Question:

“My newborn sleeps great all day, but is up almost all night. What can I do to get this turned around?”

Answer:

“This is very common during the early weeks and is addressed in Babywise under Problem Solving. Fortunately it is also a pattern that, with a little consistency, can be corrected within a week or two. If you have a little one who wants to conk out after 6:00 pm or so, resist the urge to just let him sleep until he wakes on his own. If he starts his “long sleep” at 6:00 pm, he’s likely to wake for his “middle of the night feeding” at around 10:00 or 11:00 pm, and then go down for the rest of his long sleep only to wake up, well rested and ready to start the day at around 2:00 or 3:00 am!!! Yikes! Or you may have one who wants to get his deep sleep during the middle of the day, and party all night.  :-) (double yikes)

The key is to keep the feedings consistent throughout the daytime hours, even if that means waking baby from a sound sleep so that he doesn’t sleep past the 2 1/2 to 3 hour mark. It can be difficult to keep baby awake for a short wake time, but try as best you can. Continue with the regular feedings all the way up to the last late night feeding (wake-time between the last two feedings is optional). For each feeding after the late night feeding, keep everything as quiet and dark as you can. Keep the TV and radio off, and the lights low. If a diaper change is needed, do that at the beginning or middle of the feeding, so that you can put baby back to bed as soon as he has finished eating and is burped. Be patient, soon everyone will be sleeping at night.”