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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

99 replies

Mumto2uk · 27/02/2017 23:04

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

OP posts:
38cody · 27/02/2017 23:07

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

clary · 27/02/2017 23:08

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 · 27/02/2017 23:08

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 · 27/02/2017 23:11

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 · 27/02/2017 23:13

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

Writerwannabe83 · 27/02/2017 23:14

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 Sad

SuperBeagle · 27/02/2017 23:14

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.

wobblywonderwoman · 27/02/2017 23:14

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

Fumnudge · 27/02/2017 23:17

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

Xmasfairy86 · 27/02/2017 23:17

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 · 27/02/2017 23:19

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 · 27/02/2017 23:22
  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 · 27/02/2017 23:24

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 · 27/02/2017 23:25

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

Ohyesiam · 27/02/2017 23:27

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

obeseclarice · 27/02/2017 23:28

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 Shock when I hear that.

Notgoodtogo · 27/02/2017 23:29

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 · 27/02/2017 23:30

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 · 27/02/2017 23:31

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 · 27/02/2017 23:31

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 · 27/02/2017 23:33

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 · 27/02/2017 23:34

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 · 27/02/2017 23:36

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 · 27/02/2017 23:37

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 · 27/02/2017 23:38

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.