The Importance of Good Sleep Habits for Parents

How Are Your Sleep Habits?

As a parent to a baby or young children, you may feel like you're "on" all the time. Perhaps you're breastfeeding and your baby has yet to take a bottle, or maybe you have high-energy toddler who is still waking up a night. You do what you have to and you're proud that you are there whenever your children need you.

That's a wonderful thing.

But here's the bad news. . . battling sleep deprivation and chronic exhaustion will either force you to find ways to get more rest or it'll bring on ill health. Whatever your situation, in order to be the best parent you can be to your children, be sure you take care of yourself by developing healthy sleep habits.

Is this you in the morning?

By mid-morning, are you already daydreaming about when you may be able to go back to bed?

If so, you're sleep deprived. You need a good night sleep! So let' get ready to develop a plan to improve your sleep habits before your body breaks down and forces you to rest!

Sleep Tips for Moms and Dads

Try some of these sleeping tips so you can get a better night's sleep and wake up feeling rejuvenated:

• Enlist help! You can't do everything every day. The effects of sleep deprivation can impact you negatively on many levels! Ask your spouse to cover the night shift so you can sleep through. If you are able, ask a friend or family member to help with babysitting and use the time to rest. Forget doing the laundry, washing the dishes or catching up on phone calls. Take time to restore your body by resting.
• Make your bedroom a sanctuary. We all know how hard it is to keep up with cleaning when you have babies or young children, but do what you can to keep your bedroom clean and orderly. This will help promote sleep by creating a sense of peace and calm when you are in the room.
• Improve your sleep habits by moving the TV out of your bedroom. Having a TV on in your bedroom, even if you are not giving your full attention to it, can confuse your body and make it hard to wind down for sleep.
• Make sure your bedroom is dark since your body is designed to sleep when it's dark. Close the curtains closed, turn off all the lights, and shut your door. Is the room dark? If not, consider purchasing blackout curtains that block out the light from the room.
• Have allergies? Consider shopping for an organic mattress. Traditional mattresses may be made with synthetic materials which can break down over time and release chemicals that may be irritating your body. An organic mattress contains natural, organic materials that are healthier for you.
• Make time for exercise during your day. We know how hard it is with a busy parenting schedule, but there are so many healthful benefits. In addition, to helping you stay in shape, exercising during the day releases stress hormones which can help you feel more relaxed and help you sleep better at night. Since most forms of exercise will increase your alertness and raise your energy level, be sure you exercise at least 2 hours before your bedtime.
• Establish a bedtime routine. Relaxing rituals such as warm milk, soft music, writing in a journal or a hot bath can help you wind down and signal your body for sleep. Maintaining a consistent bedtime is another great way to improve your sleep patterns.
• Keep some paper on your nightstand and take a few moments before you turn off the lights to clear your thoughts. Write down what's on your mind and what you need to get done the next day. You may be surprised at how much easier it is to quiet your thoughts once you have taken the time to transfer them to paper.
• One commonsense sleeping tip that is often overlooked is to rest when your baby is resting. When your body is particularly fatigued, resist the urge to do other things and join your baby for a good nap!

Raising a family is amazingly rewarding, but it's also incredibly demanding. You go out of your way to make sure that your children have the best you can provide, but you need to do the same for yourself!

There's nothing selfish about taking time to care for yourself especially when it comes to quality sleep. Improving your sleep habits so that you can be more rested is one of the most loving things you can do for your family. It equips you to be at your best.

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