Do you find yourself waking up even more tired now that you have little ones who are crawling into your bed in the wee hours of the night? When I was younger co-sleeping or bed sharing with my parents or even grandparents was the norm. For a long time I shared a bed with my grandmother who would rub my back so I could fall asleep, now that I a mom my son loves a back rub at bedtime when I am tucking him in. Today, most parents are about getting their kids to sleep in their own crib or bed, along with sleep training babies and toddlers in order to promote better sleeping habits. Before I became a mom I did think that ideally my kids would be sleeping in their own beds. However now that I am a parent my husband and I are guilty of co-sleeping with both of our children. Some nights we love the feeling of a tiny arm wrapped around you then there are some night’s were we’ve had enough of the elbow jabs in our backs or the tiny fingers pinching you awake like fire ants. Co-sleeping may not work for every family but it is what works for ours and our children are well rested and happy so thats all that matters.
We have attempted to get our eldest to sleep in his own bed and most nights he starts off there but at about midnight his door opens and he’s standing next our bed quietly until someone is aware of his presence, most of time, it is me. We even have another toddler bed setup next our King size bed which he’ll sleep in on occasion without any fuss. But for the most part I end up having to move him over into it several times a night because he still wants to cuddle with mom. Even though I know that it is interfering with my sleep when I still wake up at least another two times with my daughter for her feedings, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I enjoy listening to their breathing in the middle of the night and I know that they won’t be that little for much longer and I will miss their small warm bodies nestled next to mine. On some days I do wonder whose sleep patterns I should be more concerned about myself or my kids, they seem well rested and full of energy to me. If you are a sleep deprived mom and have found yourself, like me on a day like today where I have had a really bad couple of nights of not sleeping well. Mainly, because I have been playing musical beds, cleaning up a potty accident, and waking up early for school drop off I am exhausted and just need sleep.
Yes, this stay at home mom wakes up grumpy as ever but that’s why coffee was invented and having a wonderful spouse who totally gets it. After numerous sleepless nights this sleep deprived momma has a mommy tip or two that I want to share with you. These tips will help any sleep deprived, co-sleeping parent survive their day after a long restless night.
Shower
I know this seems simple enough but it helps! But I do remember being a new mom and how hard it was to shower when your exhausted from waking up with night feedings every couple of hours and now from tiny little fingers poking you in the middle of the night. But I guarantee making time for a warm shower after a long sleepless night will help break up your day so it doesn’t run into each other and drag out. The sound of the water falling around you creates a calming effect and will help wake you up. I like to close my eyes while listening to the droplets falling it sounds like rain and it helps clear my mind. This simple step after a long restless night really makes a huge difference in making my day brighter.
Yoga / Exercise
Movement is perfect for the body even when your feeling like you have no energy to move. Once you start, even in a simple child’s pose, you’ll see how quickly your body wakes up. Practicing yoga in the morning is a must for me because not only does it help get my body moving, it clears my mind and stretches out all those muscles that have been is some awkward position from the night before. If yoga is not for you then try another exercise that will help get your body moving. I like to taking walks or dancing with my daughter, the fresh crisp air from a walk in the morning definitely helps wake me up. On those days when I have not slept well and I do practice yoga I notice that the way I respond to my children is way better than on those days when I don’t.
Eat
This is another one that I have a hard time with eating breakfast, even though I am a stay at home mom, my mornings are filled with preparing breakfast for everyone else. So I recommend that especially on a morning when sleep has passed you by getting food into your body is very important. Try eating foods that boost your energy, help you tackle the day and fuel your mind. In order to help me feel energized after a long night I eat a healthy breakfast, like eggs with avocado toast or yogurt with fruit, one of my favorites is an açaí bowl with nuts and fruits.
Coffee/ Tea
Most morning before I leave the house I make my coffee to go but on these days I need more than one cup to keep going. If I feel like it I will have a second cup after I get home from drop off and have worked out and then possibly an iced coffee around 3 for a pick me up. But three cups it really too much in one day for me, that only happens when it’s a really difficult night. If coffee if not for you then I will switch it up and have a tea in the afternoon even though tea is said to have more caffeine I like to think that tea has a more relaxing effect. So it will help if I decide to indulge in my next tip take a nap.
Nap
This one is the hardest for me because my mind once up is hard to shut down especially when I have a long list of things to get done. Most weekdays I still have my daughter at home with me who has been skipping her daytime naps which means no naps for mom. Today she was with my mom and with some convincing from my hubby I took a NAP!! I felt so refreshed after I was able to get most of what I needed to do done in the afternoon. So I recommend them even though I am guilty of not always taking that much-needed nap. Even when I did work out side of my home I learned how beneficial a power nap was to my well-being. I would take them all the time during my breaks at work while pregnant they were a life saver because we all know that no sleep begins for a mother the day she learns she’s pregnant. So if your a working mom don’t hesitate to sneak in a nap during your lunch break or if your still breastfeeding and need to pump while at work. Do what moms do best multitask pump and nap so you can get some rest for a few minutes.
As a parent we all are doing what we think works best for us and our children and some of us may choose to co-sleep as part of our parenting technique but that doesn’t me its incorrect, just not recommended. My parents did it with me and my grandparents with them so it might be a cultural thing but I know that it is working for us even though it might mean my spouse and I will loose some sleep. Its how we carry on with our day after that sleepless night that makes us better parents. I hope that these tips are a reminder to you as a parent to take care of yourself too, so you have a peaceful day at work or with your kids at home.
Do you have parenting tips that help you get through your day after a restless night?
Thanks for reading!
Cindy
