5 Tips For Sleep Better As A New Mom
Thank-you ORB Vitamins for collaborating on this post. ORB Vitamins provided us with ORB Sleep Complex for this post, but all opinions are our own.
One of my biggest struggles since becoming a new mom to two little ones has been having a solid night of sleep for myself. I have been a new mom of two for almost an entire year and I can count on a single hand the number of mornings that I have woken up feeling fully rested. Between Isla--who still wakes up throughout the night, Brody--who sleep talks, and my mind--which likes to start brainstorming ideas around midnight, mornings have been a little rough.
After finding ourselves waking up feeling exhausted and frustrated most mornings, improving our sleep has been a top priority for JD and I. Over the past few weeks, we have been making a few small changes to our sleep environment and routine. They have been very helpful in increasing the quality of our sleep. Even if I am still waking up a few times throughout the night, it is nice to fall back asleep quickly and feel refreshed in the mornings.
Here are 5 Tips For Better Sleep As A New Mom
White Noise on a Timer
As any mom knows, white noise is a godsend when it comes to training your little ones to sleep. With all of the traveling we have been doing, we found ourselves sharing a room with Brody and Isla on more than one occasion. JD and I quickly realized how helpful the sound of the white noise was for us as we tried to fall asleep as well. Now that we are back in our own bedrooms, I’ve been using an app called Relax Melodies. I am always paranoid that I won’t hear my little ones if I have white noise going throughout the night, but with this app you can set a timer for it to automatically shut off after a certain amount of time. I usually have it play for 30 minutes while I am falling sleep.
Keep Those Middle of the Night Wake-Ups Boring
One of my biggest sleep struggles is falling back asleep once I’ve been woken up. If I am feeding Isla in the middle of the night, I would previously spend that time browsing social media on my phone. I started to realize how hard it was to shut my mind off once I was back in bed. I recently started limiting the apps on my phone in the middle of the night. Reading news websites is usually stimulating enough to keep me from falling asleep while I am nursing, but not interesting enough to keep my mind rolling once I crawl back into bed.
Try a Sleep Vitamin
One thing that has helped JD with his sleep lately has been taking ORB Sleep Complex before he goes to bed. Between all of the parenting wake-ups in the middle of the night, he also works a wacky schedule where he either ends up having to go to bed really late or waking up super early. These capsules are designed to not only help you fall asleep, but sleep deeper and wake up feeling less groggy. The way these vitamins are designs, they use an intelligent time-release technology. This allows you to receive the benefit from the melatonin and B12 throughout the night. JD has noticed a difference using them. You can pick them up in a 2-pack at Costco! Their packaging is easy to spot.
Tip: They are not recommended if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or nursing. Always check with your care provider.
Keep Your Phone Off Of Your Nightstand.
Maybe it is psychological, but having my phone right next to my bed at night is a total distraction. Even if it is on silent, I hear phantom vibrations and find myself glancing at the time or scrolling through instagram. One of my friends swears by keeping her phone plugged and charging in her bathroom where it is out of site and out of mind. I started moving mine off of the nightstand and plugging it in by the door. Since I use it when I am up feeding Isla, it is still accessible, but it isn’t accessible without getting out of bed.
Keep a Notebook and Pen by Your Bed.
If your mind is anything like mine, it suddenly starts remembering everything under the sun as soon as your head hits the pillow. One way I have discovered to combat those late night brainstorming sessions is to keep a notebook on my nightstand. If I have a notebook handy, it’s easy to jot down the thoughts to pull them out of my mind. There have been so many times where I have these great ideas or important reminders, but forget them by the time I wake up. Having the notebook within arms reach and being able to glance at it in the morning has been helpful.
Sleep has been one of my biggest struggles in motherhood—especially as a new mom to two. I hope these tips will inspire you to try some changes in your own sleep habits. A well rested momma sure makes motherhood much more enjoyable!
What are your tips for sleeping better? Do you keep your phone on your nightstand or somewhere else?
