CANT SLEEP .... Help?!?!

[RockinMumma]

I am in a complete sleep pattern nightmare, my daughter is 1.5 years old and I just cannot get out of bed in the morning!!! I mean it is a complete struggle, but when I get into bed at night I am wide awake and don't get to sleep till 2 or 3 in the morning, I hate it and I feel like it's taking over my full day, it results in me being lazy with my daughter, not wanting to go out the flat and just laze about, I realise this is unfair on my daughter and I'm wondering what I can do to fix it, help me sleep at night?

Have you tried natural sleep relaxers like herbal teas and warm baths?

Could you maybe drink coffee in the morning and then sleep with the caffeine crash? Or... I don't know how good this sounds, but what if you just stayed awake all night, didn't sleep, and the next night sleep at 8-9pm when you put DD to be to reset your sleep schedule.

I think you need to break the cycle by forcing yourself out and about in the day. Hopefully then you'll feel more tired at night and be better able to sleep.

Try to stay away from phones and tablets once in bed and during the night - the light they emit apparently stimulates you (or something) and makes it hard to sleep. I leave mine in another room now when I go to bed. Also try to avoid looking at a clock while in bed as it will just make you feel worked up about how soon you have to get up etc.
Is there something on your mind which you tend to worry about in bed? If so that will keep you awake too. Try to deliberately think through or "worry about" whatever it is during the day and find a solution so you can clear your mind for bedtime.

Do you have a partner? Does he go to work? If so get up with him every morning.

And no TV or phones etc after 8pm at night. Go to be an hour earlier than normal (for you) every few nights and gradually make it earlier. Hopefully you should wind back to a normal bedtime.

Get out every day. Fresh air, walking etc. Good for you and your dd.

Might be worth a chat with your gp too.

Exercise. Probably the last thing yo ufeel like doing, but an hour at the gym or a long brisk walk will get you sleeping like a baby.

You need lots of exposure to the sun (cloudy or not) in the daytime. Get up early and be outside as much as you can. No screens after 8 as above. Bath and bed.

If that doesn't work then see if you can get hold of some melatonin to reset your body clock, just the same way you'd use it for jet lag.

Simply go to the docs and ask for sleeping tablets. My DD is only 4 weeks but I was already starting to be awake all night, when she slept I was wide awake. Took one tablet, it knocked me out completely. After two nights I feel more sane. (husband fed the baby during the night)