Here's what the survey found The survey found that the majority of new parents are getting between 5 and 6 hours of sleep each night. Sadly, no surprises there. On average, each new parent loses a staggering 109 minutes of sleep every night for the first year after having a baby.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine, like a bath
But even adding a few minutes to your bedtime routine could make a big difference. "It's also helpful for new moms to have their own relaxing bedtime routine to unwind after a hard day of taking care of their new baby," says Murray.
Starting a family is a well-known way to make a good night's sleep a distant dream, but new research suggests the parental yawns might go on for six years.
Sleep While the Baby Sleeps
New parents are often severely sleep deprived if the only sleep they're getting is overnight. “Sleeping while the baby sleeps can sometimes be challenging because of other kids in the house or our internal body clocks, but it's a good idea to try and get some rest,” says Pien.
Sleepless nights are common in new parenthood, but they do not last forever. Most babies will begin to sleep for longer periods at night from the age of 6 months old. Newborn babies need to feed every few hours until the age of 3 months. After this, it is normal for infants to feed once or twice during the night.
“Night one is a euphoric night,” said Jennifer Howting, a registered nurse in paediatrics based in Kingston, Ont. “But babies on night two wake up a lot more—they're more alert and are ready to feed. The second night is when the exhaustion really hits [for parents].” Night two can bring a lot of crying.
Most people find the first six to eight weeks to be the hardest with a new baby, and whilst people may not openly discuss many of the challenges in these early weeks of parenthood (if at all), there are a number of common hurdles you may face at this time.
But generally, it found that everyone, from moms working multiple jobs to dads with five kids, are clocking over 8 hours of sleep a night, with many getting nine or ten. To that we say: on what planet? To that we say: excuse me?
Of course there are always exceptions to any rule – some babies crave their own space. But for the most part, babies sleep best when they're next to their mothers.
Both the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have long advised new parents not to bed-share, warning that it's dangerous and poses suffocation risks, along with a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
The postpartum period begins after the delivery of your baby and ends when your body has nearly returned to its pre-pregnant state. This period often lasts 6 to 8 weeks. The postpartum period involves your moving through many changes, both emotionally and physically.
Get out and about
Getting out for a walk and fresh air could help blow away the cobwebs (NHS, 2021). Daylight during the day has also been shown to improve a baby's sleep at night (Thomas et al, 2016). Tiredness can make it more difficult to feel motivated and might mean some mums find it easier to stay at home.
Sleep disruption changes over time
“While having children is a major source of joy for most parents, it is possible that increased demands and responsibilities associated with the role as a parent lead to shorter sleep and decreased sleep quality even up to six years after birth of the first child,” said Lemola.
Experts recommend that new moms get at least seven hours. While this study provides valuable insight into the importance of sleep, be patient with you and your baby in the postpartum period. Consider asking for help, sleeping when your baby sleeps, and forgoing bed sharing to optimize your sleep schedule.
Babies often prefer their primary caregiver
Most babies naturally prefer the parent who's their primary caregiver, the person they count on to meet their most basic and essential needs. This is especially true after 6 months when separation anxiety starts to set in.
Studies have shown that by three months of age your baby can discriminate between their mother's face and the face of a stranger.
Breastfed newborns need to nurse every 2-3 hours, that's 8-12 times a day. This means that, due to the short duration of their sleep, new mums tend to lack REM sleep. This is a deep sleep that starts around 90 minutes into the sleep cycle, and a lack of this can affect how mums think and cope in their daily lives.
Mothers generally report more sleep problems than fathers. For example, in a large longitudinal study, mothers reported a 62-minute reduction in nightly sleep duration during the first 3 months postpartum compared with pre-pregnancy, while fathers only reported a reduction of 13 minutes.
“Second night syndrome” is a perfectly normal response to being born, and most babies experience a bit of fussiness on their second night of life. It doesn't mean that anything is wrong or that your baby is starving. It can feel overwhelming, but there ARE some things you can do to help survive the second night!
Most babies will have a period of increased fussiness starting at around 2 weeks of age and usually peaking between 6-8 weeks of age. Although, this is a normal developmental stage for infants it can be very stressful for parents and caregivers.
But many first-time parents find that after the first month of parenthood, it can actually get more difficult. This surprising truth is one reason many experts refer to a baby's first three months of life as the “fourth trimester.” If months two, three, and beyond are tougher than you expected, you're not alone.
The newborn stage is difficult for most parents, whether you're a first-time or seasoned mom. The abrupt change to your lifestyle, the sleep deprivation, and the demands of a baby make these weeks and months one of the hardest for any parent.
While breastfed babies initially awaken more during the night for feedings, their sleep patterns -- falling asleep, staying asleep and total sleep time -- stabilize in later infancy and become comparable to non-breastfed babies, according to new research.