This past weekend I realized the true meaning of being a parent – making things 10xs harder than they need to be voluntary. I don’t know if this realization kicked in because I only received 10 hours of sleep over a two-week period or because I moved houses with only a five-day notice (post coming up about how and why I pulled that off soon), but anyway due to both things I thought it would be nice to discuss getting proper sleep as a parent. Happy parents equal happy children.
Disclaimer: I don’t always follow these tips myself, obviously, but I am working on getting better at it because not getting a ton of sleep each week is taking a toll on my health and my sanity. Do as I say not as I do lol.
Put Your Kids to Bed at an Age Appropriate Time
Nothing ruins your sleep like fighting to get your child into bed at the right time. They need discipline, so set a bedtime and stick to it. No excuses. The message will soon get through if you schedule both wakeup times and bedtimes.
Make sure that the times you choose are age appropriate. For the majority of children, until they’re teenagers, bedtime will range from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. The older your kids get the further to the late end of the spectrum you can get.
Normally on weekdays, I try to get the boys to bed by 8 – no later than 8:30. This is because I am a night owl by nature, therefore, I enjoy burning the midnight oil at work. However, these past two weeks I have been lax on their bedtimes, which caused me to start work even later and resulted in me only getting an hour nap before it’s time to get them up and do it all over again.
I don’t know about you, but regardless of if I’m working late or not, if my kids are up I can’t sleep. They could get into anything and I just can’t risk it.
See Also: How to Encourage Your Kids to Sleep
Make Sure Your Bed is Comfortable
The wrong mattress and bedding can disrupt quality sleep. If you’re tossing and turning at night, or it takes a while for you to get to sleep, you need to make some changes.
The mattress is especially important. Mattresses that are too soft or too hard for you are always going to lead to a lack of quality sleep. I recommended the Nectar mattress and it’s worked great for me since I tested it out in my bedroom.
But everyone is different, so be willing to experiment.
See Also: Are Your Sheets Affecting Your Sleeping?
Take a Supplement
Sometimes the only thing that will send you to sleep is a supplement. If your kids are young or you’ve been stressed, a supplement can get you right back on track.
One supplement I’m trying now is Utzy sleep aids. These supplements are made from 100% natural ingredients and even come with a 30-day guarantee. They have different supplements for falling asleep and making sure you maintain a restful deep sleep.
Supplements are designed to help your brain wind down and to help you relax. Remember, bad sleep is usually all in the mind.
What I love about Utzy Sleep Aids is the fact that they are so confident about their supplements that they back it with a 30-day money back guarantee. Plus, you can save 50% off your first bottle then get 10% off and free shipping on all future orders. Furthermore, they have liquids, capsules, and powders to make taking them a breeze regardless of whichever way you prefer to take supplements (mine is powder).
See Also: Tips for Falling to Sleep Faster
Make Sure the Temperature is Comfortable
Temperature has a big impact on how well you’re likely to sleep. Both too hot and too cold can be a real problem. Of course, everyone’s optimal temperature is different. Some people like to be hot and others like it a tad cooler. Any medical issues you have may make you more susceptible to either cold or warm.
Don’t be afraid to buy a fan or to turn up the thermostat if you think it will help you sleep.
Again, it’s all about experimentation. Test out different setups and see what works best for you.
See Also: Five Tips for Going to Sleep Quicker
Get All Your ‘To Dos’ Wrapped Up At least Two Hours Before Bed
The last hour or two before you go to sleep should be about relaxing and preparing for a good night’s sleep. If you’ve ever worked a late shift you know how hard it is to come home and immediately go to bed. You need time to pamper yourself.
Make sure you set aside the last few hours of your day to prepare for the next day and to complete all your chores. Then give yourself some time to read a book, to meditate, or to just enjoy some quality time with the kids.
Some scientists also say that to get the best night’s sleep you should refrain from using technology in the last hour before going to sleep. It’s something many athletes across the world also do because the artificial light from the screen can make it difficult for the body to switch off.
It’s also why you should avoid having a TV in your bedroom.
You’ll be amazed at the difference finishing the day a little earlier can have on your sleep.
Final Thoughts on Getting Proper Sleep as a Parent
Getting proper sleep as a parent is not one of the easiest things in the world. When kids are infants they’re up every couple of hours needing to be changed or fed and when they move on to toddlers you must wait for them to be deeply asleep or you risk waking up to the house being destroyed.
However, when I do follow the tips I’ve outlined above I find myself less cranky and a much more chill mom and if you’ve been suffering from a lack of sleep lately I suggest you give it a try too.
Make sure you check out Utzy Sleep Aids if you’re having trouble falling asleep naturally!
What do you do to make sure you’re getting proper sleep as a parent?
[…] See Also: 5 Tips For Getting Proper Sleep As a Parent […]
Some great tips here for parents or expecting parents. Sleep is so important we need to get all we can!
Great post! This is really helpful. Thank you for the advice and tips. Parents also deserve enough sleep.
I always end up doing so much right after I get the kids to sleep It can often push back when I finally get to bed. Sometimes I just have to say screw it and go to bed and do it later.
With an infant that is next to impossible for us! I’m bookmarking this for future use!
These are all great tips for getting a good night’s sleep. I am like you, I am not always the best at following these tips but when I do I feel SO much better!
I totally agree with your tip of getting stuff done long before bedtime. When you are still amped up about working and chores, you’re definitely not relaxed enough to get a good night’s sleep.
So many parents struggle with getting adequate sleep, especially if they have very young children. It is important to have a balance and set a schedule/
Greta suggestions. My children are set on a schedule, which they follow year round. I know I would get better sleep with out the TV in the bedroom but the hubs insist on having it.
This is something that I really need. As a mother, I don’t really have a proper sleep. I will try this at.
You provided some real great suggestions here for parent who are desperate for sleep! Been there indeed. This is sure to help so many people out.
This was a really interesting read! I honestly didn’t know about the hour before bedtime technology research. I’m going to have to change that part of my personal routine for sure. Thanks for all the tips!
I have a very important health problem which my cardiologists highly suggests I am on a sleep schedule and get my zzz’s, although, my mind does not work along with that idea. I am up til 4 or 5 then sleep til noon or one or just stay up all night which is not good for anyone. I found hope in your post though. I don’t ever watch TV but I do stay on the comp a lot. I remember to shut it down a couple hours before bed when I can. The thing is I then read. E-books. I’ll bet they are just as bad for sleep as the other screens are. I just thought of it when I read get everything done 2 hours before bed. Maybe this will help!
Great suggestions! When my children were younger we always observed a strict bedtime – 9:00 pm. Even when they were in high school they didn’t go to bed too late. Today, between late work hours, etc., my son’s schedule is messed up, but he swears by melatonin. I’m going to check out this brand for him and me!