The joys of becoming a parent for the first time are numerous. You get to revel in the joy of starting a family, meeting your baby for the very first time, and experiencing many exciting firsts. However, there are some not-so-exciting sides to parenthood, especially in the early days of your child’s life.
Perhaps one of the most common things that new parents experience after bringing their child home are some pretty sleepless nights. The lack of sleep that new parents face after having their baby has been chronicled in novels, plays, television shows, well meaning advice from older relatives, and even celebrity interviews.
Recently, Uzo Aduba, known for her work in shows like Orange is The New Black and Mrs. America, sat down with People Magazine to talk about her new book The Road Is Good: How a Mother’s Strength Became a Daughter’s Purpose. In her interview, Uzo shared her experience becoming a mother for the first time, since the actress welcomed her first child with husband Robert Sweeting in November of 2023. (1)
Specifically, Uzo told People that the sleep deprivation that she experienced as a first-time parent is “on another level.” (1) Read on to hear more about Uzo’s experience with sleep deprivation as a first time parent, and how first time parents can still get quality sleep while still keeping up with your new baby.
What Has Uzo Aduba’s Experience Been Like As A New Parent?
Uzo told People that while she’s experienced sleepless nights before, the ones that she’s experiencing as a new mom are completely different, saying that “In college, I could do sleepless nights. It’s not the same.” (1)
She also joked that “I wouldn’t be surprised if The Art of War, it’s used [as a] tactic, sleep deprivation,” and that “I understand why that is a crime against humanity.” (1)
Uzo went on to say that the experience of new parenthood is “beautiful and hard” and that she didn’t realize how fast the time would pass. She told People that “It’s the hard work of being so happy that we are here and letting her continue to grow and develop in that independent way, and then I’m like, ‘But don’t grow up too fast.’ You want to hold on.” (1)
How Can New Parents Make Sure That They’re Getting Quality Sleep?
A Sleepopolis survey from 2023 found that 71.9% of parents report that they get insufficient sleep 3 or more nights per week. Additionally, 95.33% of parents report that they engage in “revenge bedtime procrastination” due to a lack of free time, and that 48.02% of parents do this almost every night.
If you’re not familiar, “revenge bedtime procrastination” occurs when you push off sleep to reclaim a bit of personal time that you didn’t get during the day. So, for parents who spend most of their days taking care of their children, pushing off their bedtime provides a way for them to reclaim a bit of personal time for their hobbies and interests.
Sleepopolis recommends cleaning up your sleep with sleep hygiene to make sure that you’re getting quality sleep. This means maintaining a good bedtime routine and sleeping in a quiet, dark room. Sleepopolis also recommends making sure your baby is good and tired when you put them down and trying to sleep train your child.
Additionally, if you need help, you could reach out to family members or trusted friends to help you care for your child
Sleepopolis’s Dr. Shelby Harris suggests this tip for parents struggling to sleep “The remedy for better sleep for parents is likely fixing their child’s sleep schedule. NO. “It isn’t the remedy. It is a place to start so you can then have a more fixed bedtime yourself.”
If you find that you are consistently unable to sleep, you should reach out to your doctor to talk about next steps.
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Sources
- Falcone, Dana Rose. Uzo Aduba jokes lack of sleep as a mom of an infant is a ‘crime against humanity’: ‘on another level’ (exclusive). People Magazine. September 24, 2024. https://people.com/uzo-aduba-calls-lack-of-sleep-as-mom-a-crime-against-humanity-exclusive-8717008
