Sleeping Tips for New Parents

You bring home your new baby and for the first two weeks or so they sleep. A lot. No problem, you think. This parenting thing is a piece of cake! You wonder what all of the fuss was about from your friends who have already had children. Your child obviously isn't like theirs at all. Yours is a great sleeper and life is good. Then he or she wakes up. Not all of the time, but often at the times you wish they would be sleeping. There, now I can officially welcome you to parenthood.

Take heart, tired parents. I too have been in your (very tired) shoes and have made it out. Twice now, in fact. The key is first to remember that this too shall pass. One day your child can and will sleep through the night and take regular naps. But, until that glorious day arrives follow these tips to get rest when you can.

Take turns. Set up a schedule between you and your spouse where you take shifts with baby.

Dad to the rescue: If mom is breastfeeding let Dad handle diaper changes and transfers to and from mom for middle of the night feedings.

Sleep when baby sleeps. If the baby decides to take a nap then you should too.

Accept help. If well-meaning friends or relatives offer help take it. No matter what the offer is it will free up some amount of time for you and that is more precious than anything else they can give you at this time.

Shack up. Consider having baby share your room for the first few months at least. The quicker you can tend to their needs and be back in bed the better.

Never wake a sleeping baby. If baby nods off on a ride try to carry them into the house in the carrier and sleep alongside them until they wake up.

Start a schedule. It's never too early to start a loving bed routine and you will find in the long run that it goes a long way to soothe your little one to sleep.

Enforce your schedule. If your baby naps at certain times of the day preserve those times at all costs. Grocery shopping can wait - naps can't.

Alternate nights. If mom isn't breastfeeding consider trading off nights on baby duty. That way nobody ever has two all-nighters in a row.

Ask for what you need. If you feel that you are getting too burned out it's time to ask someone close to you to help out for a few hours. Even if you have to pay a sitter while you nap in the other room it's important to recharge and can be worth every penny.Now that I've given you some sleep saving tips it's time to put them into practice. In fact, stop reading this article. If you have time to read you could be sleeping!