Oh the Joy of Sleeping

Since I have started weaning Will, I have noticed that his sleep has improved beyond what I thought was possible. For the first time in probably over a year I have slept 7 hours without interruption four days in a row. I have been able to get up early, have breakfast, read and be in such a better mood. Following I have listed some sleep facts that really explain a lot of a new mama and papa's experience. What I have learned this first year with Will is that some situations are hurtful, painful and just stinking annoying, but a nap or a good night sleep can really work wonders in how I deal with and experience the situation. So in celebration of rest and sleep, and in the hopes that I continue to get some sleep, here are some interesting facts about sleep that I got from The National Sleep Research Project

-The record for the longest period without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes during a rocking chair marathon. The record holder reported hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech and memory and concentration lapses.

- Anything less than five minutes to fall asleep at night means you're sleep deprived. The ideal is between 10 and 15 minutes, meaning you're still tired enough to sleep deeply, but not so exhausted you feel sleepy by day.

- A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year

- Seventeen hours of sustained wakefulness leads to a decrease in performance equivalent to a blood alcohol-level of 0.05%.

- Teenagers need as much sleep as small children (about 10 hrs) while those over 65 need the least of all (about six hours). For the average adult aged 25-55, eight hours is considered optimal

- Some studies suggest women need up to an hour's extra sleep a night compared to men, and not getting it may be one reason women are much more susceptible to depression than men.

- Feeling tired can feel normal after a short time. Those deliberately deprived of sleep for research initially noticed greatly the effects on their alertness, mood and physical performance, but the awareness dropped off after the first few days.

- Diaries from the pre-electric-light-globe Victorian era show adults slept nine to 10 hours a night with periods of rest changing with the seasons in line with sunrise and sunsets.