New parents lose six months of sleep in two years

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LONDON: Parents lose out on an average of six months' sleep in the first two years of their child's life, research shows.

Around one in ten unlucky parents get as little as two and a half hours uninterrupted sleep per night, according to a survey by Silentnight.

Almost two-thirds of parents with infants under two years old get just three and a quarter hours of sleep per night.

Commenting on the findings, based on a poll of 1,000 parents, Silentnight sleep expert Iftikhar Mirza explained, "An hour here and there doesn't negate 'sleep debt'."

She advised parents to "take regular, gentle exercise to release endorphins, which should lower the risk of mood swings".

The Sleep Council indicates that consuming too much food or alcohol before bed can affect the quality of sleep, while stimulants such as coffee or tea can also prevent deep sleep.