All I Want for Christmas is a Good Night’s Sleep! 🌙🎄

We hear you, sleep-deprived mamas and dadas – it’s tough when all you want to do is rest, but you’ve got a tiny human dependent on you – waking up for milk 🍼, a nappy change 👶, teething 😬, a cuddle 🤗, or just because! At Lazy Baby® we’ve been there many times, so we thought a few words of encouragement (and hopefully wisdom!) might help you get through those long nights…

First up – remember, it is a season, it won’t last forever! ⏳
It can feel like an endless slog sometimes, because sleep deprivation really takes its toll – on your emotions 😢, your stress levels 😖, and your ability to cope – and that’s ok. Your baby will eventually learn to sleep longer 🛌, and there’ll come a time when they are too big to climb in your bed for a cuddle (I’m thinking of my lanky teenager who now towers above me! 😅). You might even wish you could have that newborn season back for just a day… maybe not the night-time though!

Sleep when baby sleeps 💤
Everybody says it, but do we all do it? Nap time in the day is not the time to spring clean your house! 🧹 Nobody cares if your house is a mess – not even the midwife or health visitor (one actually told me they worry more if your house is spotless 😳). And if anyone complains, just point out where the vacuum cleaner is – maybe they’ll get the hint. You need to look after yourself ❤️.

Accept offers of help 🙌
As parents, we want to be superheroes 🦸 (and you are, just for being a parent), but trying to do everything yourself is not a badge you need to earn. If someone offers to cook you a meal 🍲, watch your little one so you can nap 🛏️, or do the washing up 🍽️ – say yes! Don’t be too proud or think you’re imposing – I’m forever grateful for the people who brought meals in those early days or popped round and ordered me to nap 😅.

Being a first-time parent can be worrying 🤯
It’s a huge learning curve that nothing really prepares you for. You’ll have so many concerns – are they feeding properly 🍼, getting enough milk 🥛, why aren’t they putting on weight ⚖️, why are they crying 😭, how can I get my baby to sleep through the night 🌙? You’ll hear lots of advice, often conflicting, which can add to the confusion. Trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to speak to someone if you’re concerned about your baby’s health 💬.

Find a support network 👥
Whether it’s a postnatal group or a parent-toddler group, it helps so much to share experiences. If you’re used to being out at work and suddenly home 24/7 with only a newborn to talk to, it can make you question your sanity 🤪, especially when your brain feels like mush after being woken every few hours! Find a way to get some adult conversation into the day – a walk 🚶, a coffee ☕, or a chat on the phone 📞 can do wonders.

We can’t promise a sleepless night for Christmas, but we hope this gives you hope 🎁 – you will get through it. Keep smiling 😊 and stay lazy 😌.