaddled him and this woke him right up. I was always so hesitant to wake a sleeping baby; however, this was great advice and it really worked. Quitting caffeine also helped me nap when the baby napped, which saved my sanity as well.

My daughter started on thsi track and I managed to switch it pretty well by clearly setting to a strict schedule. During the day keep every light on/curtain open you can. Keep it bright and and always have some kind of upbeat sound on. Once 8pm(or whichever time works for your house) came, every light would go out that my daughter was anywhere near no matter what and it was dark all night long as well as quiet, if there was any noise it would be peaceful soothing noise if I couldn't keep it completely quiet. If she woke up in the night she would get no stimulation whatsoever from sound or light. You may have to force hhe to stay awake during the day for a day or two but once she learns the difference bewteen night and day it will stick.

Good Luck :) You'll get some sleep soon.

Hi! :) I can tell you what worked for me for both of my little ones - Pick a time to start your "day" and have her first meal. During the day be sure you are waking your daughter every 2.5-3 hours to be fed. That means if you want your "day" to start at 6a then be sure she is fed at that time and then wake her every 2.5-3 hours again and feed her. 6a is her first meal - you wake her again @8:30a-9a-ish for her second; 11a-11:30ish for her next and so on. After she has had 7 good meals you can let her sleep until she wakes herself at night time to be fed. Be sure her bassinet/crib is elevated slightly at her head in case she has a little reflux, and hold her 15-20 minutes or so upright to help her tummy settle. There is a GREAT book called "Baby Wise" that I read also. Also - NAP WHEN SHE NAPS!! That is if your 4 year old will let you: Using this my daughter slept through the night at 7 weeks - my son at 9 weeks. Hope this helps!!

At 2 weeks old, your daughter is probably sleeping a majority of the day, whether it's day or night. I always hear people tell me that the days and nights are switched, but it's probably because the baby sleeps for hours at a time around the clock. I agree with the suggestions about keeping a routine. In the morning, open the shades, start your day the same way. And end it with bath, massage, dim light etc... At the beginning, not much will help. But by 8 or 10 weeks, your baby could be sleeping through the night... Sleeping through the night has a lot to do with a baby's weight. When they are about 10 pounds, they should be able to go about 5 hours. All three of mine slept through the night at 10 weeks... But prior to that, were getting up every 4 hours (which means I only got 2.5 to 3 hours of sleep in between feedings b/c sometimes feeding and getting the baby back to sleep took an hour, especially with my twins).

Hi J.,
Newborns don't have days and nights, they operate on a 24 hour cycle. Their natural pattern in utero is to sleep much of the day when mom is up and active, your body movements would lull her to sleep, and for them to be up at night when mom is no longer active, no more soothing movement and they may continue this pattern for some time.
I think the best thing to do is during the day, have her sleep in plenty of light - lights on, shades up. Continue any normal noise - don't mute the phone or close her door against the vacuum or washing machine. Stimulate her when she is awake during the day. When she wakes at night, keep the lights off/dim and t.v. off, don't make much eye contact or engage her, just meet her needs. Is she crying or just awake? It's okay to leave her lying awake while you sleep.
Also, if you have family support or even a babysitter to rely on, if you know your baby sleeps a long period during the day, get someone to take the 4 year old out, and nap yourself. When I had my 2nd baby, he was up a LOT at night, and the whole first month, I would nap when he took his long morning nap, he'd eat about 8:30 and sleep till 11:00 or 11:30. I felt lazy and like I wasted my whole day (I'm a morning person) but it helped keep me sane. My 4 year old went to camp and continued going to daycare during the couple of months of my maternity leave.
Good luck and I hope you're able to be more rested soon

Hi J.,

Everyone has given you great suggestions but here is one more no one has mentioned. Try doing your bath or sponge bath in the evening verses the morning. Most moms do their sponge bathing in the morning and that in my opinion makes them all warm and cozy, so I did mine at night. I tried to create a night time routine from the beginning and it worked for me. Trying to keep a newborn awake is easier said then done so I feel your pain. If you can stretch bath time out, with massaging cream it may serve two purposes keep her awake for awhile during the bath and massage and also make her relax and sleep longer for you in the evening. It worked for me with both of my kids. Some babies do not really like bath time in the beginning and cry but I did it anyway. After all that crying and a nice bath my kids slept comfortably for hours. I did my bath time around 8 and after that I would get a nice 5 hour sleep stretch. Also, I think the reason babies stay up all night is because it is too quiet LOL!! If they sleep great during the day with the noise, the light, etc. Maybe it is too quiet for them at night. I always used music and a night light as well. Try getting a soothing cd, like waves etc, and put it on repeat if you have to and hopefully the sounds will relax her as well. Just a different approach. Each baby is different so it is all trial and error. I hope some of our suggestions help you out. In the meantime when hubby gets home grab a nap and order pizza, this will pass soon enough. Good luck I hope you get some rest soon.

One more suggestion is I only used crib and bassinet at night in the beginning. Try to let her sleep in the bouncy seat or infant seat so she is not as comfortable.

That is normal. It will get better soon.

I have always felt that at 2 weeks it is about food. If you are nursing or bottle feeding (but especially if you are nursing), I would feed every 2-3 hours during the day (or more if she wants it) and feed on demand at night. I know there are alot of people who say never wake a sleeping baby, but I also have 2 kids and things just get so much more complicated with the second.
My second son was huge (9lbs 3 oz) and just ate and ate and ate all day, but he caught on at night in a few weeks.
Good luck. There is nothing like sleep deprevation. It truly is a form of cruel torture.

My son was the same way. This is what I did and it only took a couple days. You have to keep her up all day long. Only let her nap a few hours here and there. And your going to have to deal with alot of crying, which is stressful. But in the long run you will be greatful. Keep her minimally dressed. And when she starts to fall asleep, rub her down with a cool face clothe. It will wake her up. Also, it gets difficult because I'm sure she falls asleep during feedings. When she does start to dose, stop nursing/feeding her and wake her up. Don't let her fall asleep. It really will only take a day or 2 but you will be glad you did.