Father Shock

According to the National Sleep Research Project, “A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year.”  That’s up to a month of lost sleep… in just the first year!

Now sleep deprivation is not all bad, there is an upside. “After five nights of partial sleep deprivation, three drinks will have the same effect on your body as six would when you’ve slept enough.” So, when your wallet starts to hurt from the strain of diapers and formula, this little factoid can be a lifesaver for the self medicating.

It could be much worse.  Scientists calculate that, “Humans sleep on average around three hours less than other primates like chimps, rhesus monkeys, squirrel monkeys and baboons, all of whom sleep for ten hours.” I can think of nothing worse than an irritable squirrel monkey. Trust me; be glad you’re not married to a sleep deprived chimpanzee that has to get up every three hours to breastfeed. You think mornings are rough now! Chimps have the strength of four men and can wield sticks and clubs!

“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.” It’s ironic that the record was set in a rocking chair. That’s where I spend the majority of my sleepless hours. Guess I should give Guinness a call.  First, I better shake this big pink dinosaur of my tail… I think he’s following me.

Finally, “Experts say one of the most alluring sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the internet.” So really, this blog isn’t helping you or I. Click it off man and get some sleep!

Find other facts about sleep deprivation at the National Sleep Research Project. Quoted material was obtained from their site.