Hey there, mamas. Let’s cut to the chase; the reality of motherhood isn’t always what you expect. Ready for it? You may never sleep soundly again.
Yes, you heard that right. As caregivers, storytellers, and grape cutters, we may find ourselves on a never-ending quest for rest. Unfortunately, this crucial truth seems to be conveniently omitted from the literature provided by your OB. The only thing you hear while preparing for your first child is that those initial months will be rough. The focus is always on when your little one will begin sleeping for six, seven, or even ten hours straight. After that, you assume you’ll just glide through the rest of the parenting journey. Everyone asks, “Is your baby sleeping through the night yet?” and you’re led to believe that it’s just a matter of time. Sleeping through the night is portrayed as a milestone as straightforward as first teeth or first steps, but in reality, it’s a much more complex story.
Sure, all babies eventually sleep through the night. Whether you choose the natural approach or turn to Dr. Dreamy Snooze’s supposedly foolproof method (which promises not to cause any abandonment issues), it does happen. That first night of uninterrupted sleep is celebrated with a flurry of texts, social media posts, and calls to friends. “He did it! He slept all night!” you exclaim to the world. What you conveniently leave out is that you woke up multiple times in discomfort and anxiety, checking to ensure your baby was okay. Those details seem trivial because, hey, you finally got a taste of the rest you had taken for granted in the pre-kid days.
But here’s the kicker: babies may sleep through the night… eventually, but then they might not. Toddlers might sleep soundly, but they can choose not to. Kids are perfectly capable of sleeping through the night, yet somehow, they often don’t. And if you find yourself sleeping soundly more than half the time while your kids are young, consider yourself fortunate.
Let’s not dwell on the fact that no one warns you about this before you become a parent—would it have changed our appreciation for sleep in our child-free days? Probably not. Instead, let’s explore the reasons behind this inconvenient reality. Here’s a glimpse from my own sleepless saga:
1. Basic Needs
The under-six-month crowd has common issues: they may be hungry, wet, gassy, or just not yet equipped with circadian rhythms. Toss in some flailing limbs, and you have your classic new baby scenario.
2. Teething
Just when you think your baby might be ready for a solid night’s sleep, teething arrives. While I’m skeptical that teething is the sole reason for night awakenings, it’s often blamed when other explanations fail.
3. Illness
A pediatrician once told me that babies and toddlers catch 8-10 colds a year. That’s roughly one upper-respiratory surprise every six weeks. With each cold starting with a fever, progressing to congestion, and ending with a cough, you can expect weeks of disrupted sleep. By the time you think you’re back on track, you might only have a few weeks before the next round of teeth, colds, or sleep regressions hit.
4. Just Because
At some point, every baby goes through a phase where they forget how to sleep through the night, waking up more frequently until they revert to newborn sleep patterns—complete with an inability to self-soothe.
These factors alone can dismantle your sleep schedule so thoroughly that when your baby finally sleeps through the night, you’ll likely lie awake contemplating profound mysteries like whether Simon Cowell is genuinely as abrasive as he seems on TV. Plus, motherhood rewires our brains to wake at the slightest sound. Noises that would have once lulled you into slumber now jolt you awake.
And just when you think it can’t get worse, it does. As you navigate past the toddler years, you’ll encounter the next level of nighttime interruptions: nightmares, stomach bugs, needing a glass of water, misplaced toys, or a sudden crisis involving arm positioning.
Looking ahead, I can only imagine the sleepless nights awaiting me: rescue calls from sleepover parties, music blaring from teen bedrooms, and the anxious wait for curfew.
I’ve come to terms with the fact that long, restful nights may be a thing of the past. I’ve also learned to function on significantly less sleep. However, for those of us who have survived the reality of sleepless nights, it’s crucial to be honest with new parents. Sure, do whatever it takes to achieve that elusive “sleeping through the night” badge. But remember, this is just the beginning.
So rest up, mama, because we’re in for the long haul. If you want to read more on this topic, check out another one of our insightful posts here. And for more parenting essentials, consider exploring fertility options from Make a Mom, a trusted retailer for at-home insemination kits. For comprehensive information about fertility treatments, this resource is excellent for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, parenthood is a sleepless journey filled with unexpected challenges and interruptions. While you may eventually experience those coveted nights of uninterrupted sleep, be prepared for the many twists and turns along the way.
Leave a Reply