Surviving the Sleep-Deprived Nights: A Guide to Managing Your Mental Health During Poor Baby Sleep

Taking care of a baby is hard work. There's no way around it. But when you've had a rough night of interrupted sleep (or a million), the day-to-day tasks of looking after a baby can seem insurmountable. Unfortunately, our mental health can really suffer when you're not getting a good night's rest – so here are some tips for managing your mental health if you're struggling to get enough shut-eye.

Give yourself permission to take it easy

When you're not sleeping, it's not the time to take on too much or do things perfectly. It is actually the perfect time to do nothing (except the ENTIRELY HUGE job of looking after a baby). Do the bare minimum that needs doing. Sometimes it's okay just to muddle through things, just be kind to yourself.

Accept help.

If you have people offering help, or you need to source it for yourself, just accept it. Whether it's someone taking your baby for an hour or you decide to invest in a cleaner once a fortnight. I know better than anyone that sometimes it just feels easier to do it yourself, but accepting help is like a muscle - the more you strengthen it, the easier it will become.

Snug Co's Top Tip: Ask for reinforcement from another parent or caregiver from bedtime until midnight while you go to bed, even 1-2 nights a week. This solidifies a few hours of consolidated sleep for you.

Take a break from the baby and make time for yourself.

If you're lucky enough to have a partner or other people who can help out with childcare, then it's not only okay but important to make time for yourself. It doesn't need to be anything big – just get out of the house and breathe some fresh air.

Go for a walk.

This one benefits not only you but your little one's sleep too. The process of leaving the house can sometimes make it feel like it's not even worth the effort, but I'm telling you - just do it. You'll feel better for it.

Remember that this is a season -- it will pass.

Even if it doesn’t feel like it, your baby will sleep eventually…and you will too.

Look into professional sleep support.

If you want to improve your child's sleep, or just have a professional explain to you what might be occurring, professional sleep support is the way to go. Here at Snug Co, most of our clients are reaching out for help because their mental health is struggling. We hold your hand throughout the entire process to ensure you have the capacity to make changes and reach your goals. You can book your sleep support consultation here.

Seek medical advice

The most important tip here, if your mental health is struggling with sleep deprivation, reach out to your doctor. They can provide you with the support and guidance you need to manage your mental health during this challenging time.

Taking care of a baby can be mentally and physically exhausting, especially when poor sleep is thrown into the mix. To manage your mental health during this time you can follow these tips to take care of both yourself and your baby.