How to Get the Sleep You Need as a New Parent

At first, you’re so excited as a new parent to welcome your little one into this world and while that excitement for your little one doesn’t leave, a good night of rest sure can disappear in those first months. However, sleep is important for everyone, for both the baby and you.

Does it feel impossible to get a good night of rest with a newborn? It may feel that way, but there are some things you can do to make sure you get more than just a couple of hours of sleep on a daily basis. Consider these tips below:

Invest in good bedding

Think about the kind of bedding you’re using. Is it time for an upgrade? If you don’t plan on co-sleeping with your child, find bedding that will help you sleep. From soft sheets with a high thread count to a Layla weighted blanket or a soft cotton Luna blanket, there are numerous items that can make a difference in your quality of sleep, even if it’s not as many hours of rest as you’re used to.

Keep in mind that if you plan on sharing your bed with your baby, and won’t use a crib, a weighted blanket is NOT recommended.

Take a nap when the baby sleeps

Chances are, you may not be sleeping well at night if your little one is waking up throughout it. Because babies sleep a lot, you’ll find they’ll sleep a lot in the daytime. While it can be hard to practice taking naps with your baby, you’ll probably find yourself so sleepy throughout the day anyway, it could come naturally.

Either way, take advantage of the baby sleeping and join them for an hour or so. Sleep is important if you’re dealing with postpartum issues, so do your best to get those naps in.

Share responsibilities with your partner

While mama is the one who needs to feed your baby if your family unit is practicing breastfeeding, there are other reasons why the baby wakes up at night. Whether it’s a diaper change or simply discomfort, taking turns to wake up and spend time with the baby can be helpful for both partners to get some rest throughout the night. An option for those who are interested would be for mom to pump milk for nighttime bottles.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Do you have friends and family who have offered help? Some of them may have children and know how much you miss sleeping all night, with the arrival of the new baby. It can be challenging to ask for help, but if you have family members who are willing to take the baby every now and then between feedings, accept help. If not, consider hiring a babysitter on Sittercity.

Consider best practices for babies

During the first few months, you may find it challenging to try to build sleep habits with your newborn. The truth is that nearly every baby will have an odd sleep schedule the first few months. However, once they hit the 3-month mark, you can start incorporating habits that will help serve you for the next months of their first year.

While it can be tempting to rock your baby to sleep, this could result in a year-long habit that will be hard to break. You can also think about using a white noise machine to help you all sleep better at night. Sound machines from YogaSleep can work like magic.

In Conclusion

While many parents who welcome a baby to the world expect nights of little sleep, when it starts happening, it can be difficult to adjust to. With these ideas in mind, you can try to create an environment that is more conducive to sleep, even with a new baby in your life. Most of all, just try to be patient through the process.