My wife and I are trying to split night duties but every time I lay down I'm anxious something will happen. Last night I checked on him like 15 times. I know he's sleeping in the bassinet right next to the bed but I just keep getting up. Is anyone else dealing with this? I love this little guy so much but I'm absolutely exhausted.
The sleep deprivation hits different when it's your own kid. Everyone told me it would get easier around week 4-6 and honestly they were right. Hang in there, you're not losing your mind even though it feels like it.
Two weeks and no sleep is absolutely normal and also absolutely brutal. That anxiety you're feeling? Everyone gets it. Your brain is trying to protect your kid but it won't let you rest. It gets better, I promise.
Have you talked to your wife about maybe having one of you take a full 4-hour block where the other person is completely off duty? Might help you actually rest instead of just lying there waiting for something to go wrong.
This anxiety thing is real man. Even when your wife is on duty you can't shut off, I get it. But you gotta try to sleep when she's watching the baby or you'll lose it. The hypervigilance fades after a few more weeks.
Hypervigilance is real with a newborn. Every little noise feels like an emergency. The good news is it does get better. Give yourself permission to actually sleep when the baby sleeps. I know people say that but I didn't listen and it killed me.
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Two weeks in and no sleep is totally normal but that doesn't make it suck any less. The anxiety is the worst part. I remember lying there listening to every sound my son made. Try to trust that your wife is on duty when it's her turn. Easier said than done though.
Have you guys considered just accepting that one of you won't sleep great those first few months? We stopped trying to split it perfectly and instead just focused on whoever wasn't on duty getting some uninterrupted time. Game changer.