Expert explains how new parents can make the most of their sleep

Sophie Collins

If you have recently welcomed a new baby, or are approaching your due date, it’s very likely your sleep has been disrupted.

It comes with the territory of being a new mum or dad and we’re warned about it constantly by seasoned parents, but how can we actually prepare ourselves for less sleep?

The age old saying of ‘sleep when your baby sleeps’ is all good and well until there are a million others things you need to squeeze in while your little one is napping.

Now, experts are saying there are things we can do as parents to take back our sleep routine – which will benefit parent and baby in the long run.

Naps

According to James Wilson, who is also known as the Sleep Geek, naps are key.

“Naps are a great way to battle the symptoms of sleep deprivation,” he says. “They can give you a boost of alertness, make you more productive, and can help if you are sleeping against your natural circadian rhythm; for example, if you are a natural night owl who has been forced to get up at 5am for work.”

“They can also be a godsend for shift workers – a nap will fill the gaps in their sleep, helping them meet their sleep needs. This is particularly true when trying to sleep during the day.”

The Nap Catch

James goes on to say that there is a catch because “naps don’t really work well if they impact on ‘sleep homeostasis’ — one of the internal systems that manage our sleep.

“Consider sleep homeostasis as a type of ‘sleep pressure’. It’s your body trying to keep you balanced with enough sleep.”

He warned that the longer you go without sleep, the more your sleep equilibrium is disrupted and the sleepier you get.

“The subsequent feeling of tiredness is your body forcing you to catch up on lost sleep.

“However, it also works the other way; take a nap close to bed and you suddenly have a surplus of sleep on your clock, making it hard to turn in for the night.”

The main drawbacks of napping include:

The nap cycle of doom – for some, a nap in the day actually makes it harder to sleep at night. Naps can impact not only deep sleep but also REM sleep, leaving you tired the next day. And guess what the result of that is? You’ll need to nap in order to fully meet your sleep needs.
Damaged sleep – for others, any nap or extended period of sleep at all can damage their nighttime sleep, and even just an overlong nighttime sleep might cause problems.

The Best Nap

The Sleep Geek says you should choose your location wisely; “taking your nap under the covers in bed can make it harder to wake up when the alarm goes off, and a 30-minute nap can easily become a six-hour sleep.

“Instead opt for somewhere else you find relaxing, using an eye mask and ear plugs if you need dark and absolute quiet.”

The next thing to remember is that timing is key; “Napping before 2 o’clock in the afternoon will make it less likely to impact your nighttime sleep. In terms of how long, research shows the optimum time for a nap is five to 15 minutes.

“However, it is hard to control sleep in this way. Set your alarm for 30 minutes – it might take you 10 to 15 minutes to fall asleep and then you get 10 to 15 minutes of napping.

“This will be enough to leave you alert and active, but not so much that you are heavy headed and confused.”

Finally, consistency is key; “you’ll get more from napping if you do it regularly at the same time, particularly if your lifestyle means that not napping will see you failing to meet your sleep needs, leaving you sleep deprived.”