Study: Most Mothers Don't Get Enough Sleep

[MA-Caver]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Half of U.S. mothers are not getting enough sleep and they believe getting more rest would make them better parents, according to a U.S. study.

A nationwide survey of 500 mothers by research firm Braun Research found 54 percent of respondents said they were not getting enough sleep.

Full-time working mothers were suffering the most with 59 percent saying they were not getting enough sleep. Half of the working mothers said they were getting six or fewer hours sleep a night.

Stay-at-home moms fared better with 48 percent saying they were sleep deficient.

The survey found 52 percent of America's mothers believed that getting more sleep would make them better parents and 65 percent said it would make them happier.

But even when mothers do get into bed, many lie awake at night with 36 percent obsessing about the next day's tasks, 25 percent stressing about the family's finances and 24 percent worrying about family issues.

"Consistently not getting enough sleep and lying awake at night worrying about day-to-day challenges could be a sign of insomnia," said sleep specialist Suzanne Griffin, a clinical psychiatrist from Georgetown University Hospital in Washington.

But the survey found although sleep problems were prevalent among mothers, four out of five had not spoken to their doctor about it and 82 percent never considered using a prescription sleep medication.

Griffin suggested that mothers stick to a sleep schedule, avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks late in the afternoon and before bedtime, and create a sleep environment that is cool, quiet, dark and comfortable.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061019/hl_nm/most_us_mothers_dont_get_enough_sleep_stu_dc

This story caught my eye and I thought it'd be good for discussion here. I'm sure that a lot of you moms are reading this and I'd like to see your thoughts and feeback on this. Dads as well as it's your wives that are tossing and turning next to you.
How much sleep you feel you're really getting each night from lights out to getting out of bed and starting another day?
Ceicei is one working mother that I know (among many) and I wondered about her, if she does get enough? Demands (perhaps too strong of a word) from her husband, kids, job and then her personal demands upon herself to keep up with her training in Kenpo and then others.
Another mother I know with three kids and a husband in jail (on work release) is trying to keep her life together and is working part-time and is trying to manage her family until her husband is released. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets less sleep than CC. Still another by comparison; is a "stay-at-home-mom" with her husband working a full time and a part-time job and has a (husband's) grandmother that needs help, though sparingly, she's pregnant and with two kids (luckily in school during the day). Wonder if she's not getting as much or more since she'd be free to nap during the day after the day's chores are done, simply because she has more time to do them.
But how do you ladies fare?

 

[bydand]

Just a quick note, you might open it up to Dad's as well. Some of us are the ones who get up at night with the kids and let Mom sleep due to a number of different causes. The reason I get up is simply because I am a very light sleeper and wake up before she does. The wife usually gets 7 to 8 hours of good uninterupted sleep and I average about 3 or 4. Don't know how typical it is, but do know that several of our friends are the same way.

 

[JasonASmith]

I put down 4-6 for my beloved, however that's only a guess...
I sleep during the day, so I'm usually not there when she's in bed...

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

I think that mom's are really hit hard now a days with work, family life and extra curricular activities, etc. I think that parenting has never been as challenging as it is now a days. Principally because most moms are working full time now and that leaves very little room for rest. I give my hats off to anyone that has kids and works.

 

[bydand]

I agree that most Mothers work now. My wife is an ER Nurse and she works 3 or 4, 12 hour shifts a week depending on how busy it gets. I let her sleep at night because if she makes a mistake due to being sleepy at work it has the potential to do more harm than if I am a bit punchy during the days I work. Just works best for us, but it is funny this thread came along today because yesterday we were talking about how the kids have changed out lives. My only regret was losing the full nights sleep, LOL.

 

[MA-Caver]

Just a quick note, you might open it up to Dad's as well. Some of us are the ones who get up at night with the kids and let Mom sleep due to a number of different causes. The reason I get up is simply because I am a very light sleeper and wake up before she does. The wife usually gets 7 to 8 hours of good uninterupted sleep and I average about 3 or 4. Don't know how typical it is, but do know that several of our friends are the same way.

Well I would but the article and study is about Mothers... :idunno:

 

[Ceicei]

I put down 4-6 hours. I used to be working two paid jobs (1 full, 1 part), but thankfully, I no longer do the part time job that I used to do for five years. I still keep my full time job, going into my 15th year.

If I am lucky to put in 8 hours of sleep, I can feel a big difference. I feel better, I think better, I perform better. I try to put in more sleep time. It is hard with four active kids, one husband, a house that needs constant maintenance, and Kenpo/Jujitsu training (which keeps me sane and offers me a break from the stress of everything else), two big dogs/one gecko, my minimal social life, a full time job, and yes, some time for MT! :uhyeah:

How do I manage my schedule? One day at a time, one day at a time.

- Ceicei

 

[Phoenix44]

Interesting article. I answered the poll 6-8, but that really only means the time I go to bed to the time my alarm rings. The part about obsessing about the next day hit home. That really cuts into my actual sleep time.