Sleep deprivation

[lougmas]

I am a new mum as I gave birth on 3rd of July 2024. I am struggling with sleep deprivation. My newborn seem to sleep mostly during the day and awake from 1am-4am. How do I make her sleep through the night and be more active during the day?

I would like to play with her but she is constantly sleeping through the day apart from nappy changes and formula feeds supplemented with some breast milk. Would like your help.

This is totally normal. They don’t know the difference between day and night just yet. My tips would be to make sure she is in light bright rooms during the day with every day noise around her, talk in normal voices, have the tv on, hoover etc, get outside every day basically don’t tip toe around because she is asleep or make the room dark. In the evenings and at night keep things dark and quiet. Eventually they learn. Make sure you have some rest during the day while she sleeps too.

At this age they do mostly sleep and don’t play hit it won’t be long. Enjoy your lovely baby 💐

Thank you. We have got the TV and the room is light during the day. We brought Ewan the Sheep toy to calm her at night times with heartbeat sounds/ shushing sounds. Hopefully she will learns

This is all normal. They don't have a circadian rhythm (understand night/day) until 3-4 months at least.

Keep days light and bright and nights dark.

And there is very little time to play between sleep, feed, burp and change at this age. 5-10 mins maybe? Just enjoy cuddles. Try to sleep when she sleeps!

Congratulations!

As far as I know, all newborns are like this! It's hard, but they do grow out of it.

They didn't have day and night inside your belly so they start off with day/night confusion, it takes a while to take hold but it will get there. And the sleep deprivation is awful and can make you feel very down and alone, I'm sorry you are in a tough phase right now.

Personally the sleep deprivation is getting me down mentally.

All newborns are like this. Enjoy the cuddles. You’ll have lots of time for playing when they’re older. Sleep when you can. If you can’t sleep, rest. Box sets, reading, doom scrolling. Basically don’t worry about the housework and just take it easy.

If baby will only nap on someone, ask for someone to come and hold the baby while you nap. Everyone loves newborn cuddles!

You will get used to it. 14 month old was up hourly last night, still hasn’t cracked sleeping through the night, but you just get used to running on less sleep and find your own ways to cope (mine involve copious strong coffee and making easy meals).

That said, if you’re really struggling mentally, worth reaching out to midwife sooner rather than later for support as could be a sign of PND rather than just sleep deprivation.

Good luck, it will pass.