1 Week Has Days and Nights Confused!

Try changing her diaper during a feeding to wake her. Take her cloths off. You dont want her to comfy. I used to get a cold glass of ice water and put it on my sons foot or tummy to wake him and we would tickle and sing loud. Also she is still so young at 1 week old she will figure it out soon. Just keep sticking to it.
Also dont try and keep her awake during the day so she will sleep at night - let her sleep when she wants she is too young. Newborns can only stay awake 1-2 hours and from when they wake. And mine was only up for an hour if that. At night when she is awake keep lights off / dim and dont talk to her...no TV around her and she will get it.

The best advice I can give you is hang in there. she's so new to this world she doesn't understand day and night yet. I barely remember the first month due to sleep deprivation and just surviving. Try sleeping during the day with her for now so you make sure you get some rest yourself and she will adjust herself as she learns about this new world. Make sure to have light during the day and darkness at night so she learns the difference. Take a breath and realize you are both new to this even if she isn't your first child. Each time it's new all over. You'll make it through and she will adjust soon enough. GOODLUCK!

Oh those first days with a baby- glorious yet exhausting.

What I found to work was keeping the baby in the heart of family life during the day i.e. : kitchen, family room- where ever you and your other daughter spend your time. Keep a radio on or the TV if that is your preferance. Change her before a feeding and don't fully dress her for the feeding---especially the feet. For whatever reasn having their feet exposed made my babies more wakeful, plus if they start to drift off you can tickle them.

Once the daytime wakefulness happens, sleepy nights follow.

Good luck and enjoy these magical moments they truly end too fast.

MK

I did this same thing to my mom :) But one thing that she said helped (as I was also born in summer) was a few times when she wants to sleep durring the day, take her outside (with some babysunblock on of course!) and wake her by ticking her feet, or back a bit. The natrual sunlight can help reset her clock a bit. It is also good for both of you! If you have the ability to do it for 15 mins 3 or 4 times a day that might be best. Everything else that you have been told works too :) What wonderful advice ladies!!

Wake her during the day. I know people say not to wake a sleeping baby, but you might have to to get her on the right schedual. If she continues to fall asleep while nursing, undress her...apply a cool-cold wash cloth on her...I use to pat (very softly) my little one's bottom to jolt him awake. Also, something to keep in mind is that a bottle is much easier to get milk out of than the breast. She could be using a lot of energy if her latch isn't good to work the milk out of your breasts. I would really try and cut out the bottles until she is at least 6 wks old. They say that's how long it takes to really establish a good breastfeeding relationship. I've exclusively breastfeed two babies now..the first until he self-weaned at 14mons and the little one is still going strong at 10months. If you have any specific questions I'm more than willing to try and help. Also, think about getting in touch with a local Le Lache League. They are trained mothers who have successfully breastfed, they helped me a lot in the begining. Good luck!

Hi D.,
Your baby doesn't have days and nights confused, she's behaving like a normal newborn and following her normal pattern from your pregnancy. In utero, babies sleep during the day when mom is active, her movements lull baby to sleep, and baby is often up and active at night when mom is resting and not lulling the baby with her body movements anymore.
During the day when your baby sleeps, I'd suggest keeping the lights on, shades up. Make normal noises - don't close her door against noise of the vacuum or her sister. Keep her more cool also, one less layer than she needs. This may help to get her into the habit of daytime sleep being a shorter, lighter sleep
At night when she wakes up to eat, just feed her, change her. Don't talk to her, stimulate her, play with her. Just keep a flashlight at the bedside, dont' turn on lights, t.v., etc - that helps them to get into the pattern of night being a sleep time.
Good luck and I hope that you are feeling more rested soon, but what you are describing sounds like very common one week old newborn patterns.

Keep her, sleeping or not, in the same area of the house you are in with all the noises and activity that go on whether or not she is sleeping during the day. At night, when she is awake, you can rock her in a dark room and keep putting her down in her crib. Eventually she'll get it- this is pretty normal. It can take babies up to 6 weeks to adjust to some semblance of a schedule...

I wouldn't pump... it will probably diminish your supply, esp. this early in your nursing relationship, to not have your baby on your breast... tickle her feet, rub her cheek if she's falling asleep while nursing without having really nursed.

D., so far, you have gotten very good advice from the previous two responses.

I agree with everything they said. Eventually your daughter will figure out when to sleep and when to stay awake based on the environment you are giving her.

I know everyone's situation is different, and maybe yours is, but I didn't pump. I was told that my body was taking cues from the baby on establishing a supply. I've had much success with holding off on the pumping until around 6-8 weeks.

Also, with the bottles, like the previous poster said, you might want to hold off. As the birthing class lady says, humans are lazy. If your newborn gets used to the ease of a bottle, she won't want to work as hard to get it out of the breast.

Lastly, try to nurse on demand. As long as she is gaining weight, looking healthy, and producing enough wet and dirty diapers, then you should feel confident that you are doing everything right. If all those things are good, try to relax and just let your baby tell you what she needs.

Like a previous poster said, contact your local La Leche League if you are unsure about anything. Its a free service, so you don't have to worry about paying, and they are super helpful.

Good Luck and congrats on your new little girl!

You've been given such wonderful advise so far.

She is only 1 week. She has developed in you for your entire pregnancy, she has had months of being up probably when you were sleep. Give her some time to adjust to life outside the womb.

Most valuable advice I have ever received is sleep when the baby sleeps. I know it is a little harder with two but group naps are a Godsend.

In the meantime, enjoy your little one being little and everything that comes with it. Sometimes with the teething, potty training, etc. to come this time will seem like the good old days and the same thing applies to teenage anxst where the teething, potty training, etc seem like the good old days.

Cut her a little slack, she is only a week old. I would
keep her in the family room, living room wherever everyone is. Do not put her in a quiet room. She will
figure it out.

It is pretty common for them to be confused on day and night. It takes time for them to realize the differance. Be patient it will change. My daughter went through the same thing and I thought that because I worked nights and slept during the day that I was to blame. But turns out that its very common. I know that you are tired but hang in there it will all work out.

One week is really early to expect a routine. I don't think it is a matter of having her days and nights mixed up I think it is normal. I remember my son's first week I was a walking zombie. He slept all day and was awake all night. You can try to make a different routine during the day then at night so she can begin to develop a better sleep pattern. I did my bath at night verses the morning. This way it would wake them up a bit. I would do the bath and then put cream on to massage them a little. After bath they usually feel very comfy and relaxed and sleep better. I noticed when I would do the bath in the morning they slept great during the day so I switched it up a bit. Also I would put them in the bouncy seat during the day, the swing, keep lights bright, make noise, and at night do the opposite. I would do night feedings with only an night light, didn't speak much, just feed, change diaper and back in the crib. Eventually she will turn herself around. Try music at night also. You can begin to create a routine but it is going to take time. Sleep during the day when you can, or when hubby comes home from work grab a nap until you can get a routine going. I know they say don't wake a sleeping baby but it she is falling asleep during feedings I would use a warm washcloth and put it on her face, also don't keep her bundled up nice and warm, keep her cool so she isn't so cozy as you want her to be at night. Good luck!!