Newborn Nights: How Families Are Finding Ways to Get More Rest -

Ever wonder what EVERY parent’s number one challenge is?

Sleep. Or more accurately… Lack of sleep.

Running on ZERO sleep is a rite of passage for new families with newborns. The vicious cycle of feedings at all hours of the night, diaper changes at 3am and babies that just won’t stop crying.

It’s exhausting.

But did you know that lack of sleep also affects your mood, health and relationships? Not to mention safe caring for a newborn!

The good news is families are finding solutions for handling newborn nights and they’re sleeping again.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why Sleep Deprivation Is Tough On New Parents
What Does A Newborn Night Nurse Do?
4 Benefits Of Newborn Overnight Help
Ways To Get More Rest During Newborn Nights

Let’s dive in!

Why Sleep Deprivation Is Tough On New Parents

Here’s the thing…

Babies need to eat every 2x to 4x hours. They don’t understand day and night. And they sure aren’t concerned with the time you finally laid them down for the night.

On average, parents lose about three hours of sleep every night with a newborn. According to a recent survey, that’s a total of 133 nights of lost sleep before your baby’s first birthday!

Wake up and smell the coffee.

When you combine several months of little-to-no sleep, parents easily become forgetful, quick to anger, at risk for depression and even more prone to accidents.

It doesn’t stop there. Sleep deprivation plays a huge role in postpartum depression and anxiety. Birth parents have a one in five chance of experiencing PPD/A.

If you’ve ever heard someone say “sleep when the baby sleeps” they’re not kidding.

More families are looking into overnight help to allow them to actually… sleep. And starting your research by understanding the night nurse cost is a great place to start if you’re interested in hiring a newborn night nurse.

What Does A Newborn Night Nurse Do?

A newborn night nurse is a caregiver who comes into your home overnight and cares for your baby while you sleep. They take the night shift so parents can get much needed rest.

Night nurses typically work overnight shifts anywhere from 8x to 12x hours. They will arrive at your home, take over baby duties and leave when morning rolls around. Families typically hire night nurses for a few nights a week. Some parents opt to have nightly coverage for the first couple months.

Don’t let the title fool you.

A night nurse is not always a registered nurse that’s spent years in medical school. While some are, other night nurses come with newborn care certifications and experience.

Either way, the goal is still a rested family knowing their newborn is being cared for by an experienced caregiver overnight.

4 Benefits Of Newborn Overnight Help

Whether it’s a newborn night nurse or another trusted family member, having overnight help with a newborn is a game changer.

Here are the biggest benefits…

Sleep More

This one really goes without saying but nights with professional help mean parents are able to get longer stretches of sleep. Having a few nights a week where you can actually sleep will decrease your chance of a baby brain, improve your mood and increase your overall energy.

Sleep = life when you have a newborn.

Decrease Your Chance Of PPD

Postpartum depression and anxiety have been linked to sleep deprivation. Getting quality rest during those early months can decrease your chances of experiencing PPD/A. Your hormones will thank you later.

Learn From The Pros

With years of experience under their belt, most night nurses are more than happy to share tips and tricks for your baby’s age. Newborn night nurses can assist with getting your baby on a sleep schedule, help with feedings and offer any advice you may have questions about.

This is extremely helpful for first time parents. Babies don’t come with instructions so being able to have a professional guide you through the early months is incredibly beneficial.

Quality Time As A Family

If both parents are losing sleep over the baby, nobody is happy. Irritability and feeling groggy all day long can put a serious strain on any relationship.

But having a night nurse or separate night shifts means parents can be well rested and enjoy some baby time.

Imagine actually reading a book or having conversations with your partner again.

Priceless.

Other Ways To Get More Rest

Of course having extra help overnight is not always an option. Many families cannot afford to or choose not to spend the money on overnight care. But that’s okay!

Here are some other ways to get more sleep at night:

Split The Night

If your family has multiple caretakers available, divide and conquer. One person can wake up with the baby during the first half of the night and the other can take the second half. At least this way each parent can get a few hours of solid sleep.

Swap shifts every night. It’s not helpful if both parents wake up with the baby every time. At that point you may as well just stay awake together.

Ask For Help

Got parents or friends that want to spend time with the baby? Let them! When someone comes over to visit, take the baby from them and sleep. Yes, you read that correctly. Let them hold the baby so you can nap.

There’s no shame in accepting help when your baby is brand new. In fact…

Welcome it with open arms.

Create Baby Sleep Associations

Help your baby fall into a routine early on. Things like having a set bedtime, low lights and white noise can help your baby establish healthy sleep habits from the start.

Did you know that putting your baby down awake yet drowsy can help them soothe? This little tip can help babies sleep longer throughout the night which = more sleep for you.

Sleep When You Can

This cannot be said enough. When your baby is sleeping, you should be too. Don’t feel guilty about sleeping during the day if you didn’t get much sleep at night. There will be time for errands and cleaning later.

Wrapping Up

Newborn nights are hard on families but they don’t have to be. While some situations call for overnight help, there are other alternatives that can be just as effective.

No matter what route you take, always remember that sleep is IMPORTANT when you have a newborn.

Without it you’re putting yourself and your baby at risk. Make sleep a priority for your family and you’ll all feel better for it.

Remember:

Sleep deprivation can lead to serious side effects
Getting extra help at night can allow you to actually sleep
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or take turns when your baby is awake
Creating baby sleep associations early on can be helpful down the road