A recent study in the US by the National Centre for Health Statistics looked into the sleep patterns of single parents in comparison to two-parent families. Single parents have to put in double the effort to provide for their kids than parents who are still together do. That’s why it’s so important to use a Child Support Lawyer as a single parent to ensure you’re getting all of the help that you can get. Having been a single parent for many years, it was no surprise to me to read that single parents aren’t getting nearly enough sleep compared to two-parent households. The impact of prolonged lack of sleep can have a huge impact on a person’s health, and the consequences of this on a single-parent household are potentially significant.

Are Single Parents Getting A Good Night's Sleep

All parents begin their parenting journey obsessed with the amount of sleep their children are getting. We associate good sleep with supporting healthy growth in babies, but a good night’s sleep is important for everyone.

A regular good night’s sleep is essential for a healthy mind and body in all adults, so why aren’t single parents getting enough of it?

Why Aren’t Single Parents Getting Enough Sleep?

Single parents often shoulder the full responsibility of their children and with this comes added stress and worry. This can affect how a parent gets to sleep, the quality of sleep they get and how long they sleep for. As the responsibility of parenting is always with us, the impact on our sleep patterns can be significant over the years.

It is recommended that all adults get 7-8 hours of good quality sleep on a regular basis. Getting a good night’s sleep can reduce the risk of acquiring some illness, improve our mental wellbeing and help us be more productive during the day.

Getting enough sleep is also associated with reducing the risk of diabetes and tiredness related injuries and accidents. These are all important reasons why single parents should be getting the same quality sleep as their two parent counter parts. Everyone’s health is important, but the impact of a single parent becoming unwell can be more significant on a family unit.

Raising a single-parent family can be enough to cause regularly disturbed sleep, but other factors can also contribute. If you are suffering stress outside of the home, this can effect the quality of sleep that a person gets. Work-related stress can be a huge factor.

If you are experiencing pain or suffering from some health conditions, this can also affect the quality and quantity of sleep you get. I’ve had a bad back recently, and I’ve really struggled to get a good night’s sleep. It’s time to start looking after my lower back as I don’t want this to become an ongoing issue.

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Some of the things that we use to keep us going or relax can also have an affect on the quality of sleep we get. Alcohol and caffeine are huge culprits for effecting the quality of sleep we get and can often have the opposite effect that we intend them to have. Moderating our alcohol and only drinking coffee in the morning can help.

Getting Enough Sleep Will Help You Parent Better

Looking after ourselves as parents is as much of a responsibility that we have as looking after are own children, but it’s so easy to put our own health to the bottom of the pile.

I’ve found this great infographic filled with tips and advice about getting a good night’s sleep and it’s something that all parents, and especially single parents, should take a look at.

Making good quality regular sleep apart of our daily routine is one of the keys to being able to be healthy and supportive parents to our children. The burden of being a single parent can be a real challenge, but taking steps to improve the sleep you get is actually going to make things easier.

The importance of a good nights sleep (2)
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17 COMMENTS

  1. I’d love to get more sleep, as a single parent. It is impossible for me though! The evening and night are the best times for me to do my work so that I can pay the bills as I look after my youngest during the day times. In the evening and night time, the children also need me regularly (due to the emotional issues caused by the sudden departure of my ex). I really, really wish I could get more sleep and get rid of the bags under my eyes. It is a great idea to get more sleep, in theory. In my world though, more sleep means more worry as my work doesn’t get done on time, which can impact on paying bills/buying food. This leads to less sleep due to worrying. I should be ok to sleep in about fourteen years though 😉 x

  2. I don’t think it’s just the single parents, more like all parents 😉 I used to be such a deep sleeper, but ever since giving birth to my daughter (she’s five now), I’m such a light sleeper, I hear every sound she makes at night. Would love to have a straight sleep for once. 🙂

  3. I need this guidance. One of the girls wakes me up every single night and I find it so difficult to get back to sleep. This will be my new bible!

  4. This was really interesting and something that had never crossed my mind admittedly, but I guess with everything on just one pair of shoulders, it is true x

  5. I have been learning alot about sleep recently and i knew it was important but not the affects. I need to get more sleep there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day!

  6. I was a single parent for a few years and I don’t remember being half as tired as I am now! But then I only had the one as opposed to the four I do now. This was really interesting though, I miss my sleep so much!!!

  7. This was a very interesting read and great sleep advice. Love the part about doing 30 minutes exercise a day. If only I could muster up that energy lol x

  8. I know for a fact I don’t get enough sleep. For me its because of health conditions and chronic pain. I think over the years I have just learnt to cope on a few hours sleep

  9. How weird, I thought I’ve commented on this post already? Anyway, it’s not just single parents I think… It’s more like all parents with little children 😉 Mine is already 5 and I’m embarrassed to say doesn’t sleep through the night yet, unless she’s super duper exhausted (which sadly doesn’t happen all the time 😉 x

  10. I actually think I got more sleep as a single parent as my first two were good sleepers. Now I have three that don’t sleep well and my husband sleeps through it all!

  11. No I do not get enough sleep I am a terrible sleeper but a night owl so once the kids are in bed that’s when I start doing silly things like housework and blogging so I am then wide awake so its rather late before I get to bed

  12. I feel like I don’t get enough sleep and fair play to my husband he probably gets up more than me!
    Alana x

  13. I can well imagine that single parents don’t get enough sleep, likewise those whose partners work away/shifts etc. I really struggle to sleep and I have a fantastic husband who shoulders the responsibility with me of our non sleeping Toby!xx

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