Sleep
Newborn Day-Night Confusion: What It Is and How to Handle It
If your newborn seems to be more active during the night than the day, you’re dealing with what’s known as newborn day-night confusion. This temporary phase can be exhausting, but understanding the cause and how to handle it can help you and your baby get through it.
What Is Newborn Day-Night Confusion?
Day-night confusion occurs when a newborn’s sleep schedule is flipped, meaning they sleep during the day and are awake at night. It’s a normal phase that all newborns go through due to their undeveloped internal clock.
Why Does It Happen?
This confusion is largely due to your baby’s prenatal experience. While in the womb, babies are rocked to sleep by the mother’s movements during the day, but they become more active when she rests at night. After birth, this pattern can continue, leaving your baby more alert at night.
Additionally, newborns don’t produce melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep, and their cortisol levels, which keep them awake during the day, are still in development.
How to Ease the Effects of Day-Night Confusion
- Get Morning Sunlight Exposure
Expose your baby to natural light early in the morning to help reset their internal clock. - Watch for Sleep Cues
Rather than imposing a rigid schedule, observe your baby’s wake windows—typically 30 minutes to 1 hour at birth, gradually increasing as they grow. Put them down for a nap before they get overtired. - Support Cluster Feeding
In the evening, babies often want to feed more frequently. Cluster feeding can help them fill up and sleep longer at night. - Set Realistic Bedtime Expectations
Newborns don’t have a set bedtime like older children. A good starting point is 12-13 hours after their morning wake time. - Create a Wind-Down Routine
A predictable bedtime routine with activities like a warm bath or gentle lullabies can help signal to your baby that it’s time for sleep. - Use Womb-Like Cues at Night
Mimic the calming environment of the womb by swaddling, using white noise, and gently rocking your baby. - Keep Things Boring at Night
During nighttime feeds or wake-ups, keep the lights dim and avoid talking to or playing with your baby to reinforce that nighttime is for sleeping. - Take Turns
If possible, swap nighttime duties with your partner to ensure you both get some rest. This will help you cope better during the night.
When Does Day-Night Confusion End?
By 8 to 12 weeks, many babies start to develop a more consistent sleep-wake pattern. By 16 weeks, most babies outgrow day-night confusion. If your baby was premature, you may need to adjust their age accordingly.
While this phase can feel endless, it is temporary. By helping your baby gradually learn the difference between day and night, and being patient with the process, you’ll both be getting better sleep soon.
