Feeling a bit on edge and out of sorts? Having trouble concentrating? How many hours of quality sleep did you get last night? Was it less than 7 or 8? I hear you laughing, sweet parents of newborns, but it is a serious question that takes some thoughtful consideration.
When it comes to our physical, mental, and emotional health, the amount of sleep we get or don’t get impacts how we show up for our little ones.
According to the CDC, the impairments we experience due to extended periods without sleep are similar to impairments caused by alcohol intoxication. Pretty sobering, right?
Fortunately, going without sleep doesn’t have to be a long-term parental sacrifice. With sleep training, infants can be trained to sleep for extended periods on a predictable schedule so you can get the proper rest you need.
Beyond the physical benefits that sleep training provides, it can also help save time, money, and reduce stress for families.
A Time Saver
When an infant’s sleep schedule is unpredictable, co-dependent, or incomplete, parents spend a lot of time trying to get the baby to sleep. This can include nursing, holding, swaddling, massaging, walking, and more. These actions aren’t necessarily bad. On the contrary, spending quality time with our infants is critical to their proper growth and development; however, when those actions keep them from developing proper sleep habits, sleep training may be the best solution.
Placing an infant on a schedule and giving them the tools to self-soothe eliminates much of the extra time spent “prepping” a baby for sleep. This gives parents the extra snooze time they need to rejuvenate or just free up extra time for self-care and other activities.
Money Savings
Can sleep training really save you money? This is a great question and a common one. Sleep training saves money by helping eliminate the financial losses that can occur with sleep deprivation, which are sometimes overlooked, like:
- missed work time or days due to a lack of sleep
- expenses for sleep aids and other medications
- healthcare costs caused by sleep issues
- money spent on books and courses with conflicting information and sleep aids that don’t work
Sleep deprivation isn’t just about what’s happening in the moment; if not addressed, it can spill over into other areas of your life and impact you financially.
Stress Reduction
Sleep deprivation is the worst. It affects our concentration. Tension and muscle soreness creep up into your shoulders and back, making us uncomfortable. Stringing coherent thoughts together becomes increasingly difficult, and those sweet little baby cries aren’t as heartwarming when you’ve just curled up on the couch to catch a few winks before the next feeding.
Reducing the stress of sleep deprivation can improve mental health as well as emotional and physical health. When we get the rest our bodies need, we show up differently in our relationships, especially those that matter most.
Invest in Your Family’s Health and Wellness
Growing a family comes with its challenges, but it doesn’t have to be all-encompassing. Finding the support you need to make the journey smoother can help alleviate stress, save you money, and save you precious time in the long run.
To get in touch with one of our sleep care specialists to learn how Night Owl Nanny Care can help, reach out at 303-717-1841 or info@nightowlnannycare.com.