How much sympathy would you have for a colleague in this situation?

[Bloopbloopbleep]

Colleague returned from maternity leave around a year ago.
Sleep deprivation still an issue and regularly at work having not slept. No SEN, just a kid who doesn't like to sleep.
Doing a fair job but not as good as pre-mat leave. More forgetful and less energetic but no major balls have been dropped yet.
If you were a colleague of this person, how much sympathy would you have and how much would they just annoy you?

I dont think the OP said the child only slept 1-2 hours in 2 days.

Some kids need alot of parental support to sleep. People will never understand until they go through it themselves. People would ask me was my son a good sleeper and 100% thought I was exaggerating when I said No, he was terrible. He needed support to get tk sleep... if I tried to put him down too soon he would wake and it would start allover again. For the first 14 months of his life, he never slept for more than 40-50 minutes a time. J would repeatedly have to help him back to sleep... so in a 12 hour period he would probably sleep for 9 hours but wake 14-15 times.

It's insanely difficult for a mother to then get to sleep knowing you're going to be woken again in 30-40 minutes. Also these short bursts are your only time to shower, have a cup of tea, get some housework done etc.

Comments of neglect are exactly what to OP who is extremely sleep deprived and just trying to make it through each day at a time, does not need.

@Bloopbloopbleep
Oh OP, I really feel for you. Sleep deprivation is absolutely insane. Bless you for thinking about your colleagues at this time.

My son is now 22 months and I went back to work when he was 7 months old (so 15 months ago approx). Up until he was 14 / 15 months old he woke every 45 minutes and would only settle back to sleep with me and being breastfed. Eventually he started doing slightly longer stints but only in the last month has he dropped to only 2 wakes a night (a night being 8.30pm to 6.30am). He was sick last week and we were back to me holding him up to ease congestion and multiple wakes. It is so so difficult to get to sleep or even get any meaningful sleep when this is your normal.

I do not recognise myself when I compare my look and my work to pre-baby me! I WFH mostly now and do not wear makeup unless necessary! I am always clean and fresh but very little effort made! I recently put makeup on and had my hair blow dried and my friend literally complimented me all day 😂 It made me remember how awful I must look every other day.

I have friends and family with toddler sand young kids too who clearly don't have the sleep issues we do who go on nights out, are extremely well-kempt etc.

With regards to work... I have taken the view that this is a phase! My work gets done (maybe slower but still on time and to a relatively good standard)... some day my son will sleep all night every night and so will I.

My employers are still positive about my work thankfully and I was actually promoted since returning to work (despite my eyes literally hanging out of my head all day everyday)!

I am.often asked if I am ill etc and I just say No, my kid doesn't sleep. I don't bother taking offence anymore.

My DD was a nightmare! I was exhausted .. sleep deprivation is torture!
I am a supportive person and have always helped colleagues .. I’d be sympathetic & offer support

Absolutely not being patronising, just pointing out its different and having experienced both, what the difference is.

And since I am both an insomniac with a sleepless child and minimal support I completely have the right to that view.

Only patronising if you chose to take it that way. Tired is tired, caring for people adults or children that don't sleep, and again I have experienced both is beyond tired.

Have had both experiences too. When you don't sleep, your body doesn't choose to be less tired based on it not being causes by kids.

PP didn't say they don't have experience of both either.

I've had kids & had to return to work when my youngest was only 14 weeks old & remember the struggles of going in to work on minimum sleep so I would have every sympathy with them. If it became a problem that it impacted my work because I was picking up work they usually did or I was covering for them too often then I'd have a word with my line manager but wouldn't put it across as a complaint, more a concern that they might need support or adjustments made to their working day if they're struggling.