day and night time mix up

[Reyna]

Hi

I'm a first time mum and have a 3 1/2 week old and she definitely has her day and night time the wrong way round as she sleeps all day and I have to wake her for feeds then wants to be awake all night. Trying to wake her during the day is like trying to raise the dead and then keeping her awake for a while is impossible. Of a night between 2.30 - 7am she just wants to be awake. She will dose for a while but I am practically up with her during this whole period. I am bottle feeding her as breast feeding wasn't going so well so gave up after two weeks and I'm using Gina Ford book for timings on when and how much to feed her. Has anyone got any other advice on how I can turn her sleeping pattern around???

It's pretty early days yet. If I remember correctly from my version of GF, her routines don't start until 6 weeks? So don't worry too much and also feed her if she seems hungry even if it's not the "set time" (as GF says).

Her pattern will change - you can try and get her out in the day, especially early afternoon when sun (what little there is!) is the brightest - even though asleep, her body clock will start to register. Also taking her out where there's a bit of hustle and bustle which might keep her awake if she stirs (I remember DS doing this - he'd be fast asleep then every now and then have a look around then drift off again). But don't try and keep her awake - the risk is she'll get overstimulated and wont be able to sleep! I know GF says that babies can stay awake for up to two hours - DS would only comfortably manage 45 mins/1 hour.

My DS got the days/nights mixed up until around 6 weeks I think and settled down into a routine around 8 weeks (although it all went out the window a few weeks later with a growth spurt, but hey ho!)

Thanks for the advice. I know she's only small so I'm probably expecting miracles, just very tough. Taking her out def helps her to stay more alert during the day, we have the odd good night so thankful for small mercys

I'm no expert but my 12 wk old has definately showed signs of knowing the difference between night and day early on and I think putting her to bed in her pram in the day with the hustle and bustle of family life and in her room in her carry cot at night has been helpful. A bedtime routine (I started recently but wish I had before) is also helpful, something to persist with until it registers I think. It doesn't really help you break the cycle, I hope you manage to though that sounds really wearing.