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To think needing 9 hours solid sleep to function is ridiculous

468 replies

NightFeeds · 20/11/2024 07:47

That’s it really. Life feels like it is ruled by DH needing 9 hours sleep a night to function. No time for downtime after DC bedtime as it’s then his bedtime. Any disturbances and he’s ruined for days. I can’t compute but realise I’m probably being horrible and this is just a normal need I need to be more respectful of. I’d like to know what is considered normal by others

OP posts:
MagnoliaGirlie · 20/11/2024 18:57

Arraminta · 20/11/2024 10:47

Agree with every word. There's a reason that sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture, after all. I feel absolutely wretched if I have to curtail my sleep. I 100% believe that lack of sleep massively exacerbated my PND after DD1 was born. I was always destined to get PND, thanks to being highly progesterone intolerant, but lack of sleep made it ten times harder to cope.

DD1 is just the same, and I've reassured her that when she has a baby we will happily pay for a maternity nurse if she's struggling.

But that's the point right, you need your sleep and sleep deprivation broke you, and yet you still powered through and went through it because you had a young child and it just comes with it. Seems like the OP's DH isn't sharing the load and lack of sleep, and it's all on OP to deal with night wakes and shorter sleep.

mathanxiety · 20/11/2024 17:50

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 20/11/2024 08:09

He isn't forcing the OP to spend 9 hours in bed. She can unwind without him, she just doesn't want to.

The DH needs to sleep 9 hours to feel OK. The OP wants him to stay up later. The two are not comparable.

It isn't reasonable to expect someone to compromise their own physical wellbeing to meet your own social needs.

I got the message that the OP wants him to get on with participation in family life and parenting despite missing an hour or so every now and then.

I think he's taking the piss.

If his energy is so depleted by eight hours of sleep of a night that he is too exhausted or bad tempered or foggy in the brain to be a team player in the home, there is something wrong.

mathanxiety · 20/11/2024 17:46

Some people need nine hours, but all the same, being wrecked and barely able to function for days if he misses and hour or two is either a case of your H using it as an excuse for opting out of participation in family life or he has a medical condition (physical or mental health) that needs to be addressed.

The inability to function part is not normal at all.

Neverlikedwatermuch · 20/11/2024 17:32

Does he take any multi vitamins? I wouldn’t be happy about the expectation of silence so he could sleep, but 9 hours is normal for some people. I need around the same to fully function but most night I get 6 hours if I’m lucky.

RedPony1 · 20/11/2024 16:58

My life doesnt allow 9 hours sleep, even if i needed it! and it wouldnt suit me to have a partner that needed that much sleep to function.
We're opten not even going out until 9pm for food or to see friends, or going on a dog walk.

XmassssamX · 20/11/2024 16:10

OMG I can’t get my head around you also going to bed at 9 wide awake, that’s crazy.
He’s going to sulk if and hopefully when you stop doing this but that’s his problem.

Didimum · 20/11/2024 15:16

I definitely need 9 hours to function well, and always have needed a lot of sleep. I 'can' function on less (and have as I have twins), but have been miserable, unwell and very stressed.

JetskiSkyJumper · 20/11/2024 15:00

I definitely need a good 8/9 hrs a night. My dh can survive with 5/6 and I've no idea how!

kittylion2 · 20/11/2024 14:47

Yeah I think people's opinions might have been different if you had made it clear from the start that he expects you to go to bed a 9 too, whether you want to or not.

Even if you are understanding about his need for sleep, (although one can't help wondering what would happen with the children and night wakings etc if you also had the same need), him insisting you give up your own evenings and spoil your own sleep pattern because otherwise you "disturb" him is both unreasonable and controlling.

You are doing a lot for him and are trying to be very understanding, so he needs to think of a way for you to have a more "normal" bedtime and to be able to have a bit more of an evening if you want to.

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:39

HotCrossBunplease · 20/11/2024 14:31

Prior to the OP? Are you a bit tired?

No, because I get my 7 hours hun, but my post obviously loaded afterwards.

doctorsleep · 20/11/2024 14:36

I wish I could sleep 9 hours!

Marlhmarlol · 20/11/2024 14:35

Yeah, that is ridiculous OP. I'm sure we'd all love to spend over 1/3 of life lying in bed but that's just not realistic when you are an adult with a job and children and responsibilities.

Loxiro · 20/11/2024 14:34

I’ve just went back to re-read the OP and this below would really grind my gears :

I will be lulled into chilling out and then 10 minutes later he will snap it off and be like “bedtime!”.

Ew 😑😆 like how dare you make a unilateral decision to switch off the movie I’m watching because you’re going to bed 🤣

coffeesaveslives · 20/11/2024 14:34

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:30

Again for those at the back my comments were prior to this.,🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣

You wrote your responses before the OP started the thread?!

HotCrossBunplease · 20/11/2024 14:31

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:30

Again for those at the back my comments were prior to this.,🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣

Prior to the OP? Are you a bit tired?

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:30

vickylou78 · 20/11/2024 14:28

It's in the Op that he switches everything off and makes her go to bed!! Why does his health trump her health?

Again for those at the back my comments were prior to this.,🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣

vickylou78 · 20/11/2024 14:28

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:27

And my comment was before that 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

It's in the Op that he switches everything off and makes her go to bed!! Why does his health trump her health?

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:27

vickylou78 · 20/11/2024 14:22

But he's currently making her go to bed at 9pm!

And my comment was before that 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Thepeopleversuswork · 20/11/2024 14:26

@Marblesbackagain

The research showed those who didn't get sufficient sleep did loose time. Do not dogmatic the sufficient element is variable.

Can you link to this research?

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:26

LuckySantangelo35 · 20/11/2024 14:20

@Marblesbackagain

oh live a little! Have a night down the pub or whatever! The odd night of having less than 7 hours sleep a night never hurt anyone (certain illnesses aside)

Eh I do live plenty thanks. As I said I need 7 hours so I sleep late at weekends.

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:24

Thepeopleversuswork · 20/11/2024 14:17

Sure but that doesn’t mean there’s a linear relationship between failing to get exactly nine hours a night and a shorter life.

Your post implies that the OP’s husband will die young if he doesn’t go to bed at 9pm every night which is ridiculous.

It’s far more nuanced than that. Sleep is one element of a healthy life but it’s by no means the only element. Having a happy family is at least as important as hitting the exact optimal number of hours of sleep.

People are being absurdly dogmatic about this. It’s not as if an extra half hour is going to push the bloke into an early grave.

The research showed those who didn't get sufficient sleep did loose time. Do not dogmatic the sufficient element is variable.

HarrietBond · 20/11/2024 14:23

If I’m made to go to bed before I’m tired, I won’t just go to sleep and sleep for longer. I will in fact end up going to sleep later as I’ll be tense and frustrated. If I did go to sleep at 9pm I’d be awake by 4am because my body just doesn’t need that much sleep. Also, annoyingly, my body really struggles to sleep at all much before 10.30/11, regardless of the time I need to up the next day. That’s probably as mystifying to long sleepers as the other way round.

vickylou78 · 20/11/2024 14:22

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:15

No, that was a cross post. Why would you accuse me of something that wasn't even referred to in my post.

Definitely people who need more sleep to be less cranky.

But he's currently making her go to bed at 9pm!

LuckySantangelo35 · 20/11/2024 14:20

Marblesbackagain · 20/11/2024 14:06

Well research shows the health implications of not getting sufficient sleep. So I would prioritise health to be there for my family before anything 🤷‍♀️

@Marblesbackagain

oh live a little! Have a night down the pub or whatever! The odd night of having less than 7 hours sleep a night never hurt anyone (certain illnesses aside)

LuckySantangelo35 · 20/11/2024 14:19

coffeesaveslives · 20/11/2024 14:18

But he's currently making OP go to bed when she's not tired, which impacts her sleep and wellbeing.

So why is his health more important than hers? Confused

@Marblesbackagain

this!

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