Welcoming a baby into your family is one of the best feelings you will get to experience, but it doesn’t come without difficulties. Trying to understand why your newborn is crying, making sure they are safe in their new home and adapting to being a parent, all while running on little to no sleep, is a challenging part of parenthood.
Figuring out a new routine so you can get enough sleep and make sure your little one is happy and healthy can take some time. You may feel like you can keep running on no sleep for a short while but you will eventually hit a wall of exhaustion. To stop this from happening, we’ve created a list of our top sleeping tips for parents who have just welcomed a baby into their lives.
Sleep when baby sleeps
You’ve definitely heard this before, because it is advice that everybody shares with new parents. But it’s such a popular phrase because it works! You may be tempted to tidy the house or have family come and visit but sleeping when your bundle of joy is in the land of nod is a much better use of your time in the long-run. You’ll get to catch up on some much-needed sleep and feel refreshed when your baby wakes up again.
Sleep in the same room as your baby
It’s advised to sleep in the same room as your baby while they are in a cot when they are first born. This ensures your baby is as safe as possible because they are close to you. Plus, your mind will be at ease knowing they’re not far away, helping you to relax and sleep easier.
Baby monitor
Having a baby monitor is a great idea to keep an eye on your little one throughout the day and night. Instead of having to physically get up out of bed in the middle of the night if you hear your baby stirring, you can simply check the monitor and feel reassured that they are alright. If you wake up during the night yourself, it’s a nice comfort to be able to check on your newborn without fully waking yourself up too much.
Housework
It’s completely fine to put housework off for the first few weeks of your baby’s life. As long as your baby’s space isn’t dirty or unhygienic, don’t worry about spending your free time folding clothes, organising your kitchen cupboards or mopping every inch of your house. Once bottles and pumping equipment are sterilised, let another family member or friend give you a hand with housework.
Visitors
All of your nearest and dearest will want to come and meet the new baby but make sure to set your boundaries. You’re already trying to care for a new life, getting used to a new schedule and you’re recovering after giving birth, so hosting is not a top priority for many new parents. It’s much more important to enjoy a nap when you can instead of having to wake up early to prepare your house for guests to come over. Once you figure out a sleep routine that works for you, then consider having visitors- they’ll understand.
Make a bedtime routine
Everyone plans a bedtime routine for their new arrival, but mums rarely think of creating one for themselves. Try and work out the best routine that works for you and stick to it. Whether that means you having a bath before bed, reading 10 pages of your favourite book or doing the final feed from your bed, having a routine in place will help your body naturally wind down when it knows it should.
Use sleep aids
Try a lavender spray on your pillow or white noise on your phone before drifting off. It’s natural for new parents to be on edge in the first few days or weeks of their baby’s life so to help your mind and body relax, use a safe remedy to help you drift off.
Ask for help
Having a newborn can get overwhelming so make sure to reach out for help from family and friends when you need it. As a new parent, you’re not expected to know everything and coping with the postpartum period is difficult if you don’t share it with somebody. Whether you need to vent to someone to help with your emotions, or need a hand with preparing dinners for yourself, there is no shame in asking for help. It takes a village to raise a child after all.
