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7 Ways For New Parents to Get More Sleep

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Welcoming your petite bundle of joy is truly an amazing gift. Having a baby does mean having numerous sacrifices, however, sacrificing your sleep can lead to a plethora of negative outcomes such as stress. Hence, if you get better sleep, you will be rested to perform all the tasks new parents have in front of them, so here are ways you can use to get some vital sleep.

  1. Sleep while the baby sleeps

One of the most common rules of thumb is to sleep whenever your baby sleeps, day or night. Newborns tend to sleep around 18 hours per day, including having long naps throughout the day. Leave all your duties during the day and get to bed while the baby is sound asleep. This may not compensate for your night feeding, but your body will be more rested and prepared for upcoming challenges. Sleeping while the baby sleeps requires having someone around, perhaps to look after you, at least until you get into the scheme.

  1. Perform certain grounding and relaxing activities before bedtime

If you push yourself too hard throughout the day, you won’t be able to get enough good night’s sleep. As the activities that you do during the day affect your sleeping pattern, new parents should take time every day to stay grounded and relaxed. This includes going out for a walk to take a breath of fresh air, taking a long bath, and playing soothing music to unwind. For complete relaxation, it’s crucial to sleep soundly and relax when you do get some time during the night, and for that, it’s essential to have a quality mattress. If you are looking to find a good mattress, you can find here plenty of adequate reviews that will help you with your selection.

  1. Ease down throughout the day

The moment you are given a new role, as parents to a newborn, it’s perfectly reasonable that you should neglect other duties and chores around the house. To have energy and mental sanity for night and day activities around the baby, skip all the chores around the house. Instead of ironing and vacuuming, sleep. Nobody would say a word if the dishes are not washed or if you haven’t unloaded the dishwasher. You need full strength and stamina for the baby, so leave all chores behind and take a nap whenever you can instead.

  1. Cut screen time before bedtime

Most people tend to automatically look at their phones the moment they lie in bed, however, this is one of the main causes of sleep deprivation. If you wish to get more sleep, it’s advisable to minimise the use of any technological devices such as smartphones, TV, or computer before going to bed. The reason behind this notion is that those gadgets emit harmful light waves that can stimulate you more and mess up your sleeping patterns. Instead of looking for new baby clothes to buy before bedtime, simply leave the phone far from your bed and go to sleep.

  1. Split night-time duties

Moms might be “the” parent, but this shouldn’t be the case as both parents should take on similar responsibilities, except breastfeeding of course. If one parent is feeding the baby throughout the night, the other parent should take over other duties throughout the day. By splitting duties more evenly, both parents would have the unique opportunity to experience parenthood equally, plus you would have more time for rest and sleep. Remember that this is only vital in the first months, later the baby would develop a better sleeping pattern and you would be able to retain your sleep once again.

  1. Ask for a helping hand

Sometimes things could be too overwhelming for both parents, in that case, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help from close friends and relatives. They could perform some daily activities that don’t require much effort but which would do you extremely well. Those things could be picking up the groceries, folding the laundry, washing the dishes, and maybe holding the baby while you have a quick nap. Most family members are more than willing to help with the baby such as with diaper changes and feedings if you are bottle-feeding, but all you need to do is ask.

  1. Opt for good sleep hygiene

To get more sleep and rest, no matter if you have a newborn at home or not, you can always incorporate some of these strategies. For example, avoid caffeine in any form, stick to your regular sleep schedule, and avoid using any electronics or distractions. As you would have a lot of nighttime awakenings, don’t let anything or anyone interfere with your sleep.

Bear in mind that this is only a phase, and you would be back on your feet the second your toddler grows a bit. Having a newborn is both a lovely and demanding period, so embrace all the changes.

Jeff Campbell