Am I safe to drive on no sleep?

[sometimesyouwin]

Hi, Just looking for an opinion, my 5 month olds sleep has been horrendous for the last 6 weeks. For the last 3 nights I've only had about 3 hours sleep a night and tonight is going the same way. I got 2.5 hours between 9 and 11:30 and since then he hasn't stayed asleep longer than 20 minutes after being put down. We're supposed to be taking my eldest DS to the zoo for the day tomorrow (today?) and I'm concerned I'm possibly not fit to drive. My husband doesn't drive and I feel bad as we've already postponed the trip from earlier in the week as I had mastitis. DS has been so tolerant and well behaved about being stuck in whilst I've been recovering I'll feel awful if we have to cancel it again. I just don't want to put my family at risk if I'm way too tired to be driving. I've been sat in bed in tears on and off since about midnight as I just feel such a mess. What do other people do about driving on no sleep? If it was nipping down the road to the shops I'd probably not worry too much but the drive is just under an hour to get there.

Get your hubby to take over baby duty now as he has already had way more sleep than you it sounds. Take baby downstairs etc

You get a good few hours sleep now until say 10am, hubby can cope with children til then. That way you will have had 6h sleep and can all go to the zoo.

If you are feeding. Sleep for 3h then get DH to bring baby for feed and take away again. Not always that simple but for a few hours he can manage the tears etc

God luck

Of not can you drive to a pubic transport option and then take that for main part it journey?

Don't drive, not worth it. Take care

It's as risky as being drunk.
Is there anyone else you could invite along to drive?

It is dangerous to drive when you're really tired. Wake your husband to take over for a few hours, only bringing the baby to you if it needs feeding (if you're breastfeeding.

I don't drive on that little sleep. Yy to getting your husband to take over with the baby. I've had a couple of close calls when sleep deprived and now I just don't take the risk.

It depends how you feel. I can drive off 3 hours sleep but I've only had 3 hours sleep at a time for the past 8 years so I'm used to it and can function. If you feel woozy and not alert then no it's not. But why can't your husband take on baby duty while you get sleep if it's for your DS and you'll be driving?

No way. What have you tried to get him to sleep? Also has anything changed e.g. weaning or formula etc?

I avoided driving much in the first few months but found it quite scary when I had to drive because baby had a hospital appointment and we live in a rural area where public transport to the hospital isn't an option. Personally I would say definitely avoid if you can. I got my in laws to come down and take us to hospital appointments when they were available.

Thanks for the advice everyone. My other half took over and I managed to get a few more hours in and a shower sorted me out. Not sure what to do about DSs sleeping. I thought I was due a good sleeper after my first DS being so bad but apparently not!

If it helps my little one has hit 4 months and gone from waking once a night to 5 times. My friends with older Nct babies say is does go back.

Glad you got some sleep