Dad Hysteria Proves Why It’s Impossible to ‘Sleep When the Baby Sleeps’

New parents are often advised to sleep when the baby is asleep so they get a chance to rest, but one dad has proven it’s not always that simple.

In a viral Instagram video, 32-year-old Rhett Scheurn tries to follow this well-intentioned suggestion, but is repeatedly woken up by his baby’s strange growling noises.

“When I sleep, my baby makes these growling noises, and I don’t know what it means,” Scheurn said Newsweek.

More from Newsweek Vault: Rates are still high for these high-yield savings accounts

The blue-eyed father is seen with a miserable look on his face after being woken up by his five-month-old child. Defeated, his head hits the pillow, perfectly capturing the frustrations of other exhausted parents.

Lucy Shrimpton, founder of The Sleep Nanny, shared Newsweek why this advice can be difficult to follow. “If only it were that simple. The advice to ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ sounds great in theory, but we all know it’s not that simple. We can’t just switch off and fall asleep on command.”

More from Newsweek Vault: Online Banks vs. Traditional Banks: Learn the Differences

Shrimpton added that once the baby finally sleeps, parents often have a to-do list a mile long — whether it’s household chores, preparing for the next feeding, or just trying to get a few moments for themselves. to take.

“Focus only on what absolutely needs to be done, then put your feet up, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Even a few minutes of this mindful rest can have tremendous benefits for both your body and your mind. It’s the best thing you can do. can do to get that elusive sleep,” Shrimpton said.

Scheurn’s clip was a viral hit on Instagram, receiving more than 28.5 million views and more than 1,700 comments. Newsweek were “mostly laughable and relatable.”

More from Newsweek Vault: Best savings accounts for kids and teens

One user wrote that no one warns you about the sounds some babies make in their sleep. “Babies don’t sleep like babies,” she added.

Another user called the advice to ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ the biggest lie they had ever been told.

For parents like Scheurn, a baby’s sleep sounds can also be a major culprit in disrupting their rest.

“It’s so common for babies to make all sorts of little noises during sleep – grunting, whining and even crying – but this doesn’t always mean they need you,” Shrimpton said.

Although the sounds can be disturbing to tired parents, they are often a normal part of a baby’s sleep cycle. Shrimpton said Newsweek that a great solution for dealing with these sounds is a baby monitor with adjustable sensitivity.

“This way you can turn off the little noises while still hearing your baby when he really needs you. Another option is to move the baby’s crib a little further away from your bed so that the baby wakes you up less quickly.” softer sounds.” she said.

The key, Shrimpton says, is finding a balance between staying close enough to respond when needed and ensuring parents can get much-needed rest.

Do you have funny and cute videos or photos you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some extra details, and they could appear on our website.