Couples sometimes struggle to evenly divide night-time duties after welcoming a baby.
However a sleep consultant has shared some advice which may make some new mums squirm and new dads breathe a sigh of relief.
She claims it's better for mums who are breastfeeding to let their partners sleep through the night. You can find out why below:
Rachael Shepard-Ohta, 34, is a former teacher to decided to train as a sleep consultant after struggling to get her own son, now five, to go to bed.
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The mum-of-three from San Francisco, California, began helping other parents facing a similar issue and now gives parents advice with an individual and holistic approach.
She said: “There is a crazy expectation of how long or how much a baby should sleep for.
“I tried sleep training with my first baby as he was really tough, but it didn’t work for me.
“I ended up reading about more of a holistic approach during my pregnancy insomnia with my second child and scrolling on Instagram.
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“I thought it would just be a side hustle.
“Now I teach parents the science of sleep.”
Rachael's tips can sometimes be pretty controversial.
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For instance, she advises that mums should avoid doing chores while their baby is napping.
She said: “When you can, use baby’s nap time as your rest time.
“When baby is awake you can put them on the floor, put them in a bouncer, or wear them while doing chores."
Another tip likely to shock new mums is that Rachael says it's best for breastfeeding mums to let their partners sleep through the night.
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She explained: “If you're breastfeeding your partner should sleep at night.
“If your partner is able to function the next day and they are not sleep deprived like you are, they’ll be able to help a lot more.”
She also encourages contact naps as they can be great for helping with sleep, as well as using music or mediation in a bedtime routine.
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Rachael guides parents by looking at their baby’s temperament to suggest ways they can change their routine.
She said: “We look at how much sleep their baby really needs.
“Lots of parents are trying to get a baby to go to sleep when they are not sleepy yet.
“You can try shortening nap times or moving bedtime back a little to suit your little one.
“It might be they need more sensory during the day to get out energy.
“It’s so individual.”
Topics: Sex and Relationships, Life, Real Life
Gregory Robinson