How do you get a baby to sleep during the night and stay up during the day?

Erin - posted on 02/11/2009

routine routine routine. Make a difference between night and day, keep him/her active during the day when not sleeping. Keep lights on, take a trip outside, keep the TV on etc. at night, have a 'bedtime routine' bathe, feeding, bed with calming music. If the baby doesn't have an extremely wet diaper or a BM skip a diapering in the middle of the night (make sure to put A&D ointment before bedtime to prevent rash). That way, the least activity is during the night. Eventually this repitition will stick. (with most babies, lol!) all babies are different, good luck!

Chelsea - posted on 02/10/2009

We had this issue with our little one at first. Days/nights mixed up. A lot of this has to do with your baby's age. Around 8-10 weeks their sleep patterns really change. Our Dr had these tips that worked for us. You have to be sure that the daytime feedings are done in an area of the house that has a lot of daylight. Talk to your baby and keep him/her awake during the feeding. Tickle their feet, sing to them... Our Dr said to try to make the daytime feeding "exciting" (as exciting as they can be I guess). I make sure to go about my regular chores during the day - vaccuum, clang dishes, have the TV on...she tends to catnap during the day now. Give your baby tummy time-read to him/her-go for a walk when the weather is nice. I find if I talk to her a lot she stays awake. For the evening feedings, start a routine. We have a bath around the same time each night-within the same hour time span, even if it's just warm water and not a full bath, it's a signal to her to start to get ready for bed. Give your baby a little massage with lotion. Feed the last bottle of the night in a dark, quiet room. Try to avoid talking to your baby a lot during this time. It's so hard to not do this...but make the last feeding of the day as uninteresting and un-stimulating as possible. Get in the habit of laying your baby down in their bed when they are drowsy but not fully asleep yet. This will keep him/her from developing a sleep habit of only being able to fall asleep in your arms. It's cute now, but may not be so cute when they are 2 yrs old. Hope these things help. Sometimes it seems like they will not ever get the hang of it. But especially with young babies, they change every week and you are just trying to keep up with the changes. 

Shanice - posted on 02/10/2009

I think that everyone would love the answer to that question. One thing that I have done is that every morning I tell my daughter good morning. I let her sleep until she wants to (she usually wakes up completely around noon). I then open the curtains and let the light in. I figured that it helps her to see the difference between night and day, especially since it's winter and we are indoors most of the time. At night I try to get into bed by 11pm. Even is she doesn't want to sleep I take her to bed and I'll keep her there in the bed with me. She eats and I hold her pacifier in her mouth (if she wants it) while I read a magazine. Sometimes she's awake in bed until 2am. When she falls asleep I place her in her crib. She is sleeping 6hrs straight at night. Sometimes she doesn't wake up and I wake her up to eat. FYI my daughter is 11wks old. Hope this helps. Good luck.