Wellness Wednesday: Tips for Sleepy Moms
Tips and Tricks on How I get a Better Nights Rest:
When bearing children no one warns you on how little sleep you have to survive on to be a good parent. There is no training, boot camps or online degrees that you can get to help you better function on zero sleep! Let’s face it, having little one’s is SUPER rewarding but difficult, especially with little or no sleep.
Sometimes there is just no going around it though. I know there are seasons with newborns that you just have to be there for them so they can have the nutrition they need to grow. However it does not have to last forever!
So here are a few things that have helped me in my 4 years of motherhood get a better nights rest.
Babies need to be in their own bed:
After about 5 or 6 months of waking up every other hour with my littlest one to feed, my husband finally suggested we try getting her in her own bed. This was soo hard for me because I knew if I was physically up with her, I wouldn’t be able to function as well the next day. But because both my husband and I weren’t getting a full nights rest he insisted on sleep training.
We got her in her own bed at 5 months and she was fully sleep trained at 8 months. We traded off for a while feeding her in the middle of the night and since she was breast fed this meant me pumping one extra bottle during the day. After a couple months we night weaned (pediatrician approved) and use the cry it out method to get her to sleep fully through the night. My ohhh my did that hard work pay off!! She is now 18 months and has been sleeping from 7pm-7am consistently for almost a year!! That was LIFE CHANGING!!
Sleepy time tea: Lemon Lavender Lane
I don’t know about you but besides a great taste these teas are awesome for helping me get a good nights rest. They are nice and calming and I drink them each and every night 1-2 hours before bed. Chamomile Tea or Extra Sleepy Time teas have been just as helpful in the past. Since these teas are all natural and herbal teas it is best to check with your doctor first before consuming! The Lavender tea below is my new favorite and wow does it help me get a good nights sleep! Yummmm!
No more late night Bathroom Trips
I know when your pregnant this isn’t easy to do because your bladder is just wonky with baby sitting on top of it. When I was potty training my 3 year old I read that you shouldn’t give them any fluids 2-3 hours before bed. Light bulb! If that worked for my preschooler then it should work for me to right?? I try and not drink anything 1-2 hours before bed (unless it is a very tiny sip) that way my body can get the rest it needs without going to the bathroom.
Reading Relaxes
I have found that if I do a calming devotional at night rather than read my business book I get a better nights rest! Instead of stimulating my mind to get pumped up for the day I read peaceful scripture and meditate on God’s word to relax me. I save the motivational books for the morning when I need inspiration and motivation the most. You guys! I can definitely tell a difference in my sleep patterns when I choose something relaxing to read at night!
No Caffeine After 4pm
Adulting is hard and because I love caffeine so much I could drink it til midnight. Maybe when I was a teenager that worked but these days it doesn’t fly well with me. My kids wake up around 7am so that means I do to. If I want a good nights rest I need to be in bed around 11pm to aim for eight hours of sleep. If I have any type of caffeine in my system (seriously even some desserts have caffeine) I will not be able to fall asleep for HOURS. After so many nights of tossing and turning I drew a line in the sand and said NO MORE! I have drink mainly water from 4-10pm to ensure a good nights rest and believe me it works!!
Exercise Increases A Better Night’s Rest:
Your body is recovering a lot when you sleep but did you know your muscles do a lot during this time. They are rejuvenating and rebuilding so that you can be stronger than you were before the very next day. Working out later in the day when your body is warmed up is ideal for strength training! Exercise also reduces stress and anxiety giving you a better nights rest EVERY NIGHT! Click here for more information on getting better and more sleep!
Closing: The Importance of Self Care
I have learned that I have to take care of myself if I want to be a better mom, wife and career woman. Making sure I put myself on top of my to do list allows me to not have to dig from an empty bucket. This might mean regular massages, yoga and prayer for me. The list can go on and on so now it is your turn how do you relax to get a better nights rest? I would love to hear your thoughts on this !
Happy SLEEPING!!
P.S. I LOVE comments so please feel free to comment below with some of your thoughts!
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