Study: Crying Babies End 1 in 3 Marriages

As it turns out, there may be some merit to that old saying “A happy wife equals a happy life.” Not only is excessive tiredness bad for your health — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call insufficient sleep a “public health epidemic” — but when mom is sleep deprived, the whole family can suffer.

Plus: 4 Baby Sleep Strategies That Work

Research suggests that women with sleep troubles are more likely to have a rocky marriage. The U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute studied married couples in their thirties and found that the longer it took for the wife to fall asleep, the more negative interactions she had with her husband the following day. Interestingly enough, the husbands’ sleep patterns didn’t have any effect on their interactions with their wives. Sounds like the key to a happy marriage might involve dad taking the nightshift while mom gets some much-needed shuteye. 

Plus: Baby Sleep Quiz

A U.K. study surveying 2,000 parents found that 30 percent of parents reportedly ended their marriages because their crying child kept them awake at night. Now that’s something to cry about.

The survey also found that, on average, parents only get about six hours of shuteye each night, while the National Sleep Foundation suggests that the average adult needs about 7-9 hours of sleep. 

So how do you make sure both mom and baby get their rest? Experts suggest starting a bedtime routine that includes a relaxing bath, bedtime story, and a lullaby. For more info on getting baby to fall asleep (and stay asleep) check out 26 Baby Sleep Solutions.