Sleep deprivation - hpw do you cope?

[MommaGee]

Seriously, itsgetting me down.

DS (2) goes to sleep at 9, up between 7-8 am. He'll normally wake AT BEST 1.30 and need settling back to sleep. Last night it was midnight, 1.30-3 on and off (I dozed on his floor), 4, 7, 7.30 then u at 8.30.

Im struggling to get to sleep because I expect his cry. Then as Im finally drifting off he cries.

He'll nap everything from 10 mins to 2 hours but generally out the house so no nap for mummy.

How do people cope? What strategies for feeling less like death? Im aware I only have one child and no job so people have it much much rougher- please share your wisdom

Also he might be over tired, can you put him down earlier?

needpolldeedpoll

You can only do your best, it will get better

Agree with previous poster who said don't check clock. I was obsessed with my first about the number of times I got up and for how long. With my second (now 2.5) I don't check the clock and try not to count the number of times we've been up and that definitely felt better. If it's a bad night we just do whatever works best to get sleep- be that co sleeping or one of us going to spare room to get more sleep.
Caffeine, exercise, regular snacks, fresh air. I actually find it easier to be at work after a bad night- I just get on with things and am distracted. Much worse on a home day as the day feels so long

TheMasterNotMargarita lots of sensible suggestions, thank you
Earlier bedtime is hard because he's willful on a PEG feed till 7. Once thats flushed, teeth done, little steam let off from sitting on the highchair (he has an oral feed too) and we're sire he won't be sick, meds in and changed its 8. We're struggling to get 1000ml of fluid on his as it is as of he has too much he vomits. No overnight PEG feeds had helped and certainly it means less messing with him in the night etc.

No idea what wakes him. No noise I can tell. Back room so no lights. Willing sleep solidly from 9 (was 8.30 tonight) then wakes when we come up to bed - bit not when I come to the loo!! So 11-12 wish.

Dummy out (too asleep to find it), teeth, sense that mom is dozing off to sleep - all seem to wake him.

Have inflatable bed I might bring up. He went through a phase of needing company (I swear he should have been a twin) and it feels much like that again

Am away next Thurs-Mon and dreading leaving DH to it