Sleep

Start Time & End Time

You want to be sure to put AM or PM when tracking your angel’s sleep or you will soon be very confused. It seems like you will remember but you won’t really; trust me on this.

Sleep Total

Don’t try to do complex math with your sleep-deprived brain. Let your spouse or partner add it up for you, partly because it is a team effort and they can help with this, and it can be difficult to do even the simplest math in your new-parent state, and you may just cry when you find that, yes, indeed, your little darling is getting enough sleep but you are not even coming close. Don’t despair; it gets better.

Add up all the minutes and hours of sleep per day and that total should be within a range. Yes, you add it all together even if you are adding a bunch of 20-minute naps to get the total.  If you received all this sleep in one uninterrupted dose it would be enough but as it is divided into small chunks here and there it is NOT enough sleep for adults; but it seems to be just fine for your little baby.

Suggestions:  Try not to obsess about sleep.  It can be difficult, but try.  I made a pact with my husband (after many sleepless nights) that we would not talk about sleep with anyone other than ourselves. It gets you down and makes you even more tired – if that is possible.

I truly believe that if your child does not progressively sleep longer and longer periods, then your baby may be trying to tell you something. Take this information and use it as a tool, and be assertive with your pediatrician if you are concerned about short sleeps. Another great resource is another mom you trust; call her; she is more than willing to help. I sincerely hope you don’t have the non-sleeper that I did.