Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 15:18:56 +0000 Ajsmommy on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2042012 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:34:40 +0000 Ajsmommy 2042012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Do I sleep less, yes. Do I need more, yes. Do I function ok with less, yes. Do I sometimes have breakdowns b/c I miss sleep, yes. To answer the actual question do you NEED less sleep is tough. I mean I definitely get less sleep and I manage to function LuLu Mom on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2042011 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:34:00 +0000 LuLu Mom 2042011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, I still require at least 7 hours of sleep (more is better) to function normally. that can be split up (when dealing with a newborn) but to be at my best 8 hours of consistent sleep. I'm a horrible napper, I have to "force" myself to sleep when baby sleeps when I'm home otherwise I'm dragging with the night wakeups. Tanjowen on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2042005 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:32:36 +0000 Tanjowen 2042005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Um, no. If I only get a few hours it's not a good day. coopsmama on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041914 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:48:58 +0000 coopsmama 2041914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @erinpye: I'm right there with you. I get less but not because I need less. I also hate that on the rare day my kids do sleep in, for whatever reason, I can't seem to sleep in at all anymore! Meridian on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041876 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:30:00 +0000 Meridian 2041876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I had no idea I could function on 4-5 hours of sleep, but I make do these days. I wish I could nap, but my brain can't shut down during the day! I can't wait to start getting 6 (*gasp*) hours one of these days... Here's hoping that is in my future. Even though I can "function", I feel slower and less coherent. Sometimes the words coming out of my mouth don't make sense, haha. Somebunny on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041833 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 11:10:02 +0000 Somebunny 2041833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I need the same amount. I just rarely get it. I can still function fine, but I'm a lot more tired. I can count on one hand the number of times I've woken up feeling really rested in the 20 months since DDs been born. Actually probably longer than that... 3rd trimester sleep wasn't exactly restful either. Oh sleep, how I miss you... Rocker2014 on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041561 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 06:52:20 +0000 Rocker2014 2041561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Need less? Nope. Getting less than I ever have? Yep. I have no idea how I am a functioning human being right now! AngelicOne on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041552 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 06:14:49 +0000 AngelicOne 2041552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm the same as @Rainbow Sprinkles:. I need more sleep but don't get it with a 2 month old. I'm surprised I can function on 4-5 hrs of broken sleep a night when I've always needed 8-10 hrs. jhd on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041495 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 00:12:00 +0000 jhd 2041495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I still need the same amount of sleep but I can function on less if absolutely necessary. Sapphiresun on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041493 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 00:08:39 +0000 Sapphiresun 2041493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. I worked full time graveyards so I could also accommodate full time studies during the day all through college. Being the parent of a baby that only slept for 2-3 hours at a time for the first 14 months of her life felt comparatively shitty. fairy on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041468 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:15:56 +0000 fairy 2041468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yup, I remember being surprised when DD was a newborn that I didn't feel super tired even with crazy newborn sleep and only getting like 2-4 hours at a time. But then when she got older and started sleeping longer, when she regresses I feel AWFUL even if it is like 2 wakeups because I must have gotten used to sleeping again. (That combined with a crappy 10yr old mattress that doesn't give restful sleep) namaste on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041265 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:42:32 +0000 namaste 2041265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @SleepyMonkey: Yes. I have always been a terrible sleeper and have an internal clock that's on the money. Everyone makes fun of me for it! catlady on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041253 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:32:24 +0000 catlady 2041253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If anything, I feel like I need more now (although I get about the same or less). Baby Boy Mom on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041244 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:25:41 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2041244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Nope. To be rested I need the same amount, but I've had other periods in my life where I also got very little sleep. I think it made me more miserable pre kids though since I wasn't rewarded with baby smiles and giggles. erinpye on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041237 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 20:18:45 +0000 erinpye 2041237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Do I need less? No. Do I get less? So much less. 6 hours of unbroken sleep was good enough before kids, but I rarely get that these days. :sad: Greentea on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041188 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:20:31 +0000 Greentea 2041188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ For sure! No choice but to adapt. SleepyMonkey on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041179 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:58:46 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2041179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @namaste: omg. 4-5 hours? Thats amazing. SleepyMonkey on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041177 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:58:04 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2041177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to sleep 8-9 hours at night and then naps on the weekend. Full naps like 2-3 hours long where i would wake up and feel like the entire day was gone. I dont nap as often now and they are shorter. I still try to get at least 8 hours of night sleep though. namaste on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041169 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:52:32 +0000 namaste 2041169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I sleep around the same amount with a newborn as I did pre-pregnancy and during pregnancy. I've always functioned on about 4-5 hours of sleep, 6 on a good night and that's about what I'm getting daily now. Rainbow Sprinkles on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041167 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:49:54 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2041167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't know if I NEED less sleep, but I certainly get less. I have only been getting 5 hours a night lately. That NEVER would have flown before having kids.... I used to consider myself a high sleep needs sort of person.... but... yeah. not happening! Lindsay05 on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041164 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:45:52 +0000 Lindsay05 2041164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No. I sleep less now as a parent but it usually catches up to me after 5 or 6 days. Mae on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041158 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:42:21 +0000 Mae 2041158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I used to get like 8-10 hrs/night. Now I think I adapt and do okay on whatever I get... to a point. Like when I was getting 5-6 hours/night between wake ups I adapted and did okay. Then I started getting more (now like 7 mayyyyybe 8 hrs with only 1 or 2 very fast wake ups) and I do fine. But when we have a bad night and I only get 5 or 6 again I feel crappy. I'm sure when LO starts STTN all the way I'll "need" that much again too. ellewoods84 on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041157 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:42:20 +0000 ellewoods84 2041157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't know if I need less sleep, but I can definitely function on less sleep! I am pretty amazed at how little sleep I can get by on. Pre-baby, I used to sleep from like 11 pm-10 or 11am on the weekends and still say I was tired! hahahaha, how times have changed. 7 am is considered sleeping in now. Kimberlybee on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041149 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:30:25 +0000 Kimberlybee 2041149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I need more sleep but surviving on much less. My body has weird aches and pains that come and go lately so I am trying to get more sleep by going to sleep earlier. plantains on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041148 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:30:17 +0000 plantains 2041148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes, I always pop awake at 5am now and as long as I was asleep by midnight I feel pretty rested Anagram on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041147 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:29:29 +0000 Anagram 2041147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's probably the same, but now I fixate on sleep on how I wish I had more of it constantly, in a way I never did before kids when I could sleep as much or as little as I want. Also, I'm pregnant right now, so that's coloring my feelings on this at the moment. If I could go to bed and sleep for 3 weeks, I would do it. Andrea on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041146 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 18:26:23 +0000 Andrea 2041146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ No, I still like to sleep a bunch! I go to bed earlier though. Cherrybee on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041112 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 17:46:38 +0000 Cherrybee 2041112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Umm... no. sunny on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041097 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 17:34:55 +0000 sunny 2041097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I was amazed at how I could do it in LO's first 4 months of life. After that, I think my sleep needs returned to normal, which is needing between 7.5-8.5 hrs before feeling good. NovBaby1112 on "Do you need less sleep since becoming a parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-need-less-sleep-since-becoming-a-parent#post-2041094 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 17:32:53 +0000 NovBaby1112 2041094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yes! I used to need 9-10 hours and now as long as I get a nice 6-7 stretch I'm good.