New Mum? You Must Be Tired!*

Being mum to a newborn is exciting. You’ve waited nine months to hold your little love in your arms, and now they’re here! There’s no denying that having a new baby is amazing. But, it can also cause a lot of stress. Not only is your body recovering, but you have new life on your shoulders! That’s overwhelming enough. Add sleep deprivation, and you’ve got new motherhood! That sleep deprivation will not aid your recovery, or put you in the best stead to look after your little one. The good news is, there are ways to make sleep easier. If you’re struggling to get the balance right, these tips should help.

Share the Responsibility
It’s important to share the responsibility of night time feeds with your partner. By that, we don’t mean taking it in turns to wake up. A lot of couples try that, but it isn’t the best option. You’ll both end up exhausted. Instead, consider having one evening on, one evening off. That way, you can ensure one of you gets enough sleep at least every other night. This will make a huge difference to both of your mental states. To give this idea the best chance, make sure the sleeping parent isn’t disturbed. Nights apart may not be the best, but in those first months, it may be worth sleeping in different rooms. That way, you won’t both wake up each time the baby cries.

Adjusting to Sleeping in the Day
You won’t get through the first months if you don’t learn to sleep during the day. Anytime your baby sleeps is time you could sleep, too. If you don’t have thick curtains, invest in some made to measure curtains that are thick enough to block out the sunlight. Turn off your phone and shut down your computer. You don’t want any distractions. Then, get to sleep! Don’t worry about setting the alarm if you don’t have any plans. Your bundle of joy is sure to wake you up before long. Sleeping during the day can seem strange when you aren’t used to it. Even so, you’ll get used to it in no time. Remember, you deserve that sleep!

Find Ways to Get to Sleep Fast
When you’re running on limited sleep, you don’t have time to take an hour getting to sleep in the first place. You’re going to need to adjust to getting to sleep the moment your head hits the pillow. Otherwise, you’re going to be even more tired. Like sleeping through the day, this may take a little while to adjust to. Make small changes, like cutting out electronic screens and caffeine drinks before bed. Try, too, to let your mind shut down. You have a lot of new things to think about, but bedtime is no time to consider them! For the most part, it should be easier than it sounds. After a few weeks with your new baby, you’ll be so tired you’ll be asleep before you even reach the pillow!