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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

applespearsbears · 28/02/2017 20:22

I can't function on less than 8 hours a night and head to bed around 10 am asleep by 11 ish and usually up at 7.

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 28/02/2017 20:26

6 hours usually, less if dc is sick/wakeful. Dh is willing to do night duty but never bloody wakes up so I do almost all of them

limon · 28/02/2017 20:47

When do was small I'd got to bed at 8pm when she did. Now she's 5 I go about 10.30pm. What "getting things ready" are you doing? We make sandwiches and get uniform ready which takes about 10 mins

MsHybridFanGirl · 28/02/2017 20:48

DD has a chronic health condition which requires checking/treating at least once in the night - sometimes every two hours.

So I usually am up till midnight, then sleep till 3am. Wake up and check, back to sleep then up at 7.30am.

On a bad night I can't get back to sleep so am up from 3am. On really bad nights will do checks at 2am and 4am. Will sometimes turn off morning alarm and let us both sleep in.

Single parent but DD sleeps with me so that makes it a bit easier during the night.

Anatidae · 28/02/2017 20:52

Ds is in bed about 6:30-7. Wakes multiple times a night and is raring to go by 4am. We've tried shifting bedtime later but even after weeks of later bed he still wakes super early so we moved it back.
I am constantly tired. Still; better than the seven months he spent waking every twenty minutes....
Have a demanding job and I'm nowhere near as alert as I should be :(

bookworm14 · 28/02/2017 20:59

I work Mon-Thurs and have an 18mo DD. I try to go to bed at 10-10.30 and get up at 7. Luckily DD currently sleeps through!

bunnylove99 · 28/02/2017 21:01

I get 8 hours sleep, approx 11pm to 7am. DC all sleep well now but when they were little and woke during night I would go to bed by 10pm . Can you not go to bed a bit earlier?

onceyoupop · 28/02/2017 21:56

Never ever enough! Though our 2 year old keeps sneaking in and disturbing us from 3ish. My ideal is 9 hours a night though I never get that!

theBaldSoprano · 28/02/2017 22:06

Not enough, I do need 8 hours sleep (at least) to feel ok. I don't have them.

What helped me: planning 3 very early nights a week. They might not happen, but having a goal helps.
Only watching tv once a week (twice at the most), when I do the ironing, and only when I do the ironing.
Strict limit on the internet, I try to do emails/ social media when I commute. I am on the net now, but I got distracted whilst ordering wedding gifts...
Starting running twice a week (or exercise dvd at home) I sleep a lot better after exercising.

WheresMaHairyToe · 28/02/2017 22:08

I seem to need more than I get. Bed between 11 and 12, up with kids about 3am for 15-20 mins. Get up at 7. Knackered All The Time.

splendide · 28/02/2017 22:14

About 7 hours.

Before I had DS I actually used to go to bed earlier but now I feel I need a bit of time to myself in the evening. I don't tend to have chores to do as DH is SAHD but sometimes I do some work.

DS sleeping well at the moment so I've started coming to bed at 10 ish - sleep by 11 up around 6. For a while I was in bed by 9 at the latest to cope with DS being up at 4.30!

Notcontent · 28/02/2017 22:16

My dd is 10, but I am alone parent so have lots of chores to get done after she goes to bed. Packed lunches for both of us, sometimes cooking for next day, tidying up, etc. I tend to go to bed around midnight and alarm clock goes off at 7.30 am, but lately I have been waking earlier. I think it's stress related. I used to always sleep for 9 hours in my "other life". I always feel and look tired.

ShowOfHands · 28/02/2017 22:21

Usually asleep by 10pm (late tonight as we've been out), up at 7.30am. I sleep 9-10hrs a night.

ohgoshIdontknow · 28/02/2017 22:22

6-7 hours.

If I get seven I'm happy. If I get six I'm ok.

Never, EVER get eight!

GreedyDuck · 28/02/2017 22:22

7-8 hours. Work f/t and have a 2yo DD, she's a great sleeper though, and I have a short commute to work so don't need to get up until 7.

theclick · 28/02/2017 22:51

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

wobblywonderwoman pls tell us your secret!

Lozzapops · 28/02/2017 22:54

Bed usually between 10pm and 11pm, then up about 6:30am, occasionally 7am. So about 7.5 - 8 hours per night is typical. I have a 3 year old. I occasionally treat myself to an 8:30/9pm bedtime!

NoMoreAngstPls · 28/02/2017 22:57

Bed at 11, up at 6.
DCs are 7 and 10, so no problem in the night.

PoundingTheStreets · 28/02/2017 23:02

My kids are older, but not yet driving themselves. I am a shift worker on a rolling pattern. I knew I wasn't getting much sleep but DP bought me a fitbit for Christmas. Which tells me my average is under 5 hours in every 24 and I wake up about 9 times per sleep.

Strangely, I feel ok most of the time, which i put down to excellent physical fitness, but I'll have about 2 days a month where I am almost incapable of doing anything other than lounging on the sofa all day.

bagpackbagpack · 28/02/2017 23:07

About 6 or 7, it's 11pm almost now and have been up some 4am. I switched my laptop on at 4:30am...

I do work flexible though (self employed) and probably do about 8-17 hours a day as required.

I take my hat off truely to people who have to be in work for certain times, can't leave etc etc until certain times and have it juggle work and childcare commitments.

Unless you have a job that can just be left at 4 or 5pm without repercussions or the need to stay beyond (my experience is that thes jobs pay nmw or just shy) then sleep is a secondary factor!

Me and my DP both work the same hours, similar demanding job so just share the sleepless nights doing everything!!!!

NoMoreAngstPls · 01/03/2017 07:00

Oh and with older DCs I'm beginning to lose my evenings. Pick ups from hobbies/clubs some nights at 8.30/9pm. DCs then hyper for a while after. No chance of 'me time' if I go to bed before 11!

FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson · 01/03/2017 07:15

I go to bed at 11pm and my alarm goes off at 5:30. So around 6-6.5 hours. I wake up exhausted but by the time I get to work (train commuter) I'm awake and able to function. I've tried going to bed earlier but I find I can't, also I'd barely see my DH.

I'd like to get more sleep. Sometimes I catch a bit of sleep on the train but sleeping on the train makes me more tired.

Hellmouth · 01/03/2017 07:20

6-7 hours of actual sleep, because it takes me a while to fall asleep. DS is 8 months old and sleeps usually from half 7 to when I wake him around 6. I go to bed at 10, I'm up at half 5.

skerrywind · 01/03/2017 07:34

I go to bed at 9pm every night and alarm goes off at 6.15 am. So 8 hours a night.
I work 30 hours a week or so - my hours are flexible.

I cut housework to a minimum, I never iron, I batch cook, I have a dishwasher.

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