Getting Through Sleep Deprivation
Before you have children, there are moments in time where you think you understand what sleep deprivation is. You might have been pulling all-nighters while you study, or you may have been working through the night on the new business, but sleep deprivation doesn't truly kick in, and the meaning of the words doesn't truly kick in until you've had children. When you're studying or working through the night, you are in control of when you get to go to sleep.
So if you're pushing yourself to stay awake, that's a very different experience than having somebody else pushing you to be awake. A baby who pushes you to be awake is someone you absolutely adore and love, but it's not something you can get away from readily. When you are working through the night, you can put down tools and sleep whenever you want to, but if you're ready to sleep but your baby isn't, that's a whole other kettle of fish.
Sleep deprivation is not good for human beings. It can lead to mood swings and difficulty in your everyday performance, and it can really impair your ability to function well. That doesn't mean it has to overtake your life. Books such as “4-Month Sleep Regression: Your Survival Guide Is Here” will help you to get through those moments of sleep regressions and sleep leaps that you won't find in any other time of life. Sleeping well with an infant could seem impossible when you're going through those leaps and regressions, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, we promise.here are some tips for getting through that sleep deprivation in one piece.
Get to know the sleep patterns your baby has settled into. A lot of us feel better when we stick to a regular sleep schedule, and the same is true for your baby. They will not be able to get themselves into any kind of sleeping routine before the age of 6 months, and you won't be able to do that either. You could have a loose idea of a routine as to when you put them down for bed at night, but you won't be able to force a child into a routine that they don't want. Getting to know their sleep patterns can help you to anticipate when their naps are coming and put them down for a sleep so that you can also get some rest.
Get In Sync with your baby's sleep schedule. If you can get their daytime naps regularly, you'll know what to expect from them, and you'll know when you can catch up on your own sleep when you had a rough night. The phrase sleep when the baby sleeps has no real meaning because you can't wash when the baby washes or shower when the baby showers either. Get in with their sleep schedule and you’ll find it easier to sleep at night.
Share the load. The easiest way to get through sleep deprivation is to share the load with the person you've had the baby with. Making sure that you divide your sleep so that you each get a few hours per night is going to help you to feel fully rested during the day. You can alternate nights, or you could take night shifts together, but you do need to think of a way to make sure that you are both getting adequate sleep, whether you have work the next day or not.
Do not suffer alone. Enlisting friends and family to help to care for your baby while you take some sleep hours is important. You do need to think of your own self-care and rest and relaxation as part of that. People will be happy that you have asked them for help because they will be excited to be able to help you. It's vital that you keep up with this though, because you don't want to slip into a depression from lack of sleep, which can and does happen.
Make sure that your own sleeping routine is solid. When you do get a chance to get your head down and get some sleep, make sure that you are letting go of screen time and you are sleeping in the right kind of environment. As much as you'll create a good environment for your baby to sleep, you do need to create your own environment for you to sleep as well.
Say no to others. You do not have to do things when you’re so tired you cannot function. Make sure that you are saying no if you are too tired; don't be afraid!