I’m one of those people who rolled my eyes (privately, of course) every time someone told me to take a mom nap when the baby naps. “Sorry, too busy!” I thought. When I put my son down in his crib, I practically danced out of his room, imagining how I’d spend the next hour (or three). I relished that free time. You know why? Because free time meant “me time.” No more service-providing for someone else. It was only later—as in years later—that I realized I paid a price for that freedom.
You may not realize it in the moment, but your body needs sleep. No more eye rolling. You will thank yourself for it later. Though the benefits are plentiful, here are the top 5 reasons to embrace the mom nap.
1. You’ll have a better relationship with your husband (if you’re married).
I used my son’s afternoon nap to do other things, and by the evening, when my husband got home from work, I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. If only I’d napped, I wouldn’t have been so snappish with him over everything from feedings to bath time to why he couldn’t come home sooner.
According to the Sleep Foundation, irritability is a big side effect of sleep deprivation when you’re a new parent: “Under conditions of insufficient sleep, you may be more irritable, anxious, or likely to lash out at friends, co-workers or spouses and other loved ones.” Yep. I know I prioritized my free time, but maybe I should’ve prioritized my marriage more. Even a 20- to 30-minute catnap would’ve helped. I would’ve recharged and still gotten some time to myself during the day.
2. Your mom skills will be sharper.
Taking a mom nap gives you and your baby an added layer of protection. Your brain will respond quicker to problems. And you may be able to stay calmer in an emergency too.
When your skills are sharper, agrees the Sleep Foundation, you’ll stay safer. “Without sufficient sleep, we are at greater risk for longer reaction times, which can increase risk of accidents, such as motor vehicle crashes.” If you have to be somewhere in the evening, consider taking a nap during the day so you get wherever you have to go in one piece.
3. You’ll have more positive experiences with your child.
“Why won’t he stop crying?” I wanted to pull my hair out. If you’re a new mom, you know what I’m talking about. We’re going to have more patience and warmth for our children if we’re more rested.
We’re going to be better moms if we give ourselves a break and take a short nap during the day. You’ll have more energy to talk to your child as he kicks his legs in his bouncer. And your eyes will stay open easier as you read The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Narrating everything you see as you push the stroller through the park will feel more enjoyable and you’ll have more zip to offer those extra kisses on your baby’s tummy during a diaper change. Letting yourself nap will make all these little moments with your child that much better.
4. You’ll be healthier.
We all know sleep is good for you. In fact, “good sleep improves your brain performance, mood and health” according to the National Institutes of Health. But as a new mom, it’s so hard to get good sleep. Do you have a monitor on your nightstand? Does every peep from your baby wake you up? The months of broken sleep seem endless. That’s why the mom nap is so important.
I know you’d rather do something fun or productive. But as the Sleep Foundation warns that sleep “deprivation can worsen symptoms of postpartum depression” and “without sufficient sleep, we are at greater risk for negative moods, anxiety and depression.” Getting more sleep is the remedy. It’ll not only help repair cells and tissue but can prevent you from getting sick in the first place.
5. You’ll look back on these days with clearer memories.
“Those days were a blur,” my friend Laura told me years ago. She’d become a mom five years before I had, so her words at the time made me pause. Was new motherhood supposed to be a blur?
It doesn’t have to be. “Sleep helps you form memories,” the Sleep Foundation confirms. So if you want to look back on those early days or months with clearer memories, make it a priority to sleep more. A mom nap a few times per week can give you the ability to hold onto the memories you’re making in the moment.
Do you resist the mom nap, and if so, what do you do instead?
