Tips to Surviving Sleep Deprivation

Life with a newborn can often lead to parental sleep deprivation. It can be hard to predict how this will affect you and your family, what it will feel like for you and how you can manage it. Here are some tips that may help your family plan and cope with sleep deprivation!

1. Sleep when your baby sleeps: This age-old advice holds some truth. Remember that the household tasks can wait or someone may be able to help with those another time. Your sleep is just as important as your baby’s sleep.

2. Make a Postpartum Support Plan: Talk with your support people before your baby is born to make a plan for how you can get some rest

3. Sleep when you can: It is recommended that you get 7-9 hours of sleep each day, but it doesn’t have to all be at once! Try to sneak in cat naps and rest when you can the time - when a visitor is holding your baby, when baby is sleeping, etc.

4. Discuss a plan with your partner: You may want to consider alternating feedings or night support with your partner if this aligns with your feeding plans. It may not be necessary for your partner to wake up each feeding at night, so have them get some sleep so they can be available when you need some sleep.

5. Creating a sleep routine for yourself and baby: You can start creating a bedtime routine with your baby once they are home from the hospital. This will prepare your baby to sleep for longer periods of time at night when they are ready. A routine may include feeding, rocking, reading stories, bath time, lotion, songs, etc. Sleep routines help parent’s prepare for restful sleep too!

6. You’ve got this! It won’t last forever: You and your baby will learn more about each other and a time will come when you figure out what works best for you and your family, so everyone can be well-rested, happy and healthy. You are doing a great job and sleep will come to you sooner than you may think!