Having a baby is one of life’s most joyful experiences, but adjusting to your baby’s schedule and taking care of a newborn can be stressful. Plus, most babies don’t sleep a full eight hours until three months of age. To get you through those tough nights, check out these sleeping tips for new moms.
Share Your Room With the Baby
This will make it easier to doze off when your baby goes to sleep, particularly as you quiet and darken the room. Keep in mind this doesn’t mean having baby sleep in bed with you, which can become counterproductive. For nighttime breast-feedings, sharing the room also eliminates walking around the house, waking you further.
Power Down Your Devices
Your smartphone, tablet and TV all have a stimulating effect on your brain, as flashing lights and sounds direct you to constantly check your devices when you should be winding down for the evening. The National Sleep Foundation finds most Americans have several electronics in their bedroom at any one time, and when these devices are left on, they can interrupt your sleep.
Need to get more rest? Learn how with these sleeping tips.
Make Sleep a Priority
Create and follow a nighttime routine. Turn off the TV at a set time every night, take a warm bath, and climb into bed. Power down your mind, too, by reading, journaling or practicing a similar activity that helps you relax.
Reduce Your Caffeine Intake
The National Sleep Foundation reports the effects of caffeine can last up to six hours in your body. Cut out the coffee, soda and other caffeinated drinks by early afternoon, and it will be easier winding down before bedtime.
According to a study in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, it’s not the amount of sleep time lost that affects new moms most, but rather how often they wake up. When your sleep is interrupted every night for months, you miss out on the typical rhythms that give you energy, causing you to feel irritable, forgetful and unable to concentrate. To keep your routine while raising an infant, try any of these five sleeping tips to get better sleep when you need it the most.
Advice or recommendations are for informational or educational purposes only, not a substitute for a visit or consultation with your doctor.
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