Night VS Day

Help!! My baby doesn’t know the difference between night and day!!!!

When babies are born, they’re born without an Arcadian Clock, meaning they’re unable to tell the difference between night and day. This can be very frustrating for new parents, although it does serve an important purpose. The hormone responsible for maintaining breastmilk production and supply is called Prolactin. Prolactin is highest overnight (usually between 1-5am), so our smart little babies know that if they feed more often overnight they’re able to bring more milk in.

So smart right!!

Although, this is such a smart process that our babies commence, it can be so tiring feeling like your baby wakes more overnight that during the day. This can’t be “fixed” but there are some things that you can do to help baby learn the difference overtime.

Babies start to learn the difference of night and day at around 6 weeks old. Here are some ways that you can help baby learn day and night (and hopefully get some better sleep)!!

DAY:

• Feed baby in the light

• Let baby sleep in the daylight for day naps

• Sleep with the door open

• Sleep on the go (pram, car, carrier)

• Sleep with noises around

• Stimulate baby by talking to them, giving tummy time and interacting

  @onemamamidwife

NIGHT:

• Feed baby in a dimly lit room (red light is better)

• Keep the room dark when baby is sleeping

• Use white noise as a sleep association

• When your baby wakes to feed at night, try not to stimulate baby. Try to feed and then put back to sleep (no play)

@onemamamidwife

At the end of the day the most important thing is you find what works for you and your baby and stick to it!!