Having a newborn baby is an exhausting but exhilarating time of your life. It's a time full of new experiences and great blessings, but lack of sleep can cause everything to blur together. Three simple keys can keep you (mostly) well-rested and ready to enjoy every chance to get to know the new baby in your life.

Naptime is Sleep Time

You probably know that newborns sleep a lot. The problem with their sleep is that it's here and there around the clock -- new babies aren't known for long stretches of sleep at night. By the time you're exhausted at night your baby might be just waking up. Or you may have just gotten to sleep when those tiny cries start to call for you.

What's the solution? You've heard it before -- sleep when your baby sleeps. That's right, if your little one takes a nap, you should too. You may not need to nap quite as frequently as they do, but you should nap when you need to.

In the early days try and nap with them once in the morning and once in the afternoon. This can help you recover from a long night with many awakenings. An afternoon nap gives you energy to get through the rest of the day and to deal with the early evening hours. These tend to be the hardest hours for newborns and fussy babies.

Prop Your Feet Up

Your baby will need to breastfeed frequently in the early days, weeks, and even the first few months. You should take advantage of these nursing times to sit back and prop your feet up!

Get comfortable when your baby nurses. Use these times just to relax. After the first couple of weeks nursing usually gets much easier. You and your baby both become experts on breastfeeding! Feeding time is a natural time to rest and relax, and enjoy bonding with your baby.

You'll spend a lot of your nursing time looking dreamily at your new baby. But it can also be a good time for you to recharge yourself. Keep a bottle of water and some easy snacks near where you nurse your baby. Drink the water and have a light snack when you nurse. You'll probably feel very hungry during nursing, especially in those early days.

Take the time to read a book or magazine from time to time. It will refresh you. If you're too tired for that but just want to disconnect for a moment, watch a movie! Let these times recharge you and give you a rest in the middle of tiring days.

Consider Sharing Sleep

It's possible to nurse your baby lying down. This can mean a lot more sleep for everybody. Co-sleeping, or sharing sleep with your baby is a tradition for moms and babies all over the globe. Being able to immediately breastfeed your baby back to sleep results in more sleep for everyone around.

If you don't feel comfortable with your baby in your bed, consider a side-car arrangement with a co-sleeper crib attached to your bed. Or have your baby in a crib near your bed. You can quickly get your baby and have a feed, then settle both of your down to get back to sleep.

By the way, do you want to get more practical baby care information that will give you keys to a smarter, happier baby while building a strong bond with your little one?

If so, download my free guide: How to Have a Smarter, Happier Baby

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