Fresh Parents Struggle To Get Enough Sleep

Many fresh parents struggle to get enough sleep – sometimes even to get even a little sleep. The first days and weeks of a baby’s life can be difficult and exhausting for parents, especially if there is a fear of whether the child is all right.

Everyone certainly knows that a newborn sleeps most of the day, but a baby also needs to be fed around the clock. A young child’s habits are similar throughout the day and night, and parents can find it difficult to adjust their own schedules to the child’s routines.

It would naturally be important for both parents and baby to get enough rest. Although sleeping with a newborn seems difficult, it is possible. 

Both first-born and more experienced parents experience everything as new, as the baby is full of surprises. The key is to understand that the baby is his or her own individual and person with his or her own needs and specialties.

The problem is not actually the baby’s sleep, but rather the parents ’ability to adjust to the child’s sleep rhythm and take advantage of the resting opportunities. As we said, babies sleep a lot, and it would be good for parents to try to rest at the same time as the child, but of course this is not always possible. In some cases, new parents may have problems falling asleep.

Do mothers sleep more than fathers?

According to some studies, mothers get more sleep than fathers. Mothers sleep for a few hours at night and take naps when the baby is asleep. Fathers, on the other hand, work during the day following less nightly sleep.

Babies sleep throughout the day, often waking up just to eat or feel uncomfortable. So mothers may well sleep more than fathers, albeit in smaller chunks. However, getting rest in snippets can make a mother tired.

There are also many families where the father sleeps the nights normally while the mother is taking care of feeding the baby, and in such cases the mother of the family is undeniably more tired than the father.

This way, fresh parents get more rest

• Take advantage of opportunities for rest. It is important to take every opportunity to sleep, even if it is only for a short moment. So it pays to sleep when your baby is sleeping, because soon this stage is over too. Lack of sleep can lead to exhaustion, mood swings and irritability. So you should not miss the opportunity to rest as much as possible.
• Please be patient. The baby’s sleep rhythm begins to level off when he is about three months old. In some cases, the baby may sleep up through the night or for at least many hours in the tube. Over time, the baby also does not need to be fed as often as during the first weeks of life. So be patient; the first months may be difficult, but they are not impossible. Remember, things get easier over time. When a child finds their own rhythm of life, even the parent has a better chance of getting their lost dreams back.

• Work with a partner. One of the benefits of living as a couple is that you can work as a team with a partner. So it’s a good idea to share tasks with a partner. For example, you can take care of your baby in turns. When the mother takes care of the baby one night and the father the next night, the fatigue does not get too big. It is often impossible for both parents to get to sleep if the child cries a lot.

• Help the baby to rest. There are two types of babies: those who sleep well and those who cry at night. Reassuring a crying newborn can be difficult, but there are techniques for doing so. We advise you to sing to your baby, listen to soothing music or rock him in a rocking chair. A well-sleeping baby usually only wakes up to eat or when it’s time to change a diaper. In a situation like this, parents have more time to get rest.

• Take care of your diet. It is important to eat as healthy as possible, as a balanced diet promotes rest and well-being. You should avoid caffeine, soft drinks and even chocolate as they contain theobromine. In some cases, inappropriate food can even be a barrier to regular sleep.