Getting Rest with a Baby

When your baby has kept you awake during the hours designated for sleep and you may find yourself dragging through day. There are some ways of getting rest with a baby during the day. Of course, if you are the mother of one, when the baby naps is a great idea. For those who have more than one child, however, you know that getting rest with a baby during the day is not that easy.

When you feel like you eyes are sagging, lay baby on the floor on a blanket and put in a video for your older children and lay down next to baby. When it comes to getting rest with a baby during the day, the floor is your friend. If the baby is a newborn, you can nurse while lying on the floor and resting your body. If the baby is mobile, be sure that the room you are in is baby proofed just in case you doze. My babies, even after becoming mobile were never content for me to sit or lie on the couch while they played on the floor. However, if I was next to them on the floor, they would play happily.

If you don't want to lie on the floor, put the baby in an exersaucer and pull it close to the couch. Baby will be within arm's reach and level with you as you lie down to rest. Getting rest with a baby during the day is easier now with tons of baby equipment available to help you keep baby entertained for 20-30 minutes.

If your older child still takes a nap you should have no problem getting rest with a baby in the house. Once your baby has found his or her natural routine you can plan for your older child's nap to coincide with one of the baby's naps. After my youngest son was born I had three children under the age of five. My oldest (who is now in school) was no longer taking regular naps. Each day I declared an hour after lunch as "quiet time". The baby either napped next to me on the bed (always practice safe co-sleeping techniques) or in his swing so that I was assured he would stay asleep for at least an hour. My middle son (two at the time) took his daily nap during this quiet time. My oldest (four and a half years old then) would play quietly in the family room while watching a video or his favorite television show. (Yes, I realize what an amazing blessing that was!)

Even if you work outside of the home you can make a plan for getting rest during the day with a baby. Pack your lunch so that you don't have to waste time going out for lunch. Eat it in the first twenty minutes of your lunch break and then lay your head on your desk for the last forty minutes. No desk? Sleep in the break room. If you work part time, consider leaving the baby with the baby sitter for an extra hour and come home for a nap after work.

Overall, try to worry less about your lack of sleep or about all of the things that won't get done while you are getting rest during the day with a baby. Expect to function on little sleep during the baby's entire first and you will be very pleased if you do get extra rest.