Do you know why they made babies so cute? They need to be cute, so we still feed, change, and love them when we are running on empty. Because we are so totally sleep deprived!!!
Sleep, it is the most valuable commodity we can have. We can survive without many things, but a person without sleep, well, that is asking for trouble.
Did you know there is a thing called sleep hygiene? It is essentially good sleep habits…. Obviously not written for a mum of a newborn because here is what is suggests…
Keep regular sleep routine – Is waking 4 hourly routine enough? Given that it takes an hour to feed, then go back to sleep, 4 hourly sounds a bit ambitious, but hey, it is our new ‘routine’.
Don’t fall asleep on the couch as it makes it harder to fall asleep when you go to bed – Don’t tell me I can’t sleep on the couch, if I can get 15 mins on the couch I will get 15 mins on the couch, sleep is a rare commodity, let me sleep on the couch, in the dog bed, or wherever I fall. (whoops, outburst, side effect of sleep deprivation).
Relax an hour before going to bed – Ha, if I have an hour free before bed it is doing the washing, dishes and tidy up, who has an hour before bed to relax when you have a baby??
Activities that are stimulating should be avoided in the hour before bed. This includes moderate exercise – I can do this one, I can avoid moderate exercise an hour before going to bed, in fact I can avoid it all day really.
Keep distracting things out of the bedroom – Do you mean things, like a baby, cos I think I am still going to hear him whether he is in or out of the room.
Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep – I also need a million dollars and a holiday every two months, but I have the same chance of that as getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep with a baby! No need to rub it in.
Dental hygiene – Yes I can manage that twice a day (sometimes just but I do), but sleep hygiene, that is a dream to a mother of a newborn.
To mums of new babies or non-sleepers, I know you can relate, and I feel for/with you. There is light at the end of the tunnel though, they do sleep through at some point.
If you need more specific advice with your bub’s sleep patterns, there a many organisations and sleep consultants under the Google search ‘getting baby to sleep Perth WA’. Wishing you and your bub happy sleeping. ☺
If you simply need ‘time out’ so you can get some sleep or you just need a break to catch up on other ‘things’ book online – click on Cherished Cherubs Babysitting
or phone us on 0417 97 525
