My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

I'm so tired I left my toddler in her cot for 2 hours after her nap, just so I could sleep

76 replies

wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 12:44

Just that really.

She woke at 10 after her usual hour nap. I heard her wake but was so tired I must've gone back to sleep. I don't think I slept deeply, I just couldn't physically move although I really tried. It's as though I was paralysed. The next time I looked at my clock it was 12.

During those 2 hours I'm sure she had short bouts of tears and then bouts of quiet (not sure whether she snoozed or played with the toy in her cot)

I feel absolutely awful. The neighbours must think I'm neglectful and a bad mum. But I've never done this before. Is it really bad? Has anyone else ever done this? My little girl is in great form now, smiles and running around as usual so I don't think it's effected her too much being left in the cot but who knows? She could have felt that I'd abandoned her or something? I need perspective. I'm so tired I can't think straight.

I feel so tired all the time which is really ridiculous as my toddler is a good sleeper. Even when I get a full 7 or 8 hours sleep I still wake up tired and am tired the whole day. Last night for example she woke at 1am and was awake for about an hour, so I had a disrupted sleep, but nothing too drastic. She usually sleeps through from 7PM to 6am.

I'm irritable and just don't understand how I could be so tired all the time when I know plenty of other mums who have much less sleep than me.

OP posts:
Report
Littlefish · 15/01/2014 12:47

Have you spoken to your GP about your tiredness. If you are waking up tired after 8 hours sleep, then there could be a problem e.g. anaemia or thyroid.

Anyway - your dd was in a safe place. It was a one off, I'm sure, but I suggest you go and talk to your GP about your tiredness. You should not be so tired that you cannot physically get up.

Report
heather1 · 15/01/2014 12:48

Im wondering if you should get your iron levels checked at the doctors if you are feeling that tired.
Try not to feel too guilty for feeling asleep. She came to no harm. When I was really tired and my Ds had stopped napping I used to put cbeebies on and have a lay down on the couch. I often fell asleep.
It's entirely possible she went back to sleep too. Unless your house is massive here cries would have woken her up. Maybe have a super early night this evening.

Report
Juno77 · 15/01/2014 12:48

Don't be silly.

Your baby would have been just fine, she was in a safe place and no harm could have come to her.

We've all done this, do not beat yourself up. Being a parent is very tiring, regardless of how much sleep you got last night, it's a 24 hour job with no breaks.

She won't have felt abandoned, she won't have been at all affected.

Flowers

Report
Dogonabeanbag · 15/01/2014 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 13:14

Wow thank you everyone for replying it's really appreciated. And you have made me feel so much better thanks. It's hard to put things into perspective when you're this tired

I have just called my gp. Earliest appointment isn't until 27 Jan, so over 2 weeks time.

I do suspect I have some sort of physical imbalance, for example anemia, as I can't see any other reason for it. Let's hope it's something that is easily treated!

Thanks again

OP posts:
Report
wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 13:14

Wow thank you everyone for replying it's really appreciated. And you have made me feel so much better thanks. It's hard to put things into perspective when you're this tired

I have just called my gp. Earliest appointment isn't until 27 Jan, so over 2 weeks time.

I do suspect I have some sort of physical imbalance, for example anemia, as I can't see any other reason for it. Let's hope it's something that is easily treated!

Thanks again

OP posts:
Report
wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 13:17

Oh and dog, you are right about getting out and about. It's what I try to do every morning so that my girl won't nap early, and it also helps me if I don't sleep in the day. But there are days (like today) where I just cannot do it and I'm extremely happy for my girl to have an early nap, just for the break!

OP posts:
Report
ohcluttergotme · 15/01/2014 13:18

Just wondering if there is anyway you may be pregnant. What you are describing is the tiredness I feel in first trimester?

Report
Dogonabeanbag · 15/01/2014 13:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 13:52

Clutter, there's absolutely no way! All I do go bed these days is sleep!!

OP posts:
Report
ohcluttergotme · 15/01/2014 14:06

Ha ha best form of contraception is a little one Shock

Report
wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 14:34

Absolutely right! Shit isn't it? My 19 year old self would be flabbergasted if she could see me now! May as well have taken a vow of celibacy.

This whole tiredness thing has also made me change my mind about having another child. I love the idea of it but in reality if I'm this tired with 1, what would I be like with 2?! I'd have a nervous breakdown through tiredness alone.

Although hopefully the doc can help me with it, as I said before there is really no reason for me to be so consumed with tiredness. Fingers crossed I get it sorted and maybe think about having another!

OP posts:
Report
Showy · 15/01/2014 14:40

I became very anaemic after having dd (was pretty anaemic anyway after an emcs and heavy blood loss). I was so tired that I spent most of the day sleeping or in a total fog. I may as well have been asleep even when awake. It was like wading through treacle. I got the iron problem sorted and felt so good that it highlighted how bad I had felt iyswim.

I won't flame you but I will encourage you to try and get an appointment sooner than that. Have you asked reception about a telephone consultation? They can arrange forms for a blood test and you can go and see a nurse to have a basic MOT done as a starting point.

Report
Showy · 15/01/2014 14:41

And how much help are you getting? If you're that tired, in the short term, you need as much help as possible to get as much sleep as possible because that level of fatigue can cause accidents.

Report
wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 14:44

Thanks showy, I did ask for an earlier apt but she said if it wasn't an emergency she couldn't do anything. I explained to her exactly why I needed to see the doctor but she said that didn't qualify as an emergency and 27th was earliest she could fit me in.

I will call again to ask to see nurse. I didn't realise you could do that mot thing?

OP posts:
Report
wanttosleepforever · 15/01/2014 14:50

I live with my mum and partner. Both work full time but when they are here they are both brilliant. I really should be full of energy with the amount of sleep I get and the hands on help I get from partner and mum.

When I think about it I do worry about my health because I should not be so tired.

During my pregnancy I had anemia and also gestational diabetes. I was so ill and tired. I'm terrified I'm going to be diagnosed with something which is why I haven't been to the doc sooner really. I guess leaving my toddler today for 2 hours has given me the kick up the arse I need. Plus all your helpful advice of course. X

OP posts:
Report
Showy · 15/01/2014 18:39

It's awful feeling anxious about your health but the way to look at it is, something is happening. Going to the doctor won't change that but it WILL give you the chance to get better. Chances are it's something like anaemia or a thyroid issue. Get whatever it is sorted, big or small and then you can enjoy your toddler in the way you're meant to.

A full blood count should give a good overview of your health. It might identify the problem in fact but if it doesn't, it'll allow the GP to make decisions about other tests.

It might not be an emergency but it's something which needs attending to and the preliminary bloods can be taken by a nurse and then the GP will analyse them for you.

Report
Twattergy · 15/01/2014 21:12

Could you do a regular 9pm bedtime so that you get 9 hours sleep a night? That's what I do.night night!

Report
wanttosleepforever · 28/01/2014 07:26

I

OP posts:
Report
wanttosleepforever · 28/01/2014 07:32

Hello all

I've been getting 8 and 9 hour sleeps per night and still constantly tired

Went to doc yesterday. Going to get blood test today to check for things like anaemia or thyroid problems. Will get results back next week

Thanks for all your support xx

OP posts:
Report
Littlefish · 28/01/2014 07:55

I'm glad you're having the blood test. Let us know how you get on.

Report
wanttosleepforever · 28/01/2014 08:12

Thanks little fish. I just want to go get my blood test at 9 and come straight back home so I can get in bed. Little one is at nursery and I would love the chance to lie in bed undisturbed. That would mean calling in sick. I don't know why I feel so hopeless today.

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Blondieminx · 28/01/2014 08:20

When you get your test results back, ask for the numbers. Women of childbearing age should have a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level of 0.5-2.0. If it's over 2, that may well be why you're shattered - push for a trial of levothyroxine and to get it under 2 & see if symptoms improve. Take a Vitamin D supplement at the same time info in vitamin D deficiency

Hope you feel better soon

Report
wanttosleepforever · 28/01/2014 08:29

Thank you blondie, very helpful. I will be sure to check.

OP posts:
Report
Pooka · 28/01/2014 09:16

I was vitamin d deficient and felt awful. Depressed, knackered, listless and apathetic. Like I was in a black hole.

It was astonishing how much better I felt after two weeks of very very high dose supplements.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.