Tiredness coping mechanisms!

[blondiii]

DS is 18 months old and has never slept through the night. We've hit every sleep regression, every illness/tooth ache/growth spurt related sleepless night and now we've arrived at the 4-5am wake ups. With 2-3 wakes ups in the night also. Great.

I've accepted my lovely DS is not one for sleeping, and that this is all part of the rollercoaster of parenthood. But...From someone who does shift work, doesn't like coffee, and in any case caffeine doesn't seem to touch this zombie state I'm permanently in (when I've gotten so desperate I've drank the stuff) PLEASE are there any magic fixes or coping mechanisms for this?

I've been to the drs and there's nothing medically wrong with me causing it but it's starting to have a big impact on my life and get me a bit down.

Priorise your sleep. But ear plugs to block out background noise and have blackout blinds

• If offered a baby sitter DH and I would much rather relax at home and go to bed early than go out drinking / eating

• make the effort (or does require deliberate effort) to power nap. So as DH comes home from work, if you are exhausted don't just flop on the sofa with your phone for half an hour, that is not in the spirit of prioritising your sleep. Instead go upstairs, take off a layer or two of clothing, close black out blinds, lie in bed, put in ear plugs. Set an alarm for 45 minutes from first lying down. Even 20 minutes would be restorative. Make the effort to get that extra nap, rather than just "wasting" half an hour potential nap time sitting in front of the tv

• realise the value of restorative rest that isn't sleep. Don't stress yourself in the above power naps that you "must sleep". You probably will, but reconcile in your mind that just deep relaxation in the dark, silent room has value. It doesn't matter if you sleep or just relax. So don't stress about needing to nap

• in your bedroom at night, turn your clock around so you cannot see the time. This is a really powerful psychological way to make you feel like you have had more rest.

• drink plenty of water and eat healthily. Fresh air also helps.

• go to bed early and nap as often as you get the chance. At my most sleep deprived I developed a 12 hour body clock - whereby I sleep approx 4-6h in one 12h block and 2-3h in the next 12h block every 24 hours. My afternoon nap (with my children) was so established in my body clock that for a time, I could not function without it. It wasnt wasn't an especially healthy sleep pattern for me, but was a coping mechanism when sleep deprivation was at its worst.

Fate when are you writing a book?!

Thank you!! I have well mastered the art of power napping, it's just getting the opportunity - DH or I are working opposite shifts usually for child care provisions. DS has gotten up at 04:30 the last three days and I am working late shifts so getting in at midnight. I'm so tired I'm constantly ill, even with my naps when DS has one. And when we have days off together DH gets a bit fed up of me sleeping in the day as it's our time off together but I rely on that to feel human. It's so hard