AIBU to ask how much sleep you get per night if you work and have children?

[Mumto2uk]

After getting everything ready for the next day, most nights I don't get to bed until 11-11.30pm and then up at 6am for work. Being up in the night with the toddler suffering from nightmares isn't helping. I'm lucky I have a supportive husband who does his fair share when not working (works very long hours). I'm always tired though and struggle to get through the day. Am
I just moaning? Genuinely interested in how much sleep others get. Thanks for your replies x

[38cody]

5-6hrs. that's why i've given up my job after 11yrs (Youngest DC6yrs) - I just can't do it anymore - EXHAUSTED!

[clary]

I go to bed about midnight and get up 6-6.30.

That's from choice tho, well the midnight thing is, if I go to be any earlier I'm awake at 3am. I think I just don't need much sleep.

Sounds like you need more than me tho. What is keeping you so busy in the evening? A lot of kids' activities? Bedtime and bathtime? Getting book bags and lunches ready?

I have to bring work home so that is often my evening gone, but if I didn't have that I would be fine to go to bed earlier if I wanted. Can you look at what is keeping you up and maybe pare it down?

[early30smum]

Never normally asleep until at least midnight, up at 6.45 Monday-Friday and work 30 hrs a week. So 6-7 hrs a night during the week... more at weekends. I manage ok on little sleep but am getting more tired recently! 2 kids age 4 and 7.

[Fruitbat1980]

I work full time, have a 2 year old. I aim to be in bed by 11 (and spend too much time onmumsnet in bed!) up at 5:30am three days a week (ridiculous commute) 7:30 2 days (wwork from home 2 days) so somewhere between 6 & 8 hours.
I'm still bloomin knackered tho. Unless DS wakes- maybe twice a fortnight I get 2/3 hours. I need more! Every now and then it catches up and I'm either ill or in bed by 8pm for a few days!

[SummerSazz]

Bed about 11 and up at 6 so 7hrs. More at weekends as dc sort themselves in the morning

[Writerwannabe83]

Usually about 6 hours a night.

I work full time over three days (nursing) and so on the days I have off during the week I nap in the afternoon when DS does so I usually get about 1.5-2 hours sleep on those occasions.

My DH is great and gives me a lie-in on Saturday and Sunday.

I'm still exhausted all the time though - I think that's just parenthood unfortunately

[wobblywonderwoman]

Usually get eight hours. Mine are two and three but always sleep through from 8-8 so I get up at half seven and them at 8. Usually at work for 8.55

[SuperBeagle]

I go to bed around 9-9:30pm most nights. Wake up between 5:30-6am and walk the dogs before the kids wake up.

Kids are all in bed by 7:30pm.

Youngest DC is 6 weeks old. She wakes twice generally (around 10pm, when I'm normally still awake, and around 2:30am). I'm on maternity leave at the moment, but my schedule is the same when I'm working.

[Fumnudge]

6.5 hrs average with catch up at the weekend and it's killing me TBH.

[Xmasfairy86]

I need more! Work 4 days, hoping for bed by 10, asleep by 11, alarm goes of at either 5am - if I'm going to the gym usually just turn it off for an extra hours kip! 6:26, for just work no school run and 7am wed/thu/fri as I do the school run those days. Kids are primary aged.

[megletthesecond]

A broken 5-6 hrs. Total lp and work 3 days a week. Suspect I'm heading into a slightly early menopause which is ruining any chance of sleep even when the dc's don't wake up.

I keep my head down at work. Do what I do well but would never increase my hours or want to work up the ladder. My brain and health don't have much left. Had to give up OU because I was working late and getting ill too often.

[RB68]

1. to 7 hrs but that is max - I often wake frequently or about 30 mins before alarm which is annoying as I am still tired. I know I can't cope on less and really need a good 8 but don't get it

[Xmasbaby11]

Dc are 3 and 5 and i work part time.

I sleep about 6.5 hours every night, maybe 7 at weekends. I should go to bed earlier than midnight but the evenings just vanish!

[Kikikaakaa]

Probably 6 and it's not enough I feel horrible all day

[Ohyesiam]

I get 6 hours, and it's not quite enough. I keep going on mums net instead of turning the light out....

[obeseclarice]

About 5 hours a night. Sometimes less. More at weekends (normally about 7 hours). Occasionally I get 8 hours and feel ridiculously refreshed, but I always have too much to do to go to bed before midnight.

Some of the women I work with (no kids yet).go to bed every night at 9-10pm. I am always when I hear that.

[Notgoodtogo]

Average of about 6 hours and struggle with extreme tiredness. Unfortunately since having my second dd who didn't sleep through consistently till she was about 3 I've fallen into terrible sleep habits, staying up later than necessary. I'm exhausted all day and have a second wind at night. The only way forward is prioritising sleep over everything else. If you can keep up the energy long enough, I find preparing next day's meal in the slow cooker and doing only one load of laundry a day- to be put away the next day-keeps us on top of things. But that takes some energy in itself.

[BaronessBomburst]

Usually around 6, which is a damned improvement on the 4-5 it was a few years ago. I'm okay on 6, not tired, and get a lie in at weekends.

[FoxyRoxy]

Dc are 4 and 3 and I work pt. I get about 7 hours a night on average which is fine, although broken. I don't need loads of sleep though. Some need more, yanbu for wanting more sleep if you need it.

[arsenalwatford]

Aim to be asleep about midnight, alarm goes off 6.15 during the week. One brief waking either from my 3 year old clambering in, or getting up to bring the one year old in, is considered a good night.

At weekends bed a little later, awake by 8.

[kimann]

On maternity now but when i am at work I sleep 11pm-7am, sometimes 12am if we're watching a film. I hv a 5 month old now and he goes down at 10pm (ebf so no routine yet). My toddler is out of bed at 8am so I am up by 8am these days.

[Allthewaves]

8hrs. I go to bed around 9ish usually (odd late night - like tonight ) then asleep by 10. Kids r 3,5,8 all in bed by 8.30. Kids lay out their clothes before bed while I make lunches.

[OhtoblazeswithElvira]

I started on 6 hours after maternity leave. Then started having insomnia due to stress and a disordered lifestyle - was going to work on 3-4 hours broken sleep. Crashed and now am on a more reasonable 7-8 hours. A few factors have helped:

We are a bit more organised
DH is doing a bit more
The DC are sleeping a bit better
I have made a bit of an effort to help myself (less caffeine, less late MN)

[MothersRuinart]

5-6 hours every night. Not enough. I manage during the day but low energy and constantly crabby mood. I look like current day Keith Richards. Thankfully ds mainly sleeps through the night.

[fruitpastille]

Also approx midnight-6 with youngest (3yo) frequently joining us in early hours. However I work part time so on non work nights I can go to bed earlier although often end up later than I intend to as I enjoy the peacefulness! Eldest is finding it hard to sleep at the mo so often doesn't settle till gone 10 and I then like some time to myself reading etc. If I get close to 7 hrs then I'm fine but have the odd short nap mid week or weekend lie in if I feel I need it and get the chance.