by April May Maple

Created on: May 03, 2009

Being the parent to a newborn is one of the most demanding responsibilities a person can have. Your new bundle of joy is dependant upon you for everything. Your lifestyle will completely change and sacrifices are expected. Unfortunately, the biggest sacrifice is loss of sleep. The every few hour feedings and changings are enough to disrupt your sleep schedule. When you factor in trying to maintain the household and numerous visits from well-wishers, napping does not seem much of an option.

First things first, sleep when you can and do not feel guilty about it. If you are tired and the baby is sleeping, enjoy a nap. Do not worry about the dishes in the sink or the laundry that needs folded. Those things can be done when baby is up. Your baby needs you at 100% and getting enough sleep will help you stay at 100%.

Do not underestimate the benefits of a 20-30 minute power nap. It will help you recharge and help you perform at your best. Power naps are also proven to help with memory and with a new baby; there is a lot to remember.

When you are sleeping, try to limit distractions. Unplug your phone or turn your cell phone to silence. Waking up in the middle of a sleep cycle can actually leave you more tired than before you fell asleep, leaving you groggy and disoriented. Those phone calls can wait a bit longer until you are up.

Chances are friends and relatives will want to stop by and visit. If you are not feeling up to company, tell them so. Your company will understand and they likely will want to visit when you are feeling your best. If you have company coming over and your little one decided that he did not want to sleep the night before, a polite phone call explaining the situation is all that is needed. Your visitors may even offer to come over and sit with baby so that you can catch up on sleep.

Do not be afraid to ask for help. Your partner, friends and family understand the struggle of adjusting to life as a new parent. Asking for help does not mean you are weak and an inferior parent. Grand parents, aunts, uncles and friends would love some one on one time with the new addition and your baby will love getting to know the people close to you.

If sleep is especially hard to come by and you spend the nights worried about your baby, or getting up and down to care for the baby, consider co-sleeping. There is a lot of negative information regarding co-sleep, on average the numbers of incidence where babies are smothered is comparable to the number of deaths caused

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