Sleeping Tips For New Parents

Lack of sleep goes with the territory of being a new parent. The unpredictable schedules of newborns don't lend themselves to ample sleep for parents. But, it’s so important to try to get whatever sleep you can when you can. And if you can make it a good quality sleep, even better.

A friend recently had her first baby, and she offered some insightful advice on how to make the most of what little time you have to sleep.

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Get into a routine
Your sleep routine will, in most cases, revolve around your baby. And, if you are still breastfeeding or your child isn’t sleeping through the night, wake up calls are inevitable. Establishing a good routine will help your body clock adjust. Have a definite time to go to bed, and wake up at the same time every morning. Make sure you do this on the weekends, too - no staying up late because your partner is going to do the mornings on Sundays.

Clean up your bedroom
Inevitably, your bedroom becomes a dumping ground for all things when you have a young baby. A visitor will pop in at a moment’s notice to meet the new arrival, and you will find yourself tidying up - a lot. The trouble is, all the junk tends to end up in your bedroom - as it’s the only ‘safe’ place you can guarantee visitors won’t see. And, of course, it isn’t good for the soul to fall asleep in a messy and cluttered room. Make an effort to declutter - and de-stress - your room. You'll find it makes a big difference in the quality of your sleep.

Invest in a new mattress
After several recent nights of less than ideal sleep, it has occurred to me that our mattress could be to blame. Our mattress is close to 15 years old, and it's probably time for us to spend a little on luxury for ourselves. A new mattress will help you recover properly and have the strength to give your baby the best possible start in life. So, think about getting a new bed, or even just a new mattress. After recently reading this Tempur memory foam mattress advice guide, and I realize there are plenty of benefits to investing in a new mattress.

Ditch the baby monitor
OK, so this one might sound a little crazy, and it may be tough for new parents. Certainly, if you live in an large house or your room and the baby's room are not in close proximity to one another, there are plenty of reasons why you should hold onto your baby monitor. If you can manage to get rid of it, though, there are also some good reasons to lose the monitor as early as possible. First of all, if your baby is upset, they will always let you know. And, there is always the worry that baby monitors bring with them, too. How many times have you woken up at night in a panic because you can’t hear your little on breathing? If you can bring yourself to ditch the monitor, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t - and it might just help you get some better sleep.

Replenish after breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding your baby, it can be tough to get back to sleep after feeding them during the night. But, take some advice from your newborn - and drink some warm milk. Notice how they get drowsy after feeding? It will work for you. Milk and dairy products contain an amino acid called tryptophan. It helps your brain release sleep-inducing chemicals. It will help you feel a little drowsy and stop you noticing all the night sounds that might keep you from getting back to sleep.

Relax
Finally, nothing causes as much anxiety as having a new baby in the home. You are so protective of your little one, and this can sometimes cause more worry than is necessary. Try to relax. Over-anxiety can impact your sleeping patterns in a big way. And, the more tired you are, the less able you are to look after your baby. It’s can be a  vicious circle - and you need to break it.