One of the most difficult life adjustments for new parents is handling sleep deprivation.  The precious newborn you just welcomed into your home needs care twenty-four hours a day.  Handling the demand without melting into the floor in your own tears can be a challenge.  Here are a few tips to help you out.

Be Prepared

Before your due date arrives, get your house ready.  Make sure the baby room is comfortable for the new baby and for you as parents.  Decide where the baby will sleep, either in a crib or bassinette in your room.  Decide where changing stations will be and stock them with diapers and wipes.  Make sure you can find everything easily, even in the middle of the night so you only need a dim lamp to see rather than turning on bright overhead lights.  Exposure to bright lights can make it harder for a newborn to quickly fall back asleep.  Also consider your meals.  If you don’t have a church family or friends willing to bring you meals, think about cooking and freezing casseroles a couple months before.

Accept Help

We don’t always like to admit when we need help, but accept it!  You may begin this journey exhausted if delivery goes through the night.  Allow the nurses to help care for your baby so you can rest in the hospital.  Once home, welcome those family members who offer help.  Let them sweep your floors, wash your dishes, and fold your clothes.  Allow someone to play with the baby and put him down for a nap while you rest.  Remember, doctors usually advise new parents to sleep while their babies are sleeping.  You don’t have to mop the floors before company comes over.  Chances are, they will take one look at your new baby and pay absolutely no attention to your floors.

Find Rest in God

Remember the story of Paul’s exhaustion?  When he reached the point that he just couldn’t do anymore, who helped?  God!  The Bible clearly tells us in Psalms to “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.”  Psalm 62:5  When we are weak and weary, turn to God.  He promises to not give us more than we can handle.  We can trust that he has given us the ability to be great parents.  We know that we can gain strength in our relationship with God.

Welcoming a new baby into the house is not the time to try to be a perfectionist.  It is time to relax, enjoy your new baby, and praise God for the blessings pouring into your family!

Image source: http://pregnancy-blog.parentingweekly.com/2010/08/new-moms-get-enough-sleep-just-not-good.html

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