October 1, 2015

Health & Safety, Sleep Center

A Mom’s Guide to Surviving Sleep Deprivation

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 moms guide to surviving sleep deprivation - cloud b

Did you know a new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year? Or that some studies suggest women need up to an hour’s extra sleep a night compared to men, and not getting it may be one reason women are much more susceptible to depression than men? Or that if you’re sleep deprived, key parts of your brain may be dozing even when you’re awake? It’s a real Catch 22 that babies = chronic sleep loss, but sleep is imperative for your physical and mental health. What can you do to get a little more of those precious zzzzzz’s? Here’s a mom’s guide to surviving sleep deprivation to help you through this phase that, we promise you, will end someday. We’re also giving away one of our new Stay Asleep Buddies sleep trainers to help get your little one into a more restful routine!

Tip #1: Talk To Your Partner About It While You’re Pregnant.

You might constantly be talking about finishing the nursery, making sure you have a bag packed and ready to go to the hospital, and baby names – but this is an important issue that needs to be discussed as well. How are you going to juggle your schedules? What chores can your partner take on that you’re doing now? How about trading off who wakes up at 3 AM? You can’t plan ahead for everything, but talking about it before the baby is born will help your partner understand how tired you’re going to be.

Tip #2: If the Baby Is Asleep, You Should Be Too.

Plenty of moms laugh at this one. What about the laundry? What about the dishes? What about showering? Trust us. You need the sleep more than anything else. Every little bit of sleep that you get is going to help you out a lot, so quick naps in the middle of the day are important. 

Tip #3: Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help.

Anything that someone is willing to help out with; let them. You don’t need to try to prove to the world that you’re a superhuman that can do it all. Go ahead and ask for some help. You might not normally be the kind of person that’s comfortable making that call, but extreme circumstances call for ‘extreme’ measures. (And people are generally more than happy to oblige!)

Tip #4: Talk To a Doctor If You’re Depressed.

After you’ve had a baby it’s completely normal to have a huge range of emotions, especially for the first two weeks. For some mothers, this becomes too severe, and they experience post-partum depression. Sadly, a lot of women don’t want to talk to anyone about this because they feel embarrassed or ashamed. There is NOTHING to be ashamed of if you’re feeling depressed. Talk to your doctor so you can get the treatment you need. Taking care of you is important for YOU and your baby.

Tip #5: Visit Family.

Does Grandma want to see the baby A LOT? Why not go and spend a weekend with her? You might be surprised how great it feels to have someone else there to help out as you relax on a couch in someone else’s home.

Tip #6: Take a Deep Breath and Remember, This Won’t Last Forever.

Oxygen plays a vital role in our health and well-being. Clearly, without it, we die. But even more so, deep breathing can reduce stress, rejuvenate the body, and more. Did you know that sighing and yawning are sign you’re not getting enough oxygen. Take some full, deep breaths any time you’re feeling wiped out. Also, at some moments of peak of zombieness you need to remind yourself that this is a phase and that your child will grow out of it. Slowly but surely, you will get more sleep and start to feel like a human being again. Try to keep a sense of humor about finding the remote control in the fridge and a shoe in the freezer. It makes for great stories to tell your kids when they are older.

Now, we want to hear from you. What tips do you have? Maybe it’s something you did with your first child, or maybe it’s something your mom recommended or you read in a book or came up with yourself. Whatever it is, share it in the comments below for a chance to win one of our new Stay Asleep Buddies sleep trainers (ERV $30.95)!

stay asleep buddies cloud b

Stay Asleep Buddies are interactive, plush pals who teach children when to sleep and when to wake! Using gentle melodies and glowing lights, children quickly learn to distinguish between bedtime and playtime – meaning more sleep time for both of you! Plus, the Stay Asleep Buddies are easily programmable for a full night’s rest or a much-needed nap.

Functioning as a sleep trainer, nightlight and sound soother all in one, Stay Asleep Buddies are the perfect solution for developing healthy sleep routines. Simply set the timer and Stay Asleep Buddies will do the rest!

UPDATE: Congratulations to our lucky winner, Carrie Lee! Thank you all for participating – watch our blog for November’s giveaway starting soon!

ENTER TO WIN! Here’s how >

REQUIRED:

In the comments below, share a tip for surviving sleep deprivation.

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

  • Sign-up for the Cloud b Club newsletter
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For each additional entry, leave a separate comment letting us know what you’ve done (and what your profile name is where relevant). If you’ve already done any of these in the past, just leave a comment stating so. You can enter up to 9 times by taking all of the actions listed above and the more entries you make, the more chances you have at winning!

One random winner will be selected on October 31st, 2015!

Good luck!!!

No purchase necessary. Must be US resident, 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Click-through for full sweepstakes rules.

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87 thoughts on “A Mom’s Guide to Surviving Sleep Deprivation”

  8. amy tolley

    surviving sleep deprivation is best settled on relaxing and sometimes taking 10 for yourself and breathing and enjoy the little things in life try to not stress over everyday life issues

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  16. Bianca Munoz

    I think that having a meal or food in general in the morning helps, and the one that helped me a lot, sleep when baby sleep! Thank you for the giveaway 🙂

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  17. Donna Clarissa Bass

    Sleep when baby sleeps is the best hint, also if you cant sleep, warm up some milk it really works!

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  18. Sherrie McQueen Gilstrap

    My best solution for sleep deprivation is lots of coffee and energy drinks. A mother’s work is never done.

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  36. Briana-Celeste

    Advice from a first time mother: if ever help is offered, accept it, and if it isn’t, do not be afraid to ask!!! Having help will make it easier for you to PLAN AHEAD: Hubby, mom, sis, or mother in law can prepare meals that can be frozen so that finding time to eat can be a cinch, even when you’re feeding your little one and running back and forth to get everything else done. As a mom who chose to breastfeed, I know the importance of getting the well-balanced nutrition required to keep you and your little one healthy–ESPECIALLY if you have chosen to breastfeed. Cleaning? Not so important right now. What I would do is clean one part of the house if I felt up to it (i.e. the bathroom, or the kitchen, etc.) OR do a couple loads of laundry. The following day, I would allow myself to just rest, take care of myself and little foot. (: Whenever possible, PLAN AHEAD. It also gets you more organized than you may be otherwise. Planning ahead will allow you to take care of YOU–and, therefore, allow you to be in the best shape to care for your little one.Even if you are able to sleep when your little one sleeps, making sure to eat will keep you feeling that much better. And just remember–you’re someone’s best mommy in the whole world. <3 — brianacelestesmith@gmail.com

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  37. Cassie

    I don’t have any mom sleep deprivation tips since we’re still expecting our first, but I’m looking forward to reading everyone else’s tips !

    Reply ↓
  38. Lori Killeen

    Don’t be afraid to ask or accept help! As a new mom, I know it can sometimes feel very overwhelming. Ask for help even if it is for an hour – you need a little time for yourself whether it is to rest, relax or just regroup.

    Reply ↓
  54. Cheryll Cosenza

    I found putting my little one in a carrier right against my heart comforted him. I would go around the house cleaning and whatever until he fell asleep…which was pretty quick since he was so comfy. As soon as he did, I would sit in our big, comfy armchair and rest my eyes and take a quick nap while he slept comfortably against me. I got the most sleep that way…with him strapped to my chest. It’s probably not ideal but I took what I could get, lol.

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  58. Carol Roberts clark

    just get rest when you can my son was every 2 hours it was clock work so i started feeding him throughout the day hearty things like rice at an early age cause i caught myself just standing in front of the fridge not knowing how long i was there just staring in to the fridge and i said o lord and i called good old faithful grandmaw

    Reply ↓

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