You’ve probably heard the saying, “A mother’s work is never done.” Moms have the responsibility of juggling families, homes, their own work and schedules. Balancing all of this constantly would leave anyone feeling exhausted.
If you have a family, especially a family with a new baby, there are reasons they could be making you tired, as well as what you can do to feel more rested throughout the day.
Sleep When Your Baby Sleeps
One of the best ways to get enough sleep and stay energized throughout the day is to get on a regular sleep schedule, so you are going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. However, this is not always practical when you have small children, particularly a new baby who wakes up every couple of hours.
Being up with a baby all night will cause you tired throughout the day. However, grabbing a nap is a great way to get more sleep when the baby or your kids are napping. Even a 30 minute power nap will help you to feel more alert and rested.
Transition Your Baby to the Nursery
Some parents find that they are better able to sleep without the baby in the room. While it is convenient for the first couple of months, sometimes the baby’s breathing or restlessness can keep you awake. At some point, it’s a good idea to turn the baby monitor up and move the baby to its nursery so you can get more sleep.
Share Responsibility
With a new baby or young children who are up throughout the night, sharing the work makes it easier to get some much-needed sleep during the night so you feel more rested and. If you are nursing, your partner can get the baby and bring it to you or you can pump and they can give the baby a bottle. If you are bottle feeding, take turns feeding the baby throughout the night.
Ask for Help
Many people have friends, neighbors and relatives who are more than happy to take your kids or babies off your hands for a little while so you can rest and get some sleep or get other things done that would make you feel more energized, such as taking some time to exercise. If you don’t want to impose or you have no family or friends close by whom you trust, hire a babysitter. Hiring a babysitter doesn’t mean you need to go out. Ask them to help so you can go to your room and get some sleep; you might even give them some simple tasks to do while you’re napping, especially if the babies are napping at the same time.
There are other ways you can feel more rested and energized throughout the day, even when kids who keep you up throughout the night.
Examples include:
- Eat a healthy diet. Fattening foods sit in your stomach longer, making you feel drowsy and tired. In addition, relying on caffeine, coffee and energy drinks to keep you up can actually have the opposite effect, making you even more tired once it wears off.
- Exercise. Exercise will leave you feeling energized and refreshed, even if you are tired. Resolve to sneak in some exercise throughout the day.
Having a baby or younger in children can make it difficult to get much-needed sleep. However, these suggestions are just a few ways you might get more sleep and juggle your family responsibilities, too. Once you’re getting a little more sleep, you will feel better and more alert and energized.
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to