Is it possible to shift a newborn's body clock by 12 hours?

[pikey]

Might sound a silly question, but you don't know if you don't ask!

Have a 7 day old daughter, our first. All's great, however I can't help but notice she spends most of the day asleep and most of the night awake. I very much doubt at this age she has much clue of day or night, but if we could shift this sleep pattern things would be easier.

Going to try and feed, then bath her just before bed tonight (Moses basket in our room) to get her really tired as we go to bed, but does anyone have any top tips or is there no chance trying to shift her body clock?

Thanks

[-Pete-]

Congratulations!!!

The first 6-8 weeks will be difficult, then it'll get easier. Mine always slept at night, and only needed a nap during the day. Either move to Australia or gradually get her in synch with day & night by keeping her awake during the day (lots of attention, playing, cuddling) and making sure it's dark and quiet at night. Do you have blackout blinds in her room, they'd help.

[grumbledoak]

I don't think you can do much that young. A set routine when they are a bit older really works though.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/sleep/habitsbyage...


ETA- Congratulations!

Edited by grumbledoak on Sunday 29th August 20:30

[XG332]

I think you have to hold mode and reset.
Then press the adjust button until you get to the right time.

Oh wait. This isn't the watch section

Erm.

[Lemmonie]

As your baby is new you need to teach her the difference between night and day. Bath at bedtime is a great idea. Also making sure that when she wakes at night the room is kept dark and "night like"

I had a friend say she just couldnt settle her baby down after a night time feed. She was desperately tired and begging for help. Upon listening to her routine the reason was very simple. When her boy woke for a feed she would pick him up, go downstairs and put the telly on whilst she fed him. He thought it was wakey time! Once she started to feed him in the quiet dark he went down no problem at all.

hth

[Rags]

-Pete- said:

Either move to Australia or......................

Edited by Rags on Tuesday 31st August 11:00

[Beardy10]

No one told you your wife would give birth to a badger ? No one told me eitehr.

I think it's because they sleep in the womb when the Mum is moving around and wake up at night when Mum is asleep/trying to sleep. Our second is due at the end of November...I keep saying to my wife she needs to go to Australia for the month before!

It does get better quite quickly and once they are about six weeks old you can get them in a routine relatively easily.

[broadhat]

Beardy10 said:

I think it's because they sleep in the womb when the Mum is moving around and wake up at night when Mum is asleep/trying to sleep.

That's right, we manufacture a product that makes the most of this!

Funnily enough my wife's a Kiwi and we took both of ours to NZ when they were a few weeks old but they still sleep when they want - being down under just means you have no idea if they should be awake or asleep