Do you think you can just adjust to needing less sleep?

[talilac]

Didnt Maggie Thatcher famously only sleep 4 hours a night or something?

I mean what with a toddler refusing to go to bed yet still getting up at 6, a baby waking in the night, a job that has to get done sometime, and a DH who believes that sleep really is for the weak and I should spend time with him occasionally in the evenings, I'm getting what, 6 hours a night tops, broken into chunks?

I'm wondering if instead of feeling sorry for myself an attitude change might be better. Y'know, "6 hours, wahay, ready to go!"

Anyone ever successfully done this? Or know anything about the science - am I just heading for health trouble even trying?

I would love to know your thoughts.

I think it's worthwhile to make the best of your situation for now, but if 6 hours a night doesn't suit you, you should aim to get a normal amount of sleep in the long run.

That being said, to cope better with less sleep, I would recommend:

• lots of exercise - it really helps!
• acknowledging that it's ok for you to be forgetful, tired, etc, you haven't had enough sleep
• a low-GI diet, generally, and lots of water etc.

no - I mean if only!

how old is your baby?

what time are you going to bed?

Oh, and tell your DH to sod off, and get yourself some more sleep, tbh. Just because he doesn't need a lot of sleep, shouldn't affect how much sleep you need.

my hv once told me that if you were bfeeding, your body produced a chemical to give you deeper sleep if you were waking and feeding, so that helps a little

but I would try to do some super early nights once or twice a week - it feels odd at first but definitely worth it

you do have to look after yourself and put yourself first - going on and on and on and on will only make you ill, if you ignore what your body needs

oh yes NQC has it right on the button

if he wants to spend time with you in the evenings he can get up in the night/ give you a lie in

I think you definelty adjust to needing less once you start having less. Before I had DD I used to think I needed 8 hours, now I feel fine after 6. In fact 6 is pretty standard for me these days. Less than 5-6hours and I feel pretty terrible, but not moody or grumpy, more just that i'm in a bit of a daze...
I know i'm lucky though as a lot of people really need their sleep. My mum is the same as me, so maybe it runs in my family. DD also seems to be heading the same way unfortunately!!!!

DH is usually pretty good at doing his share with the DDs, but he's working crazy hours at the moment and is probably getting less sleep than me. But he's like you Kate76, it doesn't seem to bother him. He doesn't really get my desire for 8hrs, thus him getting a bit fed up when I slope off to bed straight after the DDs! I do feel for him though, it does seem like couple time always gets put at the bottom of the to do list. We've got a stack of tv on the Sky+ waiting for those nights when the children are in bed, neither of us are working and we're not utterly knackered..

DD2 is 5m, she used to sleep really well at night but now reliably wakes at 4.30. I keep hoping she'll revert back to better sleep, see what happens. Your HV's info is interesting, Capp. Maybe I should stop worrying about how much sleep I'm getting and console myself that its quality sleep at least!

I do think an attitude change would help though. I think I waste too much time moaning about lack of sleep when I could just be getting on with it!

In the mornings I feel knackered. I guess I can get through the day because I keep repeating to myself that it won't last forever.

the comment about bf makes sense to me. some nights are a bit of a blur and I wake up without even remembering if i put dd back in her crib . although my sister who ff swears that it's easier just to hand in the bottle.