How Do I Get Sleep?

Dear K.,
I too had a difficult time getting sleep. My main suggestion is providing an environment for sleep: darkness, ear plugs, sleep mask, white noise from more than one source. In my house we have a radio on static outside of my son's room and a white noise machine in our room that plays rain sounds and a fan that we put on high. I would suggest getting someone to watch your daughter on a regular basis. What about a middle or high school kid in the afternoons? There is nothing wrong with getting a sitter or family member to watch your child. It is good for you and her. Shift work is extremely difficult on our body's clock. Good luck. K.

I got a high school student to come over 2 days a week for 3 hours when my husband and I worked opposite shifts. The student was a child of a co - worker. I gave the student about 20 dollars for a little over three hours. It helped out more then you could imagine.

I feel for you. With a baby, what you are managing is just what I would have done. I don't think I have done anything different. I work from 4:30 a.m. till 1 p.m. now and I have 13 months old baby, 7 years old, and 9 years old. My husband watches my kids and when I get home, he just left it all to me. I have to stay awake until the kids go to bed at 9 p.m. and the baby doesn't sleep until I sleep, which would be around 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. That's about 5 hours sleep that I have every day.

But before that, I had a job that I go from 6 p.m. till 3 a.m. and when I get home, I had to wake up at 7 a.m. and walk my kids to school, then walked back home and sleep some more until 11:30 a.m. and walk to get my girl (she was 5, now 7) then walk home and waited until 2 p.m. for my boy, then back home, cook up dinner, nap one hour then drive to work at 5:30 p.m. I was living in Los Angeles, California at that time. It was harder because if you are late more than 10 times, they will file a report against you with District Attorney for children being truant.

Now, to answer your question, you are now a grown up and there's nothing you can do about your schedule. I wish there is a better way. The only suggestion is find another job that you can work during day time and get day care. You will get refund in day care expenses through tax refund, so no loss for you. Or one of you get a job that pays as much as two of your incomes combined so you can quit and stay home. Nice dream, huh?

I do wish to sleep more. But I know it's not going to happen until my kids are all in school. It's going to hurt at first, then you will get used to it until your baby's in school.

Sorry for the long response. Hope this help. The best I can do is encourage you to be strong and try to stay healthy. I drank Rock Star to stay awake at work. Exercises also give you more hours to energy. Try them?

:)

I know I'm late with this, but wanted to respond. Please don't let this catch up with you like it did my cousin. She went on for a few years of nothing but napping. She works nightshift as a nurse. It got to the point where she and her husband were fighting all the time and she was questioning whether she was cut out to be a mommy.

So our aunt started going over and watching her ds. I'm not sure of her exact hours. I know she gets home when her ds is still in bed. So she just gets in bed. My aunt gets there at a certain time and lets herself in and waits for him to wake up. So my cousin is able to get some solid, uninterrupted sleep time. Her marriage is doign much better and they're thinking about another baby. She was just beyond exhausted before she did anything about it.

L.

in addition to your nap when your hubby gets home, be sure to sleep when the baby sleeps. don't worry about trying to do laundry or dishes in that time...JUST REST! on the days that both you and your husband have off together, be sure to ask for a break. if you keep going at this pace you will soon burn out. and then you will be of no use to anyone. i assume that you want your baby at home so that you can get the most time with her and her with you...but, if the time that you spend with her is more of you trying to fight sleep than really enjoying her, then the point is lost. quality over quantity, right? you may want to look into putting her into daycare for a few hours maybe twice a week. this way, she gets interaction with other kids and you have a little bit of time to yourself to relax, shop, or clean the house. i really hope that things slow down soon for you. good luck!

First, I just want to say that I'm right there with you. I work from home and go to school. Between that and my twins running marathons of "lets see how long we can keep mommy up" (taking turns sleeping), I often get no sleep... I mean 5-6 hours in 3 days!!!

As far as suggestions... is there a relative that could watch your baby so that you can take a nap? Have you considered hiring a babysitter for a couple of hours a day so that you can get in a decent nap? You could find a local high school student who can watch your baby for a few hours after school. That way it wont be very expensive and you wont have to worry too much b/c you'll still be home, so if the babysitter is having a rough time or something goes wrong, you are right there.

Hope this helps :)
N.
www.discoverytoyslink.com/N.