How to turn your 3 week old sleeping pattern round!

[woodhj]

My little 3 week old boy sleeps all morning and early afternoon then starts to stir around teatime to stay awake through the night. He thinks between 1-4am is stay awake stir at mummy and make her walk round rocking me time.

I know he is only 3 weeks but his sleeping pattern is getting worse and people keep telling me 'oh you need to turn that round' yes but how the bloody hell do you do that!!

Try (!) keeping him more stimulated in the day, more ambient notice, light, carrying around in a sling, lots of talking and interaction, going out and about.

Nightime is dark, quiet, less eye-contact, cuddles but no walking round unless you can help it. Also a relaxing bedtime routine, whenever you choose that to be, with maybe a little bit of calming massage should help relax him and prepare him for sleep.

It's a gradual process but he will eventually realise. Honest!

Think my DS was about 7 weeks before proper bedtimes and night time sleeping kicked in. Hang in there it will get better

It's never too early to make a distinction between night and day I think - dim lighting, quiet voices, low fuss when changing and feeding. You might also try different sleeping place (e.g. moses basket in sunny front room during day, in dark bedroom at night), different clothes/bedding, very simple 'putting down for the night' routine e.g. change, feed, lullaby. BUT don't expect it to make an instant difference. Baby's been up at night (when you are still and sleeping) for all of your pregnancy and so it will take time to reverse that. Just stick at it and sleep during the day yourself.