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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to want a good night's sleep too

10 replies

nokip · 07/12/2023 00:27

DH used to go and sleep in the spare room after an argument, instead of sleeping in our bed. He doesn't do it as much in a sulking way anymore, but since DD arrived he's started sleeping there to get a better night's sleep.

We take it in turns to look after her at night. Last night when she woke up, he was on duty, and it's me tonight. When we're not on duty, we still get woken up, but not needing to get out of bed means we get a better night's sleep every other night. It's a godsend.

He's started sleeping in the spare room a couple of nights a week to get a better night's sleep, to avoid the screams coming through the monitor in our room. Fair enough. But, he only goes there when I'm on duty. When he's on duty, he sleeps in our room, meaning I hear every squeal.

AIBU to feel aggrieved at this? Talking to some friends, maybe I should be grateful DH takes it in turns with me at all. And theoretically I could go to the spare room when I'm not on duty, but over time it's established itself as 'his' room unless there are visitors staying, and really I can't stand the spare bed mattress, I wouldn't sleep well there anyway.

I'm pretty sure if I raise this with him he'll take it personally, like I don't want to share a bed with him. The fact he cherry picks when to sleep in our bed won't matter. That thing we all do where we judge/criticise someone else for an action while excusing ourselves for doing exactly the same, he does that to the extreme.

It doesn't feel like there's a solution to this that doesn't cause more upset than leaving things as they are. Do I just accept it for what it is?

OP posts:
Christmasmug · 07/12/2023 00:32

I would be insisting the spare room is 'made nice' so you can both use it, could you afford a new mattress for in there and have a clear out/tidy up so it's no longer 'DH's room'? I would just say 'it's a good idea, decamping to the spare room when we're not on baby duty, think we'll do that room up so we can both use it' and then just get on with getting it done.

Nadal1966 · 07/12/2023 01:32

I agree with Above person's opinion. If you let him continue to choose , it will set a president for him to pick and choose. Another idea would be if he likes to sleep in this room when you on duty, plug the baby monitor into that room, perhaps until both have time to tidy and become an us room. My feeling is if you do this thr bedroom will be transformed quicker than Christmas!

Lizzieregina · 07/12/2023 01:37

You should go to the spare room when he’s on duty, and add a white noise machine in there so that you don’t have to be woken up.

Make the room pleasant for yourself.

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 07/12/2023 01:38

Get a decent mattress for the spare bed and make it somewhere you will sleep soundly as well.

Such a simple solution, really. Are you too tired to figure it out or is there something else going on for this not to be the obvious solution for you?

GreatGateauxsby · 07/12/2023 01:41

you need to change the status quo now ideally.

The monitor should be with the person on duty.

Buy a decent matress or matress topper (I would do this personally) and You go to the spare room on your night off.

in the interim / as well buy some decent earplugs. I was way more attuned to the baby than my DH. So much so I still heard her through earplugs in the same room.

ZekeZeke · 07/12/2023 06:18

Just move the monitor to whatever room the on duty parent is sleeping in.

telestrations · 07/12/2023 06:27

I don't see the issue except that the spare room could do with a better mattress or just move the monitor

2mummies1baby · 07/12/2023 07:20

I honestly mean this kindly, but if you want a good night's sleep, don't be posting on mumsnet at half past midnight! Even if you're awake anyway, lying in the dark with your eyes closed is much more relaxing and conducive to getting back to sleep than staring at a screen and thinking of what to type.

2mummies1baby · 07/12/2023 07:26

And, as PP have said, get a better mattress for the spare room and sleep there on nights he is on duty.

nokip · 08/12/2023 00:19

Thanks everyone, appreciate the wisdom of the hive and the reality check!

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