Infants Forum - Baby has days and nights mixed up

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Q: Baby has days and nights mixed up

asked by: sadpreg on February 26th, 2008

New User

Had a really rough night with my baby, Benjamin, who is just past 6 wks old last night. Usually he goes to be between midnight and one and doesn't wake up again until 3 or 4 for his next feeding. That has become the time when I try to get things done or have a little time to myself. But last night he was fussy and wide awake until 5 in the morning. Every time I put him down he started to cry but when I picked him up, there was no right way to hold him. He kept squirming around to different positions and every time he seemed to go to sleep and I was about to put him down, his eyes popped open and he was wide awake again.
I don't know how to stop this cycle because when he is asleep, you can't hardly wake him up or keep him awake and when he is awake there is no getting him to sleep even if the room is dark and I just gave him a bath to settle him down, etc. I am on maternity leave right now but we are going to have serious problems once I go back to work if he doesn't stop being nocternal.
I just feel tired and frustrated and can't help remembering back when I had a life and could sleep all night and do the things I wanted or needed to do with no problems. Does it ever get easier?

Replies(5)

Mabel

replied on February 26th, 2008

Supporter

Yes! It does get easier. Having their days and nights mixed up is very very common! One way to change their sleeping patterns is to have them sleep somewhere else in the daytime. For instance, if he sleeps in his crib at night, have him sleep in his bassinette for naps (or reverse that, depending).

Also getting out in the day time and having a schedule to stick to will help a lot. Like going for a walk every day at 9am, getting him out in the fresh air and HOPEFULLY sunlight. Or giving him a bath every evening before bedtime. Creating rituals is really comforting to children since they know what to expect and when.

I hope things start turning around sleep wise.

sadpreg

replied on February 26th, 2008

New User

Thanks, Ingri. We already give him a bath every night. I will try taking him outside during the day at the same time to see if it helps. And maybe I will transfer him to the cradel for day time naps. Right now he has been sleeping all day and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do to wake him up. He is a very determined baby when it comes to being asleep or being awake. I am just exausted!

bbfeet9

replied on February 26th, 2008

Experienced User

Ya know what? These little people will sleep when and where they want. After having five of the darlings, i learned that when they are that small, it's pretty much their way. My first baby, a boy, slept thru the nite at a week old. No.2 was a girl, up all nite, slept all day. No.3 was pretty good. A few naps during the day and a few feedings in the nite. She started sleeping thru at about 6 weeks. No.4 another girl, pretty normal. No.5 a boy was pretty normal as well. All pretty normal exept for no.2. Now she is going thru the same thing with her little boy. He is 4 months old and hasn't slept 3 hours straight since birth. It's all up to them. She tried schedules, baby put her on one. She is totally exhausted and has to get up to be to work by 6 in the morn. I have him during the day. He takes these annoying little cat naps. 20 min. here and there. No time for me to get anything done. I feel bad for you. I remember the days.

sadpreg

replied on February 27th, 2008

New User

Yes, that's what he does at night--cat naps. I hold him and he goes to sleep. I put him down and he wakes right up and demands to be held again. I am so tired, feel like I am going to have a nervous breakdown. I am beginning to resent the baby fiercely and wonder why I did this to myself in the first place. I had a really good life and a very happy marriage. Now the hubby and I have no time together and when we do, it's to talk about the baby. I feel like this tiny person is controling my whole life. Or that I have no life anymore. But I have to deal with it somehow because he is not a puppy I can take back to the pound. So tired... : (

Saragirl

replied on March 6th, 2008

Experienced User

i know exactly what you are going through.....my 3 month old daughter is going through the same thing right now. lots of luck to you.

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