Newborn with Days and Nights Mixed Up

N.,
I had a similar problem. Everything I read and the answers I got from my pediatrician was that this night/day mix-up was very common, and around 6 weeks things start to chagne. Of course this doesn't help you, except to know how perfect your first son is! :-) Seriously though, for me it was gradual. When my son wanted to sleep I would let him. I would try to keep him up for 1-2 hours durring the day, but that really didn't work, so I let him adjust when he was ready.
A.

We would make sure that the naps were in a sunny area that was not necessarily quiet. It might take a while, but open up the blinds during the day and make sure it is nice and dark and quiet at night until she gets the hang of it.
You were lucky not to have this happen with your son, so count your blessings.
Good Luck!!!

Our son had this issue, too. As many newborns do from what I read. What we did is to make sure that when he was sleeping during the day it was in the living room area and the windows/shades were all open and the TV or radio was on. At night, we made it dark and quiet.

It took awhile, but eventually they do get on track.

Good luck
T.

Hi N.!
I can only tell you what we did with our newborn who is now
4 1/2 months old and is a great sleeper!!
When we brought her home we kept her downstairs with us all day long. She napped in her bouncie chair or in the pack & play bassinet in the family room. We kept the t.v. on, doors
slammed, people came over all day long while she was sleeping or awake. At night we put in her in her room (she was only in our room for a short time because she is a very vocal sleeper!)
with the door closed. I think she must have realized that night time is dark quiet time and day time is light and full of activity.
We began putting her upstairs in her room for her naps when she
was about 2 1/2 months old.
Today, she is not the greatest napper (only takes 40-90 mins.
naps 2 or 3 times a day) but she sleeps through the night, 7:30p-6:45a every night!! We are very well rested!!! :-)

Congradulations on your new baby girl! Very common, yet very tiring for you, especially since you have a 3 year old too who likes to sleep at night and be awake during the day...opposite of your new baby girl. :) I'd try to wake her during the day to eat regularly every 3 hours at least and try to keep her awake after eating for a while. Not easy I know, but that play time after eating during the day helps her to understand, or learn the pattern, that daytime is playtime and then when she's not awakened to eat, that's night time and time for everyone to get sleep. Also, feeding during the day in the light and in the dark at night can help the baby to learn the pattern. She's only five days old, so you've got another good few weeks of night feedings, but with helping the baby to learn that pattern, everyone can sleep restfully at night sooner rather than later. :) My first son was a good sleeper naturally, my second was not such a good sleeper naturally, but still slept through the night starting when he was 2 months old because we did those things to help him get that restful sleep. My first son was a early and very small, so we started with feeding him every 2 hours and putting him down for a nap the second hour after each feeding. Then he pretty quickly progressed to eating every 3 hours and going down for a nap the second 1.5 hours of each 3 hour increment. (My second son started with a 3 hour schedule but he was quite a bit bigger than the first.) We lengthened the increments as he grew and showed signs of being ready to lengthen it. His main sign of being ready to lengthen the increment was when he was sleeping through the night and still had to be awakened for each feeding. Then we knew he was eating plenty to last longer (I nursed so didn't go by knowing how many ounces were consumed) and needing that longer stretch of nap time so we increased to a 4 hour schedule, sleeping the last 2 hours of each 4 hour increment. By then, they were doing the pattern themselves. At first, it takes a little while for them to get used to staying awake after eating and learning it all, but the pattern does help a lot. I wasn't real strict with it by any means. If the baby was hungry early, I'd feed him, but that pattern really helps to know weather they are hungry or tired (since they acted the same for either), and helps so they are not hungry and tired at the same time (often not a good combination :) )
Hope this helps!
Best wishes to you!

I don't know if newborns really get their days and nights mixed up. I know people always say that but I don't know if it is really true. They just sleep alot but if they are not then you have to wonder if something else is going on. How long does she sleep during the day (meaning increments) If they are short increments at a time then she really isn't sleeping well. I personally had this problem with my son. Everyone kept telling me he had his days and nights mixed up but that wasn't true because he hardly slept during the day too. I mean he would take little cat naps here and there but never an hour or two. His max was maybe 30min. Ended up he had an extreme case of reflux and milk intolerance. IF you nurse try taking dairy out of your diet and if you use formula try using soy. Nobody told me this until is was way too late and it would of saved me some horrible nights that lasted way too long (12months). Not saying that this is the case with your daughter at all but I don't think they know when it is day or night they just sleep alot. Also try her sleeping upright, maybe in her car seat or slightly increase her crib. Some newborns sleep better in their car seat for a little while, never worked for me but I have heard it does work.Good luck!