Correcting Day and Nighttime Confusion for Newborns

Jul 12

Did you spend your pregnancy with your little one having a dance party in your belly in the middle of the night? Yes, me too! This is naturally common for babies to be up at nighttime because the motion and sounds throughout the day more than likely helped rock your baby to sleep. So, what does that mean? Babies out of the womb tend to follow the same patterns with day and nighttime sleep.

It is very common for newborns to continue to be very sleepy during the day and stay up during the night. Newborns do not produce enough melatonin at this age to help differentiate and fall asleep when it is dark or nighttime. I typically see day and nighttime confusion last for a few weeks, upwards to a couple months.

There is hope and good news! You can help your baby correct this confusion, but consistency is key!

Here are some tips to help your baby differentiate days and night and get them sleeping when you are!

It is very common for newborns to continue to be very sleepy during the day and stay up during the night.

Feedings – feed every 2-3 hours

In the first few months of your baby arriving, feedings are the number one priority! You want to make sure you are keeping up on feeding your baby every 2-3 hours. I know this could be difficult when your baby is sleepy or keeps falling asleep whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding but do your best to keep them stimulated and awake when feeding. Although babies are very sleepy during the day, they do need some awake time, so be sure to follow age-appropriate wake windows (see my chart below). Babies need adequate calories during the day and typically the average baby feeds 10-12x a day in the first few weeks. While this may seem like a lot, remember that they may be cluster feeding and only take 1-2 oz at a time. Feedings throughout the day are so important, for example if your baby is sleeping and only waking every 4 hours, given a 12–13-hour day, they are only eating 4 times a day and guess what, they are making up for those lost calories at nighttime. Some ideas to keep your baby up during a feeding is to try to tickle their feet, change positions, room, or get some fresh air. My advice is also to feed baby immediately once they wake up from their nap, to ensure they do not fall asleep again. You can also give a diaper change right before feeding to bring more stimulation to the environment. Naturally when sucking the bottle or breast it produces oxytocin, which is a natural hormone that causes sleepiness.

Sleep Needs Chart –

Separate Days and Nights, Keeps Days light and bright and Nights Dark –

Babies typically start producing melatonin around 3 months old, which helps put their sleep cycles on a more regular rhythm, where they can sleep better through sleep cycles. Until around closer to 3 months, the easiest way to help with day and nighttime confusion is to manage their melatonin. Just like us adults, when it gets darker out, our bodies naturally begin to produce more melatonin to help us get ready for bedtime and nighttime sleep. The reason some people have a hard time napping or sleeping during the day is because light does not allow the body to produce melatonin, making it harder to sleep.

Keep it light and bright during the day and yes for those naps too! Open your blinds and curtains and keep your house and nursery bright for baby. This may seem counter intuitive for sleep, but I promise this will help your baby get on track to separate their days and nights. Also, try to get outside as much as possible. Fresh air and some vitamin D for your baby is healthy and can also help a ton!

At nighttime, start to whine down with your bedtime routine (yes, you can start this as early as the first day’s home with your baby – see my bedtime routine blog post) and dim the lights to help your baby produce melatonin. The nighttime sleep environment should be DARK! Use blackout shades and eliminate night lights, clocks, monitor lights, anything really that has light to it. Light can help inhibit the production of melatonin. You can simply place your hand in front of you, if you can see your hand, chances are the environment is still too bright.

You got this –

I know mama you are tired and exhausted, and this is just another thing added to your list, but sleep is a priority. When you are consistent with these tips, you will start to see longer stretches during the night and an easier bedtime for you and baby. You got this!