Comments on: How many hours of sleep do you get?

By: suzanne

suzanne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:58:42 +0000

great topic, roni! for me, being tired makes it tough to make smart choices about food. without enough sleep i feel lousy and want something (think chocolate or french fries) to make me feel better and somehow override the exhaustion. i’ve found that a good night’s rest can make all the difference in my outlook and ability to live the kind of day i’d like.

i’ve got a little baby, and recently i decided i just have to go to bed closer to her bedtime — even if that’s 9:30 or 10 pm — so that i can have fun with her the next day.

every mom and baby/toddler are different, and i know there are a million sleep books, but i did want to throw my two cents in for the tired moms… i have a four-month old who’s been co-sleeping and also night nursing a lot. i’ve been reading The Baby Sleep Book by the Sears family doctors which has suggestions for slow, gentle and effective changes you can make to lessen night wakening. i was skeptical, but last night my little one woke up, blew bubbles, and got herself back to sleep without nursing. what a thrilling victory! there’s a chapter for toddlers too.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:21:41 +0000

I just fell asleep reading all the comments…does that tell you anything…lol. I usually get about 6-7 hours per night, but with a baby sleeping with me and waking up to nurse about 4-5 times. I don’t have to wake up much, just enough to get him situated, then right back to sleep, but I think it still probably interrupts my sleep a bit. I am used to this though b/c I’ve been preggo or nursing for about 6 years now. I guess it’s my choice to not sleep enough, but after I finally get all kids in bed, I just want time to myself, either to spend with my hubby, clean, watch TV or computer. I seem to function OK on 6 hours, but I look forward to the day when all kids sleep through the night & I can sleep uninterrupted!

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:35:37 +0000

I only get about 5 hours a night. And it shows.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:24:12 +0000

I have to get at least 8 hours of sleep or I have a hard time functioning. I am typically asleep by 10 and up by 6 or 7. I almost never sleep later than that even if I can. I am sometimes exhausted after working out and will take a short nap, but I try to avoid that if at all possible because I will inevitably have a hard time falling asleep later. Seems like my body is programmed to want 8 or 9 hours of sleep, no more or less.

I have a spouse who sleeps less than I do. We go to bed together every night, but he is up by 4:30 every morning. He’s generally up by 5 on weekends regardless of how late we stay up. It hasn’t really affected our relationship. He enjoys having time to read, drink coffee or whatever without interruption and I enjoy sleeping. Works out for us. He has mentioned a few times that he’d like for me to get up with him so that we have more time together, but 4:30 seems like the middle of the night to me. It’s just not likely to happen.

By: Annette

Annette — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:36:18 +0000

I get between 7-8 but I can do fine on 6 if they are 6 good hours. 8 hours is not enough if it’s not good quality sleep. After a good night rest, I feel amazing, so happy. It’s like night and day. I have read about the hormones, etc too……..Dr. Oz talks about it extensively in his book. Breakthrough news for us busy mommies……….we need good quality sleep!!

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:18:33 +0000

Roni – sometimes I wonder if you can read your blog reader’s minds… lately you have been talking about EVERYTHING that is going on in my life! ha ha, its quite scary at times. We just moved to a new house that is a lot further away from my work, so I have to be up by 5:00 AM and leave the house no later than 6:00 AM and with a toddler who gets most of his energy at about 9:00 PM getting to bed in enough time is almost impossible! Lately I have been getting about 5-6 hours of sleep and it is killing me!!! I find myself literally falling asleep at my desk! I was just complaining to my husband about this today! He says “If you went to bed at the same time every night you wouldn’t have that problem” … Oh gee thanks for the words of wisdom, this from the guy who doesn’t have to be at work until 8:30 if he doesn’t want to! ha ha… you see this is a touch subject with me as well! … Does you husband also refuse to get up with the toddler in the middle of the night?? That seems to always be my job for some reason, even on a work night! grrrrrrr :)

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:14:02 +0000

At least 8. It’s one of the benefits of being single!

By: jodi

jodi — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:13:52 +0000

i get at least 7-8 hours every night and if i get anything less, i’m a total grouch all day… i’m lucky that i’m single and don’t have any kids so going to bed, at the same time, is no problem for me… even when i stay at my boyfriend’s, we get the same amount so i guess i’m just lucky…

don’t take this the wrong way but it sounds like you take on WAY to much… give yourself a break and rest – it’s just as important as what you eat and exercising… maybe set an alarm clock and when it goes off – you’re done for the night… just an idea – don’t want to see you get burned out… :o)

By: cammi99

cammi99 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:35:14 +0000

I need 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep or I’m pretty useless after a few days. I managed to raise 3 kids, work full time, and go to grad school. You just have to make sleeping enough a priority. Give up TV, hire a housecleaner, exercise with your children (Mizfit sometimes posts on this), eat lunch at your desk. Do what it takes, because sleep is at least as important as nutritious food and exercise to your body.

By: roni

roni — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:09:31 +0000

Nicole – Don’t get me started! The husband can sleep 14 hours straight if I let him. He needs at least 9 or he can’t function. Honestly, it is a huge problem for us and probably the number one reason we argue. I agree that people need different amounts of sleep but I hate it when people use sleep as an excuse or reason to shun responsibilities.

Can you tell this is a sour subject for me? lol

Thanks for everyone’s updates so far, I love reading all the personal experiences.

-Roni