How long until the sleep deprivation gets better?

Mar 61 min read

My daughter is 6 weeks old and I've never been this tired in my entire life. We're alternating night shifts with my wife but even on my off nights I can't sleep because I'm anxious listening for the baby or thinking about whether she ate enough. I'm hallucinating at work. My boss asked if I was okay and I almost cried in front of him. Does this actually get better or is this just my life now? Wife keeps saying it gets easier around 3 months but I'm not sure I can function that long.

9 comments207 views

Comments(9)

KKevin M.RegularMar 7

The crockpot meals helped us get through that phase because at least dinner was ready even when we were zombies. Just throw stuff in before you lose your mind and boom, you've got food. One less thing to think about when your brain is fried.

JJayRegularMar 7

Two under two so I'm basically a zombie at this point but honestly the first baby was way harder on the sleep front. Your body starts to adjust somehow. Not saying it gets easy but week 12 felt like a turning point for us.

CChristopher L.New DadMar 8

Hang in there, man. At 6 weeks you're in the thick of it. Around 3-4 months it starts to get noticeably better, and by 6 months you might actually recognize yourself again. The alternating nights thing is smart though - at least one of you gets a solid chunk. Sleeping when the baby sleeps is real advice that actually works if you can make it happen.

DDom F.RegularMar 6

Hang in there man, weeks 8-12 were when things clicked for us. The fact that you're alternating shifts is smart, but yeah you're still wired even on off nights. It does get better, I promise.

SSteve L.RegularMar 6

Six weeks is still really early. We're at two kids now and I remember that fog lasted until around 3-4 months when sleep started becoming more predictable. You'll get through this.

PPaul W.RegularMar 6

That's the hardest part right there, your brain won't shut off even when it's your wife's turn. Took us a couple months before I could actually sleep on my off nights instead of just lying there listening.

KKevinRegularMar 6

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it, those first 3 months are brutal. But it does get better. Way better. Now my kids are older and I'd take the sleep deprivation back just to have them be little again. You're doing great even though it doesn't feel like it right now.

JJason T.RegularMar 7

Six weeks in here and I'm right there with you. The first 8-10 weeks were absolutely brutal. Around week 10-12 things started clicking for us. She began sleeping in slightly longer stretches and we could actually predict when she'd be hungry. Hang in there, it gets better.

TTrevor M.New DadMar 7

Everything amazes me but everything also terrifies me and the sleep deprivation is real. We're five months in now and it's SO much better than week 6. That first month was the hardest thing I've ever done.