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DAYS AND NIGHTS
Days and nights! Most of us know that we're
supposed to be
awake during the day and asleep
at night. Well, that's the way
it's supposed to be, right?—for most of us, anyway.
Oftentimes, babies have another plan in mind, preferring to sleep during the day and rock and roll all night. Sound like your little one? Not to worry. Your night owl just has his days and nights mixed up.
Recently, I had a client whose little girl thought it was perfectly normal to stay up until 2 a.m. and then sleep until 11—with a feeding or two somewhere in there. Sounds more like a college student's schedule than a baby's, but it happens more often than you'd think.
Here's how to get your baby in sync with his or her circadian rhythms:
Wake Up, Sunshine
Wake up your sleeping beauty every two hours during the day from 7 a.m. on. This wake-up regimen restricts her sleep during the day, while allowing her to eat more as well.
Keep It Up
Now, some of you are probably wondering how you wake up a baby and actually manage to keep her up. Truth be told: It isn’t easy. Here are 10 ways to keep your day sleeper from slipping back into her beloved daytime slumber (and don't feel guilty—you have her best intentions at heart):
| Bedtime Routine | |
1 |
Start the day by opening the shades in her room. |
2 |
Open a window. |
3 |
Take her out of the crib, change her diaper and get her dressed first thing in the morning. |
4 |
After feeding, play with her and keep her up a minimum of 1 hour and 15 minutes. |
5 |
For nap time, close the blinds only about halfway, so she knows that it is still daytime. |
6 |
For the next awake time, repeat the actions above: open the shades, change her diaper, etc. |
7 |
If you are having a hard time keeping her awake, take all her clothes off—but leave her diaper on to avoid accidents. |
8 |
Refresh her with a wipe of a wet washcloth on her body, head or feet. |
9 |
Feed her as much as she wants. |
10 |
Take her outside to play or just to sit with you. |
Speaking of going outside, it's okay to take Baby for a stroll, but just make sure that she doesn't fall asleep on the walk.
The Nighttime Is the Right Time
Don't just assume that because Baby was up all day, he'll sleep all through the night right away—or that he'll go down without a fight. As dedicated and regimented as you were during the day, you'll have to continue your hard work during the night. But, not to worry—a little dedication goes a long way. Here's how to get your little one to sleep at night:
| Nap Time Routine | |
1
|
Give Baby a bath right before her last feeding of the night, usually around 7 p.m. or so. |
2
|
Change her into her pajamas. |
3
|
Play some soothing music. |
4
|
Right before you put her into bed, stop the music and put on a sound machine. |
5
|
If need be, change her diapers in the night with a nightlight on. |
6
|
Don’t talk or engage your baby during the night. If you're up with her, then make it about feeding her, changing her diaper and putting her back to bed. |
7 |
If she is in her crib talking to herself, let her be. She may be able to put herself back to sleep. |
Depending on your baby’s age, you can let her cry for a bit when you put her into bed as well.
Quick Tip:
Crying for the Ages Under 1 month: 1 to 2 minutes
1 to 2 months: 3 to 5 minutes
2 to 3 months: 5 to 7 minutes with a check-in at 5 minutes
3 to 4 months: 7 to 10 minutes with a check-in at 5 minutes
4+ months: 5 minutes with a check-in at 10 minutes, then 15 minutes, then every 15 minutes after that
Remember to only do the “crying” method if you feel comfortable with it. Not every parent has the chops for it, and that is completely okay. Don't do anything that you are not comfortable with.
Kathy Sinclair, CNCS, CPD, CLE, CHBE, graduated from Australia’s prestigious Charlton Brown Nanny College and began her professional career as a nanny in 1993. Kathy developed her specialty with infant sleep while working as a newborn care specialist in Los Angeles. Currently the founder of Baby Sleep Solutions, Kathy provides one-on-one individualized sleep consultations, leads Mommy & Infant groups for new moms, and lectures on sleep in and around Los Angeles. She lives in Ventura, Calif., with her husband and three dogs. She may be contacted through her website at www.babysleepsolutionsla.com.
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