Being the mother to an infant and a toddler is hard work. While toddlers are demanding to become more independent, they still need their mothers for many of the things they do. Couple that with infants who need their mothers for everything and there virtually is no downtime for mothers with multiple kids under the age of two. This includes getting restful sleep. But it is only possible to function for so long being sleep-deprived. This means that mothers of infants and toddler siblings need to find ways to get sleep whenever possible.

Sleep was never as valued as after babies are born. This is because regardless of how tired women have been pre-babies, it is nothing in comparison to being exhausted post-babies. Add toddlers into the mix, and how women ever get any sleep is difficult to comprehend. Meaning that creative measures need to be concocted to ensure that mothers of very little children are not consistently running on fumes.

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Here is how to get some sleep with an infant and a toddler.

Nap When Kids Sleep

It is advice that many women ignore from the time they become new mothers - getting sleep when babies sleep. This is not only relevant to being a mother of a toddler and infant, it may actually be more applicable than being a mother to a baby alone.

According to the Sleep Foundation, it is important for mothers of infants to prioritize sleep. When this does not happen, babies cannot be cared for in the way mothers want to, simply because they do not have the energy to do so. Factor toddlers into the mix and being a present and participatory mother is nearly impossible without sleep.

Depending on the age difference between infants and toddlers, it is very possible that they will nap at the same time at least once during the day. When this happens, mothers should not feel guilty and take a nap when their little ones are napping. Everyone will wake up refreshed and in good moods, ready to take on what is left of the day.

Go To Bed At Night When Infant & Toddler Do

Many moms like to stay up at night because it is the first time all day that someone is not asking something of them. While this is good from a decompression standpoint, it only serves to decrease the amount of sleep that mothers get daily. And because of this, the sleep-deprivation cycle not only continues but can worsen.

According to Learning Liftoff, getting regular and consistent sleep is important when it comes to the overall mental and physical health of mothers. A way to have more consistent sleep is to go to bed when little ones go to bed. While this may not happen all the time, choosing a few nights per week when the bedtime is significantly earlier can help to catch up on much-needed sleep. Something that cannot be done by staying up to the wee hours of the night more often than not.

Have Friends & Relatives Help

Mothers want to be able to do everything for their babies and toddlers. But the truth is, when sleep is consistently denied, mothers truly are no good to themselves or their children. And because of this, asking friends and relatives to help out occasionally can help moms of little ones get the sleep they so desperately need.

If family and friends are offering to help out, mothers who have sibling infants and toddlers should accept those offers. This way, not only do mothers get to work on not being so sleep-deprived but babies and toddlers get to be around other adults who love them and build a relationship with them as well. It is truly a win-win for all.

Take Turns With Partners

In many instances, partners are tired of being parents to two little ones under two as well. As such, to help one another catch up on as much sleep as possible, take turns at night getting up with the kids. That way, all the burden does not fall on one parent when it comes to nightly duties.

Better still, when both parents are home, carve time out for each parent to catch some much-needed zs, according to Lifehacker. This way, parents can feel refreshed at the same time and better parents and partners for it.

Source: Sleep Foundation, Lifehacker, Learning Liftoff