Sleep Tips For New Parents

It is no secret that new parents are some of the most sleep deprived people around. Newborn babies are waking up every few hours to eat. It can take months for your little one to sleep through the night. Which means new parents are typically worn out and exhausted. Coming home with a newborn is going to change your sleep schedule for a while. However, there are several sleep tips for new parents to get the rest you need in order to function properly and have enough energy to take care of your new bundle of joy.

Keep The Crib Close By:

Just because you set up the most adorable nursery for you baby does not mean you need to use it right away. You are going to be getting up rather frequently throughout the night. Having the crib or bassinet near your bed is going to make nightly feedings and diaper changes faster and easier.

This also helps with new parent anxiety, instead of going down the hall or squinting at the baby monitor you can simply pear over the side of your bed.

You will be able to quickly get to your little one right when they start to stir and get them all taken care of and settled back in quickly and without having to even leave your bedroom. This will make late night feeding and diaper changes much faster and easier. It will also allow you to get back into bed quickly in order to get back to sleep.

Don’t Bed Share While Sleeping:

It is totally fine to share your bed with your little one while nursing or comforting. However, once it is time to fall back asleep we highly suggest getting your little one to go back to sleep in their crib. Not only will this help you to sleep better, this is also important for keeping your baby safe.

It can even help when you are trying to get your little one to sleep in their own room later on down the road. If they are used to being held or feeling you while they sleep it will become more difficult for them to sleep without you.

Weighted Blankets

With such frequent disruptions to your sleep, falling back asleep as quickly as possible with be immensely helpful for getting as much sleep as possible. Which is why we highly recommend using a weighted blanket. It helps to ease anxiety and soothe you back to sleep quickly.

Whether you are trying to squeeze in a fast nap on the couch or get back to sleep after a 3AM feeding, a weighted blanket can help you get back to sleep much faster. As well as go into a deeper more relaxing sleep too.

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Share Responsibility (Day & Night):

If you have partner that you’re raising your baby with, be sure to work as a team. Dividing up responsibilities will make it easier on both of you in the long run. Whether it is nighttime feedings, diaper changes, or picking up dinner take turns dividing and conquering the daily and nightly tasks that present themselves.

Try to help one another out wherever possible. If you know that your partner got the last diaper change, try to get the next one for them without being asked. Remember that you’re both exhausted and in this together. Sharing all of the responsibilities will lighten the load for both of you.

Cut Down On Time Elsewhere

Time is precious as a new parents. If there are places in your schedule where you can minimize effort and speed up the process, this is highly recommended. There are now so many ways to run errands from the comfort of your home. You can order groceries from a delivery service, order take out, even schedule a cleaning service from the comfort of your bed on your phone.

With so many different ways to minimize or eliminate tasks off of your to do list, there is little to no reason not to do so. You can use all of that time and effort spent with your newborn. Feeding them, soothing them, loving them. Or you can take a nap instead of running errands or making dinner.

Not looking to eat out all of the time? This is completely understandable. Even if you’re trying to pinch the pennies there are ways to make the most out of your time and effort. Double every meal you make and put the extra in the fridge or freezer.

It is much easier to throw a pre-made casserole in the oven than to start over from scratch. This way you’re only having to put in the time and effort into that meal once and you’re working ahead in order to give yourself an easy meal in the future.

Accept Help Whenever It’s Offered:

Not only is this great advice for new parents, it is also fantastic advice for any time in your life. If someone is offering to help you out, accept it. You will also find that when you graciously accept help it not only makes that person feel good it may lead to more help being given in the future. This also comes down to asking for help when you really need it.

You have likely received a few blanket offers that sounded something like… “If you ever need anything, just let us know!” When the time comes around where you are really in need of help, don’t hesitate to ask for it. Those who love you dearly will always be happy to lend a helping hand. Even if it is just to watch the baby while you take a nap.

Don’t Underestimate The Power of a Power Nap:

You will be amazed by how much energy you can get from a quick reboot. If you’re feeling like you’re at your wits end, or like you’re running on empty, then do what you can to take a power nap for 10 to 20 minutes. This gives your brain enough time to do a reboot without going into a deep REM cycle.

If you go into a REM cycle that you then wake up during the middle of, you may end up feeling more tired than you were before. While a quick 10 – 20 min nap is the perfect time for a power nap. This allows you to wake up feeling refreshed and with more energy to take on the rest of the day. The great news is that you can take multiple power naps per day and it works better than a cup of coffee.

Sleep While Your Baby Sleeps

We know! You have already heard this hundreds of times already. However, you have heard this so much before because it is just so TRUE. It is tempting to take care of things while you have the free hands to do it. However, one thing that you simply can’t do while your baby needs you, is sleep.

You need your sleep, so even though there are dishes in the sink and dinner needs to be made, if you are able to take a nap while your baby takes a nap. Do it! Get that sleep while you can, the dishes can wait.

Don’t feel all that tired? Try simply resting your body and your eyes (put the phone down, shut off the TV) just rest your mind. You may not fall asleep, and that is okay. Allowing yourself the mental and physical break is welcomed and well deserved.

You will also likely find that when you do this, even if you don’t think you’re all that tired that you will be out before you realize it. It has been said before and it is always worth saying again encase you ever forget; Whenever baby is sleeping, you should be sleeping too.

Take Advantage of Parental Leave:

We know you’re job is important to you and it can be difficult to let go of the reigns for a while and focus on family. However, in order to get settled into a new schedule, taking parental leave allows for you to get the sleep you need, even if it isn’t throughout the night.

This also allows for an even balance between you and your partner. Instead of the work falling on one persons shoulders while taking care of the newborn falls solely on the other. If you are lucky enough to be offered parental leave, take advantage.

Take a Nap Date:

It has been a few months and you’re starting to get in the swing of things but you’re quite simply exhausted. We suggest having a nap date as a couple. Ask someone you love and trust to come over to the house and watch your little one while you take a good long uninterrupted nap.

You can either choose to sleep in your room or if you simply can’t sleep if you so much as hear a peep out of your baby, then it may require a night in a hotel room. Most first date nights turn into a nap date anyway, might as well cozy up and take advantage of some uninterrupted sleep.

Avoid Late Night Caffeine: 

This may seem like an obvious suggestion. However, as you get accustomed to being awake at strange hours of the night, that you’re tempted by caffeine. While a small cup of tea or coffee as you go about your business taking care of your baby.

However, this will of course keep you from falling back asleep and will likely keep you awake when you may have otherwise been able to fall back asleep and get several more hours in before starting your day.

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Sleep Tips For New Parents – Final Thoughts:

As a new parents, getting enough sleep may seem like a distant dream. However, we hope with these helpful tips and tricks you will be able to get more sleep than you imagined. It isn’t going to be easy, but remember that every bit of shut eye counts. Power naps are going to be your best friend for a while (and that’s okay), avoid late night caffeine, don’t be afraid to ask for help, share duties with your partner, and never forget the golden rule… Sleep whenever your baby is sleeping.