Night and Day
Posted on: January 29, 2009
A newborn child cannot differentiate between night and day yet, somehow many mums expect this newborn to recognise the difference. While in utero the only difference was that there was less maternal movement at night. Sounds from outside mum were fewer.
When teaching a newborn to sleep better at night one has also to demonstrate a difference in the daytime. Although it takes on average 3-4 months for a child to learn that night time is boring and not worth being awake there are some things mums could do to help the process.
During the day baby should be awake for short periods to feed and to be aware of the environment. Most babies sleep for 18-20 hours a day and wake 3-4 hourly for feeds. They may wake more often if breast fed, because breast milk is more easily digested and therefore the baby is hungry slightly earlier.
During day time wakings baby has to be fed. As mum learns to recognise her baby’s “sleepy signals”, rubbing eyes, yawning etc baby should be put down drowsy but awake, on his/her back in the cot in the main room or in baby’s room in daylight. This allows baby to be dimly aware that there are other things going on. Household noise should be in the background. Background noise will not make baby sleep better but it will reduce the impact of any sudden noise on baby’s sleep.
While baby is awake in the daytime there is an opportunity for a short play time using simple toys , nursery rhythms , mirrors etc.
At night baby should be put down drowsy but awake, in a darkened room with minimal stimulation. Night feeds should be accomplished quietly in dim lighting with minimal handling. It takes a lot of repetition for a baby to build these experiences into a learning about the differences between night and day.
Deirdre Budd's Blog 
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