Falling asleep while caring for children

Jazmyne - posted on 11/29/2012

I dozed off a few weeks ago because I had the flu. I knew I needed a nap, and Jake wanted to play, so I put him in the playpen so he couldn't get into any trouble, and the dogs couldn't get at him without me watching, and I dozed the afternoon away while he played.

Pamela - posted on 11/29/2012

I will relax and sometimes fall asleep during my 5 month old's nap time. Now that my middle child is in kindergarten, rarely, when I've worked a long day (at home with the kids all day then a physical evening/weekend job) I feel a little more tired and lock the house and let him watch tv for an hour while I catch up. He knows all the safety rules and to call to me (which wakes me I'm a light sleeper) if he needs anything. He and his older brother are the only ones I'd temporarily trust while I had a quick nap.



Parents are human beings and I am so sick of judgmental people who don't understand how exhausting it can be; not just the kids but every aspect of life all at the same time (school, work, kids, housework, taking care of siblings and elderly parents....etc). Make sure you are careful and the kids are a safe as you can make them and take care of yourself. If you run yourself ragged you won't even be able to care for your kids even if you force your eyes to stay open.

Rachel - posted on 11/01/2012

I've only fallen asleep once. I was extremely sick and my husband wasn't able to be home.

I put up baby gates and made sure there wasn't anything they could get hurt with.

I also used to nap with my middle son while I was pregnant. I always woke up with him though.



It happens. Sometimes you're just so exhausted, you fall asleep.

Erin - posted on 10/31/2012

I think with parenting you have to be realistic...but you also have to be accountable and responsible for your children. If you fall asleep and something happens there can be no one else to blame. But, us mommies are human too and taking care of our own bodies and selves means getting enough rest so we can be aware of our surroundings and be active parents. Of course....if you can't fight the sleepiness, you have to allow yourself to sleep without guilt( it just has to be done safely). I have a two year old, I am in grad school, I work full time....and i am a single mommy. Sometimes, I am soooo tired my eyes literally start to close in the evening.s It has been such a problem for me that I have talked to my pediatrician about it asked what the safe thing to do might be. Here are some suggestions that have worked for me:

1. Best solution...get a babysitter, friend, or relative, or dad, while you are home...tell them that you just need sleep and will be at home...this way, if your kiddo really needs you, you are home but you can get some zzzz's safely.

2, since having a babysitter isn't always possible or practical make sure you put yourself and your child in bedroom with the door closed. Ensure that all electrical outlets are covered, there are no hazards of objects falling on heads, the bathroom is closed, closets are closed, and the environment has been made safe). I use my child's room for this, I lay on the floor with a pillow and blanket and let her play with her toys. All toys that need supervision or could have any risk I put away where my kiddo cannot get to it. I explain to my child that mommy needs a nap but will be right there if she needs anything. My child has gotten to the point now where she tucks me in and attempts to read me a book (like what I do for her naps). I set my alarm on my cell phone for 30min...so I am not asleep or absent from play for any longer than that. It is very important that if you need to sleep and you are alone with your child that you are not asleep or absent from being present with your child it doesn't last more than a half hour.

3. Try to take a nap together...sometimes this works..most likely not though

4. if sleep is not an option...I purchased a Mommy and Me Yoga....helps to fight the zzz's and is great relaxation for mom...plus active for kiddo

Mary Renee - posted on 08/14/2011

The question strikes me as odd. It's funny when people say that they "NEVER" fall asleep when their children are under their care, because it's not like parents take "shifts" through out the night staying awake all night long!

I have fallen asleep before my daughter at night, but we co-sleep and sometimes if she will NOT go to sleep, I fall asleep and she follows my lead. The room is child proofed and she can safely get off the bed (doesn't fall), and usually if I fall asleep she just snuggles next to me on on her own pillow and falls asleep. I mean, really, try lying in bed in the dark after watching a toddler all day long. Her father works 8am-10pm six days a week.

During the day I'm usually not sleepy, unless I'm sick, in which case I have had a hard time staying away and so usually I get a pillow and lie down on the floor with her and "play" with her while she sits on top of me. Since she's sitting on me (which she finds hilarious) I stay awake - but since I'm on the ground I get rest too.

Emma - posted on 08/13/2011

I just cant fall asleep if my kids are awake unless i know my hubby is watching them and even then is more of resting my eyes than sleeping, I have 2 toddler's so they are in test the boundaries mode at the moment so they would love for me to dose off lol

I have napped with them when they where younger , i would put them in our bed with me and lock the bedroom door so just in case one woke up before me they could not get into anything.



That said i don't need much sleep i don't think ive had more than 5 hours a night since i was a teen. admittedly im not a morning person im a night owl, so its a good job i married someone who is a 5am riser even when the don't have to be up,

Becky - posted on 08/07/2011

Now that my daughter is older . . . heck yes, if I need it, I take a nap! When she was little I never nodded off intentionally while she was roaming around, but I specifically remember once when she was about 3 and I was SICK! I lived in a haze for 3 days dragging myself up just enough to fix her breakfast lunch & dinner and pop in some movies to help keep her occupied. She was not feeling well for the first day & 1/2, but she was better long before I was! At one point she was trying to be sweet & give me a toy to sleep with & tuck me in with her blanket . . . unfortunately for me it was Hokie pokie Elmo & he wasn't so soft & cuddly! A couple of hits to the head with that & I was up & moving again! lol! After 3 days I knew I was better because I actually noticed the mess she'd made all over the living room!

Ashley - posted on 08/05/2011

I had a hard time keeping awake when my son was 4 months old he decided all of a sudden that sleeping after 11pm was taboo! So I placed him on the floor with me turned on tv to kids station :S and let him roll around me while I slept! This went on for a few weeks and then he got back on schedule. Recently being pregnant again with a 3 year old and 1 year old I doze alot in the early morning before breakfast while cuddling both kids watching cartoons, but I literally need the extra 30mins.

Nikki - posted on 08/05/2011

I have fallen asleep a few times while watching a movie with my 2 year old, not purposely but it happens, im a light sleeper so ive woken up quickly or found him alseep beside me. The way our set up is we live in the loft which has one bedroom which is his and an open room which is ours and our tv room and his playroom, when he wakes up in the morning he just comes out of his room and jumps into our bed to wake us up, so technically everynight i go to sleep and he will wake up before us, should i never go to bed, the loft is completely babyproofed and my son wont ever let us sleep more then a couple minutes after he wakes up.

Rachel - posted on 07/31/2011

I have fallen asleep while I was the only one caring for my children I know this is going to sound bad but I had to cope. I used to work 16hr shifts and then had to pick my son up and watch him well since I had already been awake for 20+ hrs I was beat and when my son was little like under 2 we shared a room I would put him in his crib and give him 2 sippy cups one of juice and one of milk and maybe some cereal or something and put on his favorite movie Wallie and I would take a nap. If the movie ended he would wake me up usually by screaming or if he needed something he would do the same thing. Now I have 2 kids during the week and a third my nephew on the weekends and Also have alot of medical problems and medicine that makes me tired My living room and my sons room which is right off the living room are very well child proofed so I just keep the baby gates up and let them play and I occasionally fall asleep I try not to but it happens. My son is now 4 and my daughter is 18 months old so my son keeps an eye on her for the most part and will wake me up if she manages to get into something she isnt supposed to. We are all human and need sleep it happens and I have faced the reality that I can not be awake the entire time they are because I do not get to go to bed when they go to bed and I dont get to take naps during the day. I get up and get them up and then I get ready for work and leave. They spend the day with their dad and get to relax and take naps. We as moms are not that lucky. i dont think any mom that naps is bad as long as she makes sure that the children are safe.

Holly - posted on 07/29/2011

Yes, I have dozed off. I have been really tired this pregnancy, Mary always bops me in the head to play!

Holly - posted on 07/29/2011

Yes, I have dozed off. I have been really tired this pregnancy, Mary always bops me in the head to play!

Rebecca - posted on 07/20/2011

when my littlest is having a nap I will put my 3.5 yr old in front of a movie I know she likes and wont move from unless to use the bathroom, set my alarm for 45 mins and have a nap with my bedroom door open so she can come to me easily and I can hear her if she needs me (my bedroom is straight off the loungeroom) I will only sleep for a small amount of time if I really need it. My 3.5 yr old is fantastic and behaves beautifully when i am having a nap. I have never woken to a problem or anything broken. Am I a bad mum? No I dont believe so because a sleepy mummy can be worse than a mummy just in the next room

Teresa - posted on 07/06/2011

It has never happened to me but I could certainly see how it could happen. My kids would never let me even close my eyes,,they were right there prying my eyelids open literally asking, Mommy are you sleepin'? LOL...

Christina - posted on 07/02/2011

Oh, I also want to add that I had the Swine Flu almost 2yrs ago. At the time, I was a single mom living alone with my four children. They were 9yrs, 7yrs, almost 6yrs, and 4yrs old at the time. Oh, and the then 7yr old and then 4yr old have autism. I had a 105 deg fever and couldn't move for 24hrs. I just laid on the couch and slept. My then 9yr old brought me medicine and drinks. He fed his siblings breakfast, lunch, and dinner (which consisted of cereal for breakfast and lunch, and sandwiches for dinner.) I was too sick to even call someone for help. Not to mention that my family lives 1400 miles away. I have no guilt at all for not being able to get help with my kids and sleep all day while my children took care of themselves. I was just so grateful I didn't end up in the hospital.

Christina - posted on 07/02/2011

We've all fallen asleep while taking care of our children. We have to sleep! Even if you are some kind of amazing abnormal psycho mom who has managed to NEVER fall asleep except at night after the children are in bed, you are still sleeping while you have your child in your care. The older my children get, the more I can sleep! I sleep in until 10am on weekends (I'm a nurse and work Mon-Fr, get up at 5am to get to leave for work by 6:20am and usually don't get home until between 5pm-8pm at night.) My kids make themselves breakfast and play while Mommy gets to rest.

Amanda - posted on 06/30/2011

I occasionally nod off into a half sleep. If im very sick, or have been up all night with one of the kids, or an animal It's more likely to happen. when it does generally one child is curled up with me. I hear any sounds they make because in those situations I'm a light sleeper.

generally they just sit and play nicely, my house is safe.

I wouldn't intentionally doze off without another adult (or at least older child) in the room.

Lindsey - posted on 06/29/2011

I wouldn't have thought that this would be an issue, really. I have purposefully (and accidentally) taken naps while my son is awake (he is 18 months old). We have gates up so that he can't get out of the living room, and the room is babyproofed from floor to ceiling, so occasionally I'll lay on the couch and take a cat nap. Of course the older he gets, the less likely I am to get any sleep; he loves to poke my bum, sit on my tummy and stick his fingers up my nose (and of course the most unwelcome intrusion is when he takes one of his tonka trucks and hits me over the head). While I can try to understand why others feel this may be dangerous to my child, or just plain lazy, I really don't feel that there is anything wrong with it. It's not as if I am in a coma. If he gets hurt, frustrated or bored, I will hear him cry. And let's face it, if it could happen while you are taking a nap, it could just as easily happen when you are in the bathroom or changing the laundry over.
Just my opinion, to each their own.
I also want to add that putting another mother down for any reason (other than severe neglect or abuse) is really uncalled for. After all we're all in the same boat, so to speak, and we all question our parenting skills (probably more than we should) and no one needs someone else adding to those feelings of self-doubt and uncertainty.

Rebekah - posted on 06/28/2011

I'm pregnant with my 3rd and I take a nap nearly everyday while caring for my other two kiddos. My 2 year old takes a nap in her own room, and my 4 year old plays quietly in my room or falls asleep on the bed next to me while I nap (usually no more than an hour).

So, I think the age of the child certainly makes a difference. I'd never purposely fall asleep while my 2 year old was awake and roaming around the house, but my 4 year old is perfectly capable of taking care of himself for an hour.

Erin - posted on 06/24/2011

im 8 and a half months pregnant. My daughter is 5. I thank all the various gods in the world that she has preschool for 2 hours a day mon-thurs. I take my nap then. Even so, if I havent had a chance to have my daily nap, or my constantly severely low blood pressure has me layed out on the couch, my daughter knows how to survive. She isnt a candidate for any darwin awards, and knows very well I need to rest, and will doctor me. I try my hardest to not fall asleep, but when shes rubbing my hair and cooing at me, and pretending to read me stories and tucking me in on the couch, sometimes I drift!
She hasnt taken that opportunity to suddenly want to jump off the balcony, or start up a hobby in arson. She sits contently watching tv, or lays down beside me and talks to my tummy. Its rare that I fall asleep while she is awake, but in the rare case that I do, she knows to stay in the room with me, and find ways to entertain herself, usually in the form of the little mermaid, or cinderella.

Meagan - posted on 06/24/2011

For some strange reason I haven't been getting sleep the past 2 nights. I twighlight sleep, which means I'm up every 10 minutes. It's.... horrible... I just want to sleep!!! lol Last summer I redid the other living room and turned it into a playroom, put up a baby get to close it off, and bought a couch. My house was entirely tile, so I wanted to carpet a room to make hers, that way there's a buffer when she falls. Anyway, today I did fall asleep on the couch for about 10 minutes. Its a safe room, she has everything she needs, and honestly spent most of my "sleep" time jumping on me. I dont feel bad about it, because I'm going on 2 days with maybe 2 hours of sleep...

So, as I write this, I could REALLY use a nap.... And it's VERY tempting to pass out on purpose... About the only reason I'm not is that I have company coming over at some point.... At least I should sleep well tonight... TT.TT

Stifler's - posted on 06/23/2011

I wish I could get my son to play in his room. Even with a gate... he'd be whingeing at the gate to get out the second I put him in there.

Stifler's - posted on 06/23/2011

I have a nap when my kid is asleep sometimes. I can't fall asleep when he's awake, he harrasses me too much. I don't understand how if they're asleep at daytime it's different to when they're asleep at night? I sleep all night and only wake up if I hear crying on the baby monitor. If he's playing happily at 7am I ain't going in there.

Joy - posted on 06/23/2011

I've taken naps when my son was awake. A few times when I was sick, a few times after some recent surgeries, and a few times just because I was too tired to stay awake. I have enough baby gates and other childproofing tools that I can easily make my entire house safe, from his bedroom at one end of the house, all the way to the living room at the other end of the house. I make sure he's got a clean butt and is happily occupied and then I take a snooze on the couch. I don't think any of the times I've "napped" I've fallen all the way to deep sleep though. There's always that audible silence that will wake me up....you know the one. That "Hmm, it's too quiet, what's he doing?" silence. A few times when I've been napping, Jacob will climb up on the couch with me and snooze right along with me. I love those naps ♥

Morgan - posted on 06/23/2011

My daughter is 17 months old and I can honestly say I've never fallen asleep whith her up and about, I always fight it until her nap or bed time, last month I had the flu and the one day I thought I might doze off I just stuck her in the playpen with the tv on and a snack woke up an hour later to her giggling at a show :) but that's just me, if you trust you kids are safe then sleep :)

Jen - posted on 06/23/2011

When my son was a baby/toddler, I worked 2-3 jobs at any given time to keep food on the table. manys' the time I feel asleep from exhaustion while he watched Teletubbies or Blue's Clues. I reallly never worried about it.

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/23/2011

Yeah when there's two the trouble goes up a notch as they egg each other on ;)

Teresa - posted on 06/23/2011

Oh... never again when they were little, I meant. ;)

Teresa - posted on 06/23/2011

One day I was SO tired I fell asleep when the girls were 2. I woke up to the sound of running water. Got up, went into the bathroom, and both girls were naked, covered in soap, and 'washing' in the sink! Yeah, that was fun..... Don't worry. We didn't have a tub, so no risk of drowning. I sure never fell asleep on them again though. lol

Kelsey - posted on 06/22/2011

i use to fall asleep alot when i first had mi little girl i was 16 i would fall asleep breastfeeding at night...that was soooo not fun :(

Ashley - posted on 06/22/2011

Its normal all moms have or will do it including me. Were moms not magical creatures i wish lol. I dident see the other debate but it sounds like a one uper to me so dont stress. I have been really sick a few times and just got through it i think kids understand your sick and behave a bit better, well other peoples kids lol.

Brittany - posted on 06/22/2011

About a month ago soon after I found out I was pregnant. I was having a really bad morning sickness day. So I was laying on the couch while *gasp* my daughter was watching TV (I know I'm evil). I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore and off I went. I woke up to find that she had started another episode on the TV and had climbed up on my lap. I ended up drifting off again and then woke up to find her asleep on my stomach.

There were plenty of times during the first month of my daughter's life that I fell asleep on the couch feeding her at 5 am.

I think I would have been more worried if I had fallen asleep at my inlaws or someplace that isn't baby safe. There are things in our house I don't WANT her to get into but if she did it wouldn't hurt her (there might be a few broken DVDs or ripped books though). She doesn't even notice the catbox so that's pretty far from my worries, not to mention it's pretty hard for her to get to.

I do my best to avoid it though. Most of the time I can stay awake until naptime or bedtime. Today I fell asleep right after putting her down for her nap. That was a hard one to wait for. lol

Holly - posted on 06/22/2011

I was horribly sick on Monday. My hubby had to go to work (though he only worked a half day to come home and help me) so I had to watch the kids. I KNEW I was going to fall asleep (I could barely stay awake standing up!), so I closed all the doors in the hallway and told the kids to stay in the living room. I turned on a movie for them (one that automatically restarts itself when it's over so I didn't have to get up) and I made 3 bags of popcorn and put them all together in a giant bowl (not glass).I also got out their box box of legos (the giant ones, not the choking hazard ones) and all their baby dolls (with accessories). Then I laid on the couch (in the same room as them) and tried to stay awake, but I know I dozed off a couple times. I really couldn't help it, but my kids are very good at listening and they are also very in tune with me (they could sense I was sick and they were SOOOO good all day). They palyed quietly and my 3 year-old even took herself to the bathroom (a big thing in our house since she's recently decided that there are toilet monsters and Mommy needs to watch her get on the potty to protect her... thanks HUBBY for telling her about toilet monsters!! Ugh...).

At the time, I was too tired and sick to care about whether it made me a bad mom or not, but looking back on it I think I did the best thing. I KNEW I wasn't going to be able to stay awake and I KNEW there was no one else to watch the kids, so I did the best I could with the crappy situation and my girls are good enough that they did great.

Jayce - posted on 06/21/2011

I feel asleep today. I didn't mean to. I woke up when he decided to crawl on top of me.

It's not unusual for my guy to be up before me on the weekend. He just turns on the TV and watches it until his dad or I get up. He's a good kid,doesn't get into anything he shouldn't so I don't see what the big deal is.

Sherri - posted on 06/21/2011

Of course. Not always. I just put a child gate up when they were younger in a room that was child proofed. Put a pile of toys in the room and took a snooze. Especially if I am sick.



Now my kids are older so I have the luxury of napping if I need too. They are all more than self sufficient.

Nicky - posted on 06/21/2011

oooh i wish i could have read what that person said before it got deleted, just because im nosy and because im in one of those pregnant hormonal emo moods where i would have unleashed a response LOL
Im loving the comments from everyone else though, very encouraging as I havent discussed the odd nod-off with any of my friends as Im sure they would say 'hell no! im full of beans all day, arent you?? he he

Constance - posted on 06/21/2011

I have defidently fallen asleep when my kids have been awake. I never said before I got pregnant that I would sleep if they were awake but after I have had them yeah I have fallin asleep on purpose. i always prepared when they were younger if I was really tired (either because of work or insomina). I would make sure they couldn't leave the living room and I made sure that nothing could hurt them if they got off the couch with me. I tried not to fall asleep to were i wasn't aware of them moving around. Sometimes I didn't even know it and I always felt bad but hell I am human.
When you have children we always do our best but sometimes our bodies speak louder than our minds.

Laura some old situation somebody alsways thinks a mom that does something different is horriable. Don't let it get to you. You are a great loving mom. You dose when he is content to watch a little t.v. he isn't running down the street in his underwear. LOL I am sure most of us has had that happen at least once.

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/21/2011

Lol I bed share so I sleep most of the night while breastfeeding :D

Toni - posted on 06/21/2011

There have been times where I could not physically keep my eyes open even though I have been the only person with my children, these have been when I have been really ill, some points in my pregnancy (although Ethan also fell asleep with me) and there have been times since Poppy has been born that had my hubby not been on paternity leave I would have fallen asleep due to pure exhaustion. I NEVER intended on falling asleep at these times and tried my hardest not to however sometimes our bodies just need rest. I also take steps to ensure I am not so exhausted I fall asleep, such as going to bed early, taking naps when the children are asleep and keeping busy - but occasionally there is simply nothing you can do - you can't make a child sleep and you can't help getting ill.

I have also fallen asleep while feeding my child both breast and bottle - I must be a horrible mother...oh wait no just human.

April - posted on 06/21/2011

As I said in the other thread, I CAN'T. I'm profoundly deaf. I couldn't, even if I wanted to. However, I have fallen asleep while nursing my newborn in the hospital. I blame those early lactation hormones, lol! To be fair, I was sitting in a rocking chair, and he was cradled in my arms, still attached to my nipple (also sleeping). Good thing it was just a temporary hormonal thing that most women who have just given birth go through!

Tah - posted on 06/21/2011

Yes, but don't you listen Laura..lol

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/21/2011

Yeah I've fallen asleep while caring for Eric alot recently, he goes to bed at 8, Fierna won't fall asleep til 10 usually and then she wakes up at 4 to nurse, and I have a hard time falling back, usually dose for a bit but then Eric is awake at 5! Seriously I can't get him to sleep longer.
So I put on the tv and sit with him and go back to sleep. Usually get another hour or so before Fierna is awake again to eat and then she is up for the day so I have to be too.
I seriously don't see how in my situation anything could be bad about it. He is glued to the tv when it's on, he rarely gets to watch so when it's on I know he is just sitting there watching. And if he gets bored for some reason he is going to wake me up, not go and get into trouble.
I know my son and my house and I know it's not a big deal. I'm a lint sleeper anyways and I feel 100% comfortable dozing off while he watches tv.

I hope Melissa is the only one who thinks this makes me horrible.
:(

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/21/2011

Did she really say I was horrible?

Tah - posted on 06/21/2011

The word was horrible...I'm glad it's all been deleted though...I don't think dozing off or a child waking up before you in the morning says anything concerning your parenting...it happens. Moms get little to no sleep and sometimes you doze off unintentionally during backyardigans...just makes you a mom..a tired one...or a sick one etc...

Liz - posted on 06/21/2011

I wish I could, but it's hard to sleep with a 9mo treating your bottom lip like a pull toy.

Jodi - posted on 06/20/2011

I have purposely fallen asleep while my kids are awake and in my sole care....but my kids are older :P



However, yes, I have when my daughter was younger. When I was sick I fell asleep on the couch while playing with her. I have doze off on occasions. I had PPD and the medication sometimes made me very sleepy. My daughter gave up daytime sleeps when she was about 18 months, so I really struggled to stay awake occasionally, especially if she's had a hard night.



Does any of this make me a bad mother? Nope.



And I'm seriously offended by someone in another thread who indicated that falling asleep from exhaustion and ALSO having PPD makes for an unfit mother. Long way to fall from THAT pedestal.

Johnny - posted on 06/20/2011

I've dozed off while looking after my daughter. I was very sick with the flu once and could not stay awake hardly at all. I was totally and completely exhausted. She was just getting over it, so I couldn't have her taken care of by anyone else. I just made sure that the childproofing was all done and that she couldn't get out of the room in case I fell asleep. That was when she was about 18 months.

Now that she's older, there has been a couple of occasions where I've woken up to find her standing beside my bed in the morning. She could have been up for a while for all I know. It concerns me a bit, but she's more interested in trying to put things up my nose than anything else, lol.

K. - posted on 06/20/2011

I've dozed off on occasion. When they were younger and I was super tired I'd take the child lock off the laundry room door and put it on the inside of their door, then bring in a pillow and lay down on their floor. Usually with a bag of play makeup and brushes and hair clips and stuff. They got to play "beauty shop" and I'd rest. I looked quite scary once I woke up but they were safe and having fun.

Tah - posted on 06/20/2011

How are the babies Sara?.

Good Day! - posted on 06/20/2011

If I'm tired I keep moving until my child's naptime to avoid this. But I have slept while my infants were awake and nursing.