Newborn Days and Nights Mixed Up - Marietta,GA

My son had his days and nights mixed up, so his pediatrician told me to keep him awake in the evening until 9:30 pm. It was hard to do but luckily it didn't take but about 4 or 5 nights to get him straightened back out.
P. S

The baby's day/night mixup is incredibly common, and will gradually switch. I hear that exposing her to plenty of light during the day, and as little as possible at night, helps reset the release of natural hormones that stimulate sleep during dark hours. There are some other tips here: http://www.pamf.org/children/newborns/common/daynight.html

And watch these videos by pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, showing how he stimulates the baby's relaxation response, allowing babies to ease into sleep. It may not keep the baby asleep, but will help her do more of her napping at night. This will help transfer sleep into the night hours, a process that takes a couple of months for many babies.

Enhanced sleep:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk5MUOMecHI&NR=1
How-to's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KnVPUdEgQ&feature=re... Interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu0TtxO-ocY&feature=re...

As far as your daughter's negative feelings are concerned, I hope you will empathize with her to the greatest extent possible. Don't try to convince her she shouldn't be resentful, because that will almost certainly make her hang onto those feelings, and possibly resent you in spite of your good intentions. Don't feed her negativity, just express loving concern for her welfare, and when you're with her and the baby, model tender mothering and playful interaction with the baby.

Find out what resources are available in your area so that you can gently urge your daughter to get help. She could be experiencing some depression, and people in that state find it hard to see any light in their future. But it's critically important for the baby's emotional and physical health that her mommy not stay stuck in a perpetual downer, so you'll need to walk a fine line between supporting your daughter emotionally and avoiding feeding her anger. It can be a tough position.

If cost is an issue, your county may offer mental health services on a sliding scale, or parenting classes, or other family resources. If your daughter is worried about harming the baby, there is probably a hotline she could call. There are probably mom-groups in your area where she could socialize and find emotional support.

It's good your daughter has you caring about her during this vulnerable stage of this new adventure. She's had a difficult nine months, and she's still going through enormous hormonal changes. I sure wish you all the best.

It's normal for babies to have days and nights mixed up. They don't know the difference yet. It looks like you've gotten some good tips so far. It's all trial and error. I do feel a little worried about your daughter though. Would you be willing to stay with her at least one night a week and give her a chance to get a full night's rest? That might feel more helpful to her than figuring out the baby's schedule. Also, if she's having a really hard time, maybe suggest she talk to her doctor about post partum depression. It can be serious if not treated.

My marriage ended shortly after my twin boys turned one so I understand all too well how stressful life can be with newborns and managing babies all on your own. I too felt resentment towards my colic boys for a very long time. I ended being diagnosed with post partum depression and requiring meds to get me through. The newborn stage sucked for me. I've blocked out the memory of it pretty much except through pictures.

And now four years later, I'd do it all over again. It really is a brief time but she will want support from you and from doctors and wherever else she can get it. Encourage her to have something fun for HER at least once a week and help her get rest by offering to stay with the baby so she can nap/sleep.

It's natural for baby's rhythm to be reversed. Get her a great parenting book so she can learn the basics for the baby's care and ways to calm down. It's best to give her a slew of resources so she can learn without you having to come to the rescue all the time.

Dr. Sears has an excellent book and covers sleep issues in infants, as well as wonderful parenting guidelines:

The Discipline Book: How to Have a Better-Behaved Child From Birth to Age Ten
http://www.amazon.com/Discipline-Book-Better-Behaved-Chil...

Some of his sleep advice is online that can help:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070100.asp

Another good book that covers infant care as well as their psychological needs up to toddler hood is also by the Sears:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316778001/ref=s9_simh_g...

or the Baby's First Year, Week by Week Book:
http://www.amazon.com/Your-Babys-First-Year-Week/dp/07382...

With her being angry and resentful, she should probably speak with these feelings to her obgyn or doctor. There is a concern with postpartum depression and it would be a tragedy if her stressful life situation compounded with having a newborn caused further hardship or lack of bonding.

You might think I'm crazy but I would trade places with you in a heartbeat. I helped raise my granddaughter as my daughter was a single mom as well and I can remember many nights in a rocking chair in the middle of the nite with that adorable infant and I can't tell you how much I miss that time. Cherish this time - it goes so very fast and it's so precious. you have a wonderful opportunity to bond with your grandbaby that many do not have. Look at the positive in this situation. This child is so very worth it. God bless.

I have an 8 week old that had her days and nights mixed up. Make sure to put the baby in common living areas during the day and go about normal business. I would put her, unswaddled, in the bassinet in the living room (near a window), and would leave the TV on, wash dishes, talk on the phone, etc. Also, have your daughter take her outside for about 5 minutes each day to get a little sunlight. I read that exposing the baby to house noise and natural light helps their bodies sort out their internal day/night clock. She would sleep right through all the commotion, but after about 4 days or so, she was sleeping at better at night. Also, for night time sleep, I would swaddle her with a swaddle blanket. That way she knew that when the blanket when on, it was time for sleep. Hope this helps!

My oldest had this. I would keep the house as dark as possible during the day (her eyes would pop open when it got dark) and I would leave the light on my nightstand on at night. When the light was on she would close her eyes. It didn't last for very long. A few nights of sleeping at the right time kept her awake during the day and got her on the right schedule. I really think that she was sensitive to the light and that is why is slept when the lights were on, but was wide awake when it was dark. Good luck

This is what the nurse had me do and it worked for me:
I did not let her sleep through feedings during the day. I would not let more than 3 hours go by in between feedings. If she was sleepy, I stripped her down to her diaper so she wasn't warm and cozy and falling asleep while nursing. Sometimes I had to rub a cool, damp washcloth on her head to wake her/keep her awake.
When she woke up at night, I offered the pacifier before I would nurse her. Sometimes she wanted to suck, but not eat. If she didn't go back to sleep with the paci, then of course I fed her.
Good luck!

First, I would like to say thank god she has you. Being a new mother is so stressful and going through a divorce on top of it would put some women over the edge. Kudos, to you for being such a good grandma!! My son did this and it will change over time, but one thing I did do was bath him at night verses the morning. It seemed to wake him for awhile, and then relax him after. I would not only do the bath, but I would give a little baby massage and it really worked for him. Also, I tried to keep him in the infant seat, swing, during the day, and the bassinet only at night so he could begin to notice the differences.