I’ve posted before about the challenge of getting babies to sleep well, but there was one night in the first month or so with our bubba that I keep recalling. 🌙 😴 Our bedtime routine went haywire, with hours of baby cries, milliseconds of peace, and one mission: to catch some Z’s. 💤

How it started

We started our “get ready for bed ” routine as usual (ish… our routines were still pretty flexible time-wise) and after 3 witching hours of our little one screaming, calming down, falling asleep for 5 minutes and then starting over again… bubba was finally asleep!

By this point, hubby & I were desperate to go to bed. We tiptoed into the bedroom, put pyjamas on in the dark, got into bed, then one little good-night kiss and waaaah, she’s awake again. 😱😤

I am forever grateful to my husband, who stepped up and took her for a walkabout to calm her down. I must’ve fallen asleep, oops. Then, he decided I should rest while he soothed our bubba; there was no need for us both to be exhausted.  So he took her out and shut the bedroom door behind them, leaving me alone in our peaceful, dimly lit sanctuary.

How it went

I almost feel guilty admitting it, but I had a really good, deep and restorative sleep without them – primarily, I suppose, without her next to me in the baby bay. 

My full-of-milk boobs woke me up around 2.30 am like an in-built alarm clock. I missed my husband in the bed so went looking. He was asleep in our spare room. The bed was still made up with the bed linen from our recent visit from my mum & dad. And there he was, lying like a tent pole next to our snoozing daughter, who he’d fenced in with big pillows and a rolled up blanket. Both seemed to be snoring and not missing me at all. It did feel a bit weird, but I thought ok good,  more sleep for me! 

What we learnt

• Prepare spare sleeping spots: If you have a spare sleeping spot, keep it made up and/or blankets handy – even if it’s the sofa. You never know when you might need it, and it can be a lifesaver when the unexpected happens. Parenthood often means embracing unpredictability, and being adaptable can reduce stress.
• Get some sans-baby sleep time: Take a night or afternoon every so often to have a baby-free sleep. Partner, relative, friend, neighbour – get someone else to watch and take responsibility for the little one. The most common tip people tried to give me was “sleep when the baby sleeps” … even our midwife kept making suggestions about how we could nap together! But honestly, I just really wanted to sleep without the responsibility for bubba. I think all new mums should try it if they can, even if it’s just an hour or so. The quality of baby-free deep sleep is much more restorative and re-energising than when I have half an ear out for crying and have to be on baby alert! 
• Support each other and share the load: It’s crucial for partners to communicate openly, share responsibilities, and lean on each other for support. Taking turns whenever possible can make parenting more manageable and ensure both parents get the rest they need. 

OVER TO YOU: Who else has had a night like this? Share your experiences and tips in the comments! 💬💤