Newborn confusing days and nights? Help for a new mom, please...

DS is only a week old, so maybe I can't do anything about this, but he is an ANGEL during the day but wails inconsolably at night. I was up with him literally ALL last night. He wailed from 11PM to 6AM. I thought maybe it was gas (he is very gassy and his stomach rumbles a lot), and tried Dr. Brown bottles, which didn't seem to help, plus, if it is gas, you think he would be as uncomfortable during the day.

Things I've tried...

Wake to feed him every 3 hours during the day and attempt to keep him awake (though that doesn't really work...he just passes right out after eating).

During the day have on all the lights/TV, and at night leave it dark with no noise.

Diligent with burping, etc.

Any suggestions? Or when does it get easier? I was just sitting up with him at 4AM crying out of frustration myself because I felt so helpless...Nothing I do seems to soothe him at night.
And I just can't stay up every night, esp. when we have people visiting during the day.

Re: Newborn confusing days and nights? Help for a new mom, please...

you can try the mylicon drops for gas.

but honestly Landon was the same way for a few weeks after birth. Things got better around 6 weeks and much better by 8 weeks.

Re: Newborn confusing days and nights? Help for a new mom, please...

DS was like this the first week. Nothing helped, eventually it just passed. DH and I would take turns at night with him.

Re: Newborn confusing days and nights? Help for a new mom, please...

There isn't much you can do really. It just takes them some time to work out their internal clocks. And just as an FYI.......don't try to keep them up during the day. It doesn't help in terms of getting them to sleep at night. In fact, you will find as time goes on the MORE they sleep during the day the better they sleep at night. Aside from that, babies need a lot of sleep early on so let him sleep as he needs it. My DD use to pass out after every bottle. Sometimes she didn't even finish her bottles. She was asleep most of the day when she was little and trying to keep her awake was impossible.

Unfortunately, it all just takes time so you just have to come to terms with the fact that when people are visiting you will be EXHAUSTED!! I was tired a lot and I either napped when people were here because quite frankly I needed to or I told people we needed a break from visitors or they couldn't stay long. The first few weeks are hard and tiring but it gets better as time goes on. Hang in there.

Re: Newborn confusing days and nights? Help for a new mom, please...

This first 2 1/2 weeks were like this for us. Now at a little over 3 weeks Liam is waking up 2x/night and eating and going back to sleep.

Things I have done:
1. Don't let him nap between 7 pm and 10 pm (We usually put him down sometime after 10 depending on what time her is due to eat).
2. Swaddle him with the swaddle me blanket.
3. Rock with him before putting him in the crib while swaddled
4. Use a sleep positioner in the crib
5. Have white noise in the background as he goes to sleep.

This combination seems to be working well for us. Usually he wakes up, eats and goes back to sleep. He does need to be burped too because sometimes he gets the gas bubble as well.

It will get better! I promise. Everyday gets a little easier!