How To Deal With Sleep Deprivation During The First Year Of Your Baby

Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep seems like a dream when you are a new parent. Sleep deprivation, a common phenomenon amongst parents, leads to groggy eyes, dark circles, and tiredness. According to astudy, new parents have a six-month sleep deficit in the first two years of their baby’s birth.

Of course, you love your bundle of joy more than you imagined. But not having a good night's sleep in weeks and months can lead to chronic sleep deprivation in many parents. So you need to act fast and smart to improve your sleep while you enjoy seeing your baby grow. Here are some ways to deal with sleep deprivation during the first year of having a baby:

Bedtime Routine:Setting a bedtime routine for your baby may not be possible in the first few weeks of the child's birth. However, after around 8 to 12 weeks, start establishing a bedtime routine with your infant. Soon your baby will adapt to the routine, and this will help regularize your sleep too.  

Take Turns:Talk to your partner about your sleep needs because if you do not share, he/she will not understand the issue. Ensure that you sometimes reverse the roles and let your partner be the primary caregiver to the child. Some days, you can get a full good night's sleep, and on other days, your partner can get it. Remember, a baby's responsibility falls on both parents. 

Get Help: Even when partners exchange roles, there is every chance that the moms will get less sleep than dads as they breastfeed their babies. However, moms can compensate for sleep loss by getting all the help possible from people around during the day. Do not tire yourself doing other work. Ask other people to do the laundry, cooking, cleaning, and taking the baby out. Sleep during this time. Also, if possible, hire a trained professional to take care of the baby.    

Sleep When The Baby Sleeps:This is the best thing you can do. Babies can sleep for at least 2-4 hours without any disturbance at a stretch. No matter how tempting it is to finish all the housework when the baby sleeps, you must sleep when he/she does. Just hit the bed when the baby is sleeping. You will be better at multitasking only if you get enough sleep. And remember, a dirty house will not cause any harm, but a sleep disorder will. 

Visit Your Doctor: Baby blues is a real thing. Mood swings, constant fatigue, stress, anxiety, overeating, inability to sleep, hypertension, and even postpartum depression are all part of baby blues. Consult a doctor if you have these symptoms. Your doctor will suggest medication or therapy, whichever is best for your condition. Catching the signs early can prevent the condition from worsening. 

Without a doubt, parenting is challenging. There will be more challenges as your baby grows, so taking care of yourself becomes even more critical. Get fresh air, exercise regularly, take some time off, listen to your favorite music, and do everything that keeps you calm and happy. Because if you are happy, you will raise a happy child.