For those whose Dh/dp's work away...

[Nbg]

How do you sleep well?

I cannot sleep well when dh works away and if I do get off to sleep I'm waking up every hour or if I hear a slight noise that unerves me.

In our old house before dd was born I used to sleep on the sofa downstairs with the tv on but now I need my bed and I need my sleep!

What can I do?

[Bellie]

I fall asleep to the tv on in our bedroom - have you got one there - as you used to fall asleep with one on in the lounge?

[Bellie]

Never sleep as well though as when he is there - although it is nice not to be woken by his snoring

[Easy]

I had this problem last year when dh was away Mon-Fri, and it looks like we're going to start all over again soon.

I'm not nervous of being on my own, but I think I sub-conciously worry about the responsibility of ds on my own.

I found it helped to sleep with a t-shirt that dh had worn over the week-end (not REALLY whiffy), which still haad his scent on it. Seemed to settle me a bit better.

[cadbury]

I always have trouble when dh goes away. I sleep with the tv on all night.

[SoupDragon]

I sleep better or at least as well when DH is away.

[Easy]

Come to think of it, I think I often had the Radio on quietly.

[dyzzidi]

I sleep really well when DP has gone away. I set the alarm on downstairs so that I feel safe and then sleep like a baby. Most nights I sleep with the tV on in the bedroom then wake about 1 am to turn it off but this is something i hvae done since being a teenager not because partner away.

My DP is usually gone for 6 weeks at a time so it is a case of having to get used to it.

[Lizzylou]

I find it harder to go to sleep but do have a better quality of sleep due to not being woken up by his snoring!
I find it easier to go to bed a bit later when I am drop down tired, not read or watch TV in bed first as I usually do............

[Nbg]

I do have the tv on all night which helps a bit and I end up sleeping on his side of the bed for some reason but if I hear the slightest noise it wakes me up and I end up getting out of bed to search the house.
We do have an alarm but I can't set it because of the dog!

[Nbg]

It is nice not to listen to his teeth chattering though!

[sarjon]

When my DH is away (he works nights) I have to leave the bathroom light on and double check all the windows and door locks!! I then have to read a book til I usually fall asleep with the light on.

It also helps me to remember that even if he was there and something happened, what could he realistically do that I can't when I'm by myself?? If I keep both home phone and mobile by my bed then I can call the police if needs be!!!

But everyone is different!! (Altho, once I am asleep, like Lizzylou, I always sleep much better without him!!!)

[munz]

u do get used to it but it takes time, I find watching tv in bed helps then turning off just b4 I fall asleep. then when he's back I can't sleep with him there.

everything's locked up thou all windows shut and all curtains pulled I do all of that as soon as it's dark out of habit from when he was away for 6 months in october and it was dark early on.

[Nbg]

I always have the phone and house keys by the bed and dh's cricket bat is in the wardrobe if I ever needed it!

[Tabs]

Get yourself a really comfortable bed and wrap yourself up in the duvet til you're nice and cosy. Works well for me - nearly always sleep wonderfully when he's away (he's away in the week every week).

[Angeliz]

i keep both phones by the bed, i triple check all windows and doors (infact it takes me AGES to get to bed!).
I make sure i have a working torch just incase. i'm scared of the dark!
i then carry dd1 (4) into my bed with me and baby (already in my room in cot).
i have a knife next to my bed and i also have nextdoors phonenumber programmed into my phone.
i then barricade the door to my room!
(i do worry about getting out in an emergency though)
i also usually leave some ladders across the top of the stairs too!


I'm mot really that scared!

[Nbg]

Really Angeliz?

[Angeliz]

should i start a "am i paranoid and do i have problems?" thread?

[Angeliz]

really!
it takes me AGES!

[Nbg]

Lol!

I do have some step ladders on my landing. Maybe I could use them tonight!

[Angeliz]

Nbg, i bet you feel better now

[cutekids]

found this totally amazing! i honestly thought i was the only paranoid one until i read this. my partner has always worked away-at one time he didn't used to come home for 3/4 months at a time. i have to go to bed really late to make sure i don't wake up once i've fallen asleep- if that makes sense! if i do wake, i panic and wonder what woke me!

[assumedname]

Dh works away a lot. I always sleep well, with a light on but I go to bed very late.

I have a burglar alarm on downstairs, torch by the bedside, mobile and house phone and the downstairs doors are locked.

A couple of nights ago I kept hearing an odd noise. Decided in the end it was someone downstairs who had broken in and was trying to pick one of the locked internal doors. Just thinking about calling the police when I thought to check the weather. Yep, it was raining and I'd heard the trickle of rain as a burglar.

[okapi]

dh is away quite often, so I'm used to it - in fact he's away tonight.

As for noises - my cat has the run of the house at night, so all creaking, thuds, rattles etc are attributed to him.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Milge]

Sleep well when dh is away - not so well when he is working late and facing a 1-2hr drive home at midnight plus. I generally read until i fall asleep with the light on, and its great not having to share a duvet with a snorer.