How to get more sleep as a new parent

Sleep is a huge topic in my world. I have three children. One has always had a low sleep need, the other very high. We’ve not figured out what the baby will be yet.

When you’re pregnant, people say things like, get as much sleep as you can now, because you won’t be getting it when the baby comes. If only you could bank sleep!

When you give birth and bring that baby home, you’re going to be a new level of exhausted. You’ve either pushed a baby out and your body has been through a marathon, or you’ve had major abdominal surgery. Either way, your mind and body will be tired.

So, how do you get more sleep as a new parent?

1. Go to bed
   Netflix will still be there when your baby is in a routine. Sacrifice your evening for now, it won’t be forever. I go to bed at 7 or 8pm. This means even if I wake 3/4 times in the night I’m still getting 7/8 hours sleep.
2. Feed lying down 
   Practice lying down feeding. This should be done following safe sleep guidelines (no pillows or loose bedding, no one else in the bed, no alcohol before, no smokers.) If you nail it, it’s a game changer.
3. Read during feeds 
   Looking the blue light of your phone is going to seriously wake your brain up. Try reading during long feeds. Sometimes I just stare into the abyss if it’s a short one!
4. Get help with other kids
   My partner is in charge of the girls at night. If they need something or wake up early, it’s all him. This means I don’t have to worry about the girls (who occasionally wake) and the baby. If they’re ill in the night he takes them, too.

Sleep as a new parent is different

Accept sleep won’t be what it was before you had babies. They don’t all get the memo that 7-7 is ideal. Some have high sleep needs, others have low sleep needs. Much like us adults.

You might have one child who survives fine on 10 hours, and another who can’t function without 14.

When you have a baby you just accept that sleep will be different and you have to take it where you can. You might not sleep in bed with your partner for now, you might miss out on evening TV, you might wake up multiple times in the night. 

But It’s not forever. This is just for now. 

Learn about baby sleep to get more sleep as a parent

Get to know wake windows. Learn your babies sleepy cues. Teach them to self settle (not always through crying!) For us, we created the perfect space for sleep – white noise, darkness, good temperature, red lamp. When they don’t need you to settle at night, they’ll hopefully sleep longer!

Follow Just Chill Baby Sleep on IG for excellent sleep tips.