Battling Momsomnia: Five Tips for the Sleep Deprived Mom

My eighteen-month old had strep throat this past week.  The first night, I just thought it was her molars coming in - so much drool and whining.  The second night, she didn't sleep more than an hour at a time.  The next day, she started running a low-grade fever and a rash broke out from head to toe, so I called the doctor but they couldn't get her in until the next morning.  That night, the third night, she didn't fall asleep until after 2am.  She needed me to pace her around; she wouldnt let me set her down at all.  That was three nights of no sleep, and so by the time she got to the doctor, I was barely recognizable as human, let alone a mom who has it all together.

We've all been there - those days where you're so tired that you look for your phone while you're talking on it, or when you put the keys in the freezer... Being a mom is no easy feat, and when your little ones aren't sleeping, neither are you.  So here are a few tips for making it through the day when you're feeling sleep deprived.

Get some sleep
The most important "cure', if you will, for sleep deprivation is - you guessed it - getting some sleep.  It isn't always about quantity, but quality really counts.  If you can get your mother-in-law to keep the little one(s) over night so you can have some uninterrupted sleep, do it.  Missing sleep is not just a nuisance, it can be dangerous as your judgement is impaired and you just aren't functioning at your highest level.

Get some sunshine
Natural light will help reset your natural circadian rhythms, as well as your tot's.  If your baby is waking up a lot during the night, or having trouble falling asleep, their circadian rhythm may be off balance - leaving you both sleepy and miserable the next morning.

Try some exercise
Did you know that you actually get more energy from a brisk ten-minute walk than when you eat a candy bar? Walking helps pump oxygen-rich blood to your brain, heart, and other muscles - so it's a great pick-me-up for when you're feeling the fatigue.  Still in your pajamas and fighting fussy kids?  Try turning on some music and dancing with them!  Any kind of light cardio will get your heart pumping and help to keep you from being too drowsy!

Short Naps
A short nap can be just what you need to let your brain reset.  If you can get your little one down for a nap during the day, forget the laundry and flop down on the nearest soft surface and give your eyes a rest.  One nap between 10-30 minutes can help give your body that shut-down that it needs to be able to function properly again. Just don't overdo the time, as a long nap can interfere with sleeping at night and can leave you more tired than when you laid down.

Eat a Snack
Low blood sugar can make you feel lethargic and will give you that foggy-brain feeling.  Eating a sugary snack can make it worse - you'll get the sugar buzz for a while, but then your blood sugar will drop back down and make you feel more tired than before.  Eating healthy snacks high in protein will give you the energy boost you need, while maintaining your blood sugar levels.

Be safe - don't drive if you're uber-sleepy.  I hope these tips help, and I'm going to go try a couple of them myself to battle this drowsy no-sleep feeling I've got going on this morning!