I'm in desperate need of help. My 10 week old son has had his days and nights mixed up since he was born. It has always been a bit of a joke that family and friends have never seen him with his eyes open. That joke is running very thin. He sleeps alot. Approx 18 hours a day, which I think is far too much for a ten week old.

I think that part of the problem is me. I like to get out during the day, which means im out with him in the car or pram alot. He goes out like a light when out in either of those. I've tried everything to try and keep him awake inbetween times. Eg. Stimulating him with toys, baby gyms, moving him around, bathing him, dousing him with water, taking him in to the cold air, tickling him, changing his nappy, etc etc etc nothing works. I even take him to swming lessons and he sleeps in the water!!!! The other mums think it's really funny but it's not funny when he's up the whole night. And even when I tell doctors they just say things like 'it's good that he's sleeping loads' or 'there'll come a time when you wish he was sleeping during the day.'

He basically just wakes to get fed during the day ( I'm breastfeeding) then goes back to sleep. And just as he was when he was in my tummy, he's wide awake from about 10pm onwards. My bedtime routene with him isn't very good because of his irregular sleeping at night. Because he only really wakens in the evening, this is the only time myself and my OH can 'enjoy' him. I take him to bed with me when I'm going to bed.(around 2230) I feed him then try and put him to sleep. His crib is in my room. I will put him down in complete darkness and he will stay awake for hours. Not necessarily crying but making all the usual baby noises and moving around. This keeps me awake because of the noise he makes but also because It makes me anxious because I know he should be sleeping. He will ask to be fed at around 3-4am then after this feed he stays awake for an hour or two. Then he feeds again at about 8am. After this feed he sleeps soundly and we start the whole day over again with him only waking for feeds. Can I just add that during the night we have followed all the advice like, feeding him in complete silence, not interacting with him at night, in complete darkness, not changing his nappy unless it's dirty etc.

All this is causing so much stress. My OH is now sleeping in the spare room as he can't sleep at nights with my son being awake the whole time. Im on maternity leave And my OH works full time so Im left to deal with him being awake all night. I'm absolutely shattered all the time and can't take much more. I feel that this will all have a detrimental effect on my son because he doesn't get to interact with anyone or anything when he's awake.

What routenes is everyone using? How do I get him to know the difference between day and night?

P.s it's now 1am and I've been in bed since 10pm listening to my son writhing about his crib with no sign of wanting to sleep

Oh wow, really feel for you it must be exhausting! Seems like you've pretty much tried everything to get him to stay awake. I know you enjoy getting out but maybe a week of being indoors most of the time might help? Does he just fall asleep anywhere or is it specifically the car or pushchair?

He falls asleep anywhere! We were at an Easter Monday parAde today and the bands etc didn't even wake him. I'm at a loss what to do.