Help Yourself Get More Sleep
Once you’ve worked out a bedtime routine with your baby, you can hope that good sleep is on the way. But until that happens, or even once it does, here are some ways to make sure sleep deprivation doesn’t become a serious problem.
- Sneaking sleep in throughout the day can do a lot for your sanity as a parent. “A napping baby is a perfect time to catch a catnap,” Wood stresses. Even if you’re tempting to spend the time checking chores off your list or working on other projects, you must remember that sleep is a priority!
- Watch what you drink. Caffeine and alcohol can both disrupt your sleep. “Alcohol may allow you to fall asleep initially, but then the alcohol can disrupt sleep so that you may awaken or sleep fitfully,” Woods says.
- Have parents tag team in the night. For instance, let dad take care of the baby for a 7-hour (or even 4.5-hour) stretch to allow mom to catch up on some sleep, and then she can take over after that stretch.
- Consider co-sleeping. You may find that when your baby is with you, he wakes up less often.
- Try to eliminate computer work or watching TV right before bed. Sure, the moment Baby goes to bed might seem like a good time to catch up on your favorite TV show or emails, but the flickering light can interfere with your body’s clock. Opt for reading, soft music or hobbies such as knitting or puzzles right before bedtime instead.
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