Sleep is key!

I've heard it many times that "sleep begets sleep", but didn't always believe it for myself. How could it be that when my child naps 1 to 2 times a day they could actually sleep better and longer at night too, and when they sleep better at night that they will actually want/need 1 to 2 naps a day. A tired child who misses a nap should, in all fairness, drop to sleep at a nice early time and sweet dream their way till morning, right?

NOT!

I'm telling you, when they say sleep begets sleep, they really mean in! I don't know the scientific reasons behind this phenomenon, but there's something to it! When my sweet babe gets at least one long nap in, or two shorter ones, she tends to fall asleep in the evening much earlier and quicker, and sleeps much longer through the night (we are currently sleep training). When she misses a nap, she's irritable, cantankerous, and basically....a baby monster. Same goes with my toddler. If she misses her nap, it seems that they stay up till 11pm and then we are even worse off the next day! And when our kiddos don't sleep.....we don't sleep.

With sleep deprivation being one of the hardest hurdles for any new parent, whether first baby or eighth, getting this sleep begets sleep thing down can be challenging as each kid is so different, but it is key to regaining some semblance of sanity and mental stability.

When I look back at the early stages after having my first sweet girl, I now recognize that I suffered with some PPD, but not recognizing it for what it was till after I had my third sweet girl. And much of that was a result of massive sleep deprivation. Being a first time mom, I was learning everything fresh, I didn't know any different, and my sweetie just loved to wake up every hour or take till 3am to fall asleep. I was in tears many a night and edging toward a not great place.

Many people will say "sleep when baby sleeps", which works when you only have one, but add any more to the mix and kiss that notion good-bye. Others will say to get someone to come watch them so you can sleep. That's all good and well if you happen to live close to family, have money to pay a babysitter, or have friends that don't have an nest full of kiddos themselves, aren't working during the day and could actually come over. Let's face it, finding the help is not as easy as some make it seem. True, there are those who are blessed with parents or siblings in the same city/town/neighbourhood, but we aren't one of those people. So I did really feel alone, depressed, and weeping while I snuggled my new bundle, all the while scolding myself for not enjoying this blessing in my lap.

Even now, with my third, I have my moments, but thankfully they are few and far between. But it's even harder to find time to catch up on the much needed zzzz's when I'm also chasing after a toddler and preschooler. And to be honest, sometimes I just want to snuggle my baby while she sleeps and stare at her. My body adjusted to the lack of sleep and I seemingly got used to running on just a few hours a sleep each night. I even felt pretty good! Till I found myself driving somewhere, like the grocery store, and realizing that the car ride was making me sleepy and I probably shouldn't be behind the wheel of a vehicle at that moment. You know, when you blink and your eyes hurt because you're so tired?

Now that sleep training has commenced, I'm getting bigger chunks of sleep. You would think I would feel better myself! But no, I actually feel worse! I think my body has been so sleep deprived for so long, that it's in this crazy survival mode, not realizing it needed more sleep, till I start sleeping and and it began soaking up every moment of rest I did get, and continued to beg for more.

I always had the excuse that I can't rest during the day because I have so much to do, and when the kids are down, that's my most productive time! But I'm also realizing that "sleep begets sleep", applies even for me. I sleep better at night when I have a rest during the day, and I'm more refreshed with a quick 20 min cat nap, when I have a longer sleep at night. Now if only I could take these words I'm saying and apply them more often to myself. I'm horrible for going to bed at a decent time, because again, evening is when I can get so much done with all the girls sleeping. But I know for my sanity, I need to take this time for myself, rest during the day and go to bed early at night. At least until my body has caught up and my sleep tank is full and I can remember things, like my own name, when I go out. Those things, while totally important, will be easy to tackle when I'm functioning with all brain cylinders firing.

Sleep really is the backbone of our body functionality. For our immune system, for our brains, for everything! When we don't sleep, we get run down, we get sick, we get irritable, we get emotional, and everything else in-between, and then we end up not being the parents our littles need us to be, but some angry, monster parent who gets upset at the smallest and most insignificant things. I get why my littles get so upset when they haven't had enough rest. At their tender age, you really can't sleep too much. The longer the better. Ok, for us mamas too!

So here's hoping, to you my fellow parent, that you can not only get your wee ones to nap as long as possible, get them to bed early, encourage them to sleep in (yeah right), but that you also will take your own sleep seriously, take a break and enjoy those moments....in la-la-land. And I'm totally preaching to myself here.

And with that....goodnight :)

~Aryn