Parental Exhaustion: Tips to Battle Tiredness and Frustration

When you bring your new baby home it is both exciting and tiring. But when the latter starts to take over and feelings of exhaustion and frustration with your child become overwhelming, it is easy to feel both guilty and alone. These emotions are all normal, but being exhausted affects more than just your feelings, it makes it difficult to function in every way!

There are more consequences to lack of sleep than you may think. Not getting enough Zzzs can cause a myriad of symptoms and problems including, but not limited to: irritability, confusion, weight gain, hormone imbalance, lack of concentration, poor immunity, and increased stress levels.

Good sleep isn’t only important for you though—a well rested baby is a happy baby. But to make sure you are able to focus on your child’s needs, you need to be on your A-game. If you’re feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, these tips from our NYC experts are for you!

Make your health a holistic priority

You have many long and happy years to go with your new baby and making sure you are healthy can ensure that you get the most out of every precious moment. When it comes to familial health, moms often think of themselves last, but good mental and physical health is crucial to overall wellness.

There are many things you can start doing right away to improve your overall health including choosing whole foods, doing exercises you enjoy, engaging in a stress reducing activity like yoga or meditation, and taking time for yourself.

While these things may seem small, they make a big difference in your overall wellbeing and, notably, will help you and baby get a better night’s sleep.

Give sleep the attention it deserves

Now that your little one is here, sleep may seem like a luxury. However, with a few easy adjustments you can easily sneak in a few more hours each day.

The easiest thing you can do, especially when your child is very young and wakes frequently, is to sleep when your baby sleeps. While your sleep may be more sporadic, this technique will help you get more rest in when you need it most.

As we’ve mentioned before, the importance of routine cannot be understated—and this goes for you too. Treat the time you are winding your baby down as your own wind down time as well, at least for now. While it can be tempting, try to avoid staying up late or doing stimulating activities like watching TV after putting baby down for the night.

Ask for help

If you are feeling completely overwhelmed and exhausted, remember that you don’t have to do everything on your own. Communicate your feelings to your partner, a family member, or a close friend and ask for a few hours of rest if you need it.

This may also be the time to implement the expertise of a sleep consultant into your home. A sleep consultant can provide you with better rest right away and establish healthy sleeping habits that will stay with your baby for years to come.

About Sleep Shop

The Sleep Shop is led by Melissa, a mother of four, and is a member of the International Association of Professional Sleep Consultants.

We offer one-one-one unlimited consulting, sleep classes with our founder, phone consultations, 1-week jumpstarts, infant sleep guides, 2 weeks of consulting, toddler nap guides, toddler sleep guides, toddler total resets, and “the toddler tune-up”.

We offer sleep consulting services in all of New York City including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Flat Iron District, Turtle Bay, Tribeca, Upper East Side, Soho, Staten Island, and the greater NYC area.