Dad's the word

Based on their popular DVDs, SAM HOLT and TROY JONES 's new book Being Dad is the bloke's guide to pregnancy, birth and babies. In this extract, they offer six tips for getting some extra kip.

1. Just like being prepared for extra traffic around sporting events, be prepared for broken sleep. It might help you to think of it as sleep interruption, not sleep deprivation, since you really should be sleeping when the baby sleeps (as much as possible).

2. Share the burden and take turns getting up to settle the baby. If your baby is waking up every three hours and you share the job, you can each get six hours sleep straight, which is not a bad start.

3. Change your sleeping patterns. Have earlier nights and nap when you get the chance. Especially early in the baby experience, get your TiVO or MySky to earn its keep and get to bed early.

4. Keep your baby close by for easy access. If you hear your baby starting to wake up, you can feed him or her before the crying starts.

5. Sleep together, at least in the same room. Sleeping apart can create problems. You need to be a team and share the night-time duties where possible. Even if your partner is willing and able to get up to tend to the baby every time during the night, just being there and giving her some comfort and love as she gets up and down is beneficial.

6. If people ask you what gifts they can get you, ask the good cooks for prepared meals, frozen so you can heat them up at dinner time. Ask the maternal ones for some baby- sitting time so you can rest or just spend some time together.

Above all, do everything you can to avoid sleep deprivation, especially for mum. It can have serious consequences and is one of the major causes of postnatal depression. Allow friends and relatives to come over and help you so you can get more sleep. And encouragement, gifts and extra effort from you with household chores such as laundry and cooking really do help.

Being Dad, Sam Holt & Troy Jones, Allen and Unwin, RRP$32.99.

- © Fairfax NZ News