So, how many days' sleep can you expect to lose as a new parent?
A good night’s sleep is fundamental to keeping both our physical and mental health in check, but for new parents, a full night’s shut-eye can be hard to come by.
In fact, a study from Ergoflex found that new parents can expect to lose up to six weeks (or 44 days) of sleep in the first year of their baby’s life.
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This equates, roughly, to new parents getting just five hours of sleep per night until the baby is one (compared to the seven to eight hours doctors usually recommend).
The survey, which asked 1,812 adults a number of sleep-related questions, found that sleep deprivation can lead to irritability, lack of productivity and long-term health issues.
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To help combat this, the survey has suggested the age-old advice of sleeping when the baby sleeps, and including two-hour naps between feeds.
The NHS says that it’s normal for new babies to sleep for just two to three hours at a time during both the night and day.
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It adds: “Some babies sleep much more than others. Some sleep for long periods, others in short bursts. Some soon sleep through the night, while some don't for a long time.
“Your baby will have their own pattern of waking and sleeping, and it's unlikely to be the same as other babies you know.
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“It's also unlikely to fit in with your need for sleep. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps.
“If you're not sleeping at the same time as your baby, don't worry about keeping the house silent while they sleep. It's good to get your baby used to sleeping through a certain amount of noise.”
For more sleep tips for new parents from the NHS, visit nhs.uk/getting-baby-to-sleep
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