Help! My Baby Has Days and Nights Mixed Up!
The dread of watching your belly kick and bump all night long can only mean one thing: that baby will be ready to party right when you’re ready to sleep!
While it’s true that babies are lulled into a naturally backwards circadian rhythm during their stay in the womb, the notion that it takes forever to get them out of this phase is only partially correct.
While the stimuli babies experience while being rocked to sleep when we’re busy moving during the daytime is muted, it’s not something that takes dramatic adjustment to help move towards light/dark activity times.
So what’s a parent to do?
Keep daytime bright and loud
While most commercials show shushing fingers towards the dog and the mailman, studies are showing that the louder and brighter, more naturally bustling you keep daytime, the lighter in their sleep phase a baby will reach. While your baby will absolutely sleep most of the day away in the first six weeks, how deep baby gets into their sleep cycle is important to helping them adjust.
Lots of naps on the go, in carriers, and around a busy home will prevent baby from getting into the deeper sleep cycles that require less help to stay asleep.
Keep nighttime dark and quiet
It seems so simple, but introducing the earliest of sleep cues includes a dark environment. If baby is going to sleep, put them in a darkened room where they’ll (and possibly you) be spending the majority of their night.
While the room shouldn’t be silent, keeping activity quiet will help keep baby from being stimulated during nighttime diaper changes and feedings. We recommend keeping a pen light to see for diaper changes, and keeping lights off.
Room darkening curtains can help keep the nursery or bedroom as dark as possible when you’re still implementing ‘sleep time’ hours and keep baby in a deeper stage of their sleep.
Over the first six weeks, creating these simple cues will allow your baby to move their circadian rhythm and sleep patterns accordingly. With all things, a little patience and a lot of consistency will help your learning little one.
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