How to Rectify a Babys Day-Night Confusion?
For newborns, if they experience day and night confusion, it can be quite troublesome for parents and increase their burden, especially when the child cries frequently at night. Generally, this situation is related to the disruption of the child's biological clock, and it can be gradually improved through adjusting their sleep patterns. For instance, if a child sleeps excessively during the day, they naturally tend to sleep less at night.
1. Encourage Regular Sleep Patterns: Most babies have irregular sleep habits due to a lack of established biological clock, resulting in them waking and sleeping regardless of day or night. Parents should start training their babies to form a biological clock from a young age, making it a habit for them to sleep through the night. If a baby sleeps past their usual waking time in the morning, it is advisable to wake them up to help establish a daily biological clock. Babies need to develop regular sleep patterns and supplement their sleep with naps during the day. Waking the baby up at the same time every morning will help regulate their nap schedule.
2. Establish Good Nap Habits: A baby's nap has a significant impact on their nighttime sleep quality. Nighttime sleep affects naps, and similarly, naps that are too long or taken too late in the day can also hinder smooth nighttime sleep. Therefore, babies should have scheduled naps, typically during midday or early afternoon, such as sleeping for half an hour to an hour starting from 1 pm. Of course, there can be some flexibility, and small deviations from the scheduled nap time are acceptable. To establish good sleep habits, it is also important to observe the baby's state. If they sleep on time and do not seem tired or overly excited, then this nap habit is suitable for them.
3. Control Light and Sound in the Bedroom: Use light and sound to promote the formation of the baby's biological clock. By contrasting brightness and darkness, babies can learn to distinguish between day and night, as well as being awake and asleep.