The first week home with a new baby is all about survival. Normal sleeping hours, regular eating habits and even personal hygiene often fall by the wayside for whatever your newborn needs. Short of giving up on meals and showers altogether, here?s how to not only get through that first week but also sneak in an extra 8½ hours of sleep (or more).
No visitors, please

+ 2 hours

Put off baby visits until the second week you?re home, or double up on visitors and host a short brunch where everyone can get their oohs and ahhs all at once. Drop-ins can make it difficult to catch some shut-eye. Your closest family and friends will probably come to the hospital, and everyone else can wait a week in the name of mama getting some rest.
Say yes to rest
+ 1 hour

If your mother-in-law comes to visit and is going to sit there fussing over the baby for an hour and she tells you to go lie down for a bit, do it! Don?t pass up on a single offer to rest. Seize every opportunity for a little quiet time?you?ll thank us (and her) later.
Meal prep

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12 baby-sleep tips for exhausted new parents+ 2 hours

You?ve heard it before, but do parents really do it?that is, prepare dinners and snacks ahead of time to save precious hours in the kitchen" Yes! Again, trust...