If your newborn sleeps peacefully all day but suddenly perks up at night, you’re not doing anything wrong - you’re simply dealing with day and night confusion, one of the most common early sleep challenges.

The good news: it’s normal, temporary, and totally fixable with a few gentle adjustments.

Here’s why it happens and how to help your baby find their rhythm.

What is day and night confusion?

Inside the womb, there’s no sunrise or sunset. Your movement during the day actually rocked your baby to sleep, and when you rested at night, they often became more active.

Once born, their internal clock - the circadian rhythm - doesn’t automatically know which hours are meant for sleeping.
So it’s perfectly normal for newborns to:

• nap deeply during the day

• be more alert at night

• wake frequently after midnight

• treat bedtime like party time

This usually improves within the first couple of months.

Why newborns mix up day and night

A few developmental factors all happen at once:

1. Their circadian rhythm is immature

It takes weeks for babies to sync with natural light patterns.

2. Womb habits carry over

No light, no dark - and constant soothing movement.

3. Hunger drives everything

In the newborn stage, feeds shape the sleep pattern far more than the clock does.

Signs your baby has day/night confusion

You might notice:

• Long naps during daylight

• Fussiness or alertness in the evening

• Bright-eyed periods in the early hours

• Cluster feeds after midnight

If bedtime feels like a baby rave, this is likely the cause.

6 gentle ways to reset your baby’s sleep clock

These simple shifts can make a big difference.

1. Maximise daylight during the day

Natural light is one of the strongest signals for resetting sleep.

Try:

• opening blinds during wake windows

• feeding near natural light

• taking a short morning walk

Light = day.
Your baby starts to learn this quickly.

2. Keep nights calm and low-stimulation

At night:

• dim the lights

• minimise talking

• avoid too much eye contact

• keep feeds steady and quiet

• use warm, low light only

Dark + quiet = night.

3. Use a Burrito Baby swaddle at night

A snug, secure wrap helps reduce the startle reflex and supports more settled night sleep.
Our newborn swaddle gives gentle containment that feels familiar and calming during those overnight hours.

(Always follow safe sleep guidelines.)

4. Avoid very long daytime naps in complete darkness

You don’t need to wake your baby constantly, but keep daytime naps:

• in natural light

• with normal household noise

• capped at around 1.5–2 hours

This keeps deep sleep anchored to nighttime.

5. Feed frequently during the day

Daytime calories = fewer night wake-ups for feeding.

Aim for a feed every 2–3 hours while the sun is up.

6. Create a short, simple bedtime routine

No need for anything fancy.

Try:

• dim lights

• fresh nappy

• gentle swaddle

• short cuddle

• down for sleep

Consistency helps babies feel safe and ready for rest.

How long does day/night confusion last?

Most babies improve between 6-10 weeks, sometimes sooner.

It’s a short phase, even if it feels long at 3am.

A final note from Burrito Baby

If nights feel upside-down right now, you’re not alone.
Your baby is learning, adjusting, and doing everything they’re meant to do.

And if you want a little extra support during these early weeks, our swaddles are designed to make settling simpler and calmer for both you and your baby.

See the newborn swaddle