New motherhood is a time of joy — and exhaustion, as newborns tend to awaken about every three hours in need of food, changing, or comfort. Follow these tips to get more rest:
- Sleep when your baby sleeps, taking catnaps when he or she does. Adjust your bedtime schedule to coincide with your baby’s.
- Place your baby’s bed near yours to make middle-of-the-night feedings and soothing more convenient.
- Rotate shifts with your spouse or partner, with the person who is “off duty” wearing earplugs to get uninterrupted sleep.
- Ask a friend or family member to watch the baby so you can sleep.
- Get some sunlight and fresh air and take your baby for a walk, which will help with daytime sleepiness.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2016 edition of the El Camino Hospital Health Beat magazine.
