5 Tips For Splitting Parenting Duties with Your Spouse
By Michelle LaRowe. Posted on .
![5 Tips For Splitting Parenting Duties with Your Spouse [EXPERT]](http://images.tangomag.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/node-full/image_blog/parents_2.jpg "5 Tips For Splitting Parenting Duties with Your Spouse [EXPERT]")
While all parents may not agree that it takes a village to raise a child, most agree that a village certainly makes parenting a lot easier, especially when the squire and the squiress equally pitch in.
Mothers of infants who wake frequently during the night and feel depressed and sleep deprived as a result — you are not alone. According to a recent CNN Health report on the outcome of a study published in the September 2012 issue of the medical journal Pediatrics, mothers of infants with sleep problems are at greater risk for suffering from depression. Some estimate that the risk is double.
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Since mothers tend to be the primary night-time caregivers, it's no surprise they tend to me the most sleep deprived of the parenting pair. And sleep deprivation does no family member any good. According to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep deprivation can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, lack of motivation, anxiety, and of course, depression.
For married mothers, especially ones of infants, it is important that they share the parenting duties with their spouses. Well-rested mothers are happier ones. And if momma ain't happy, no one is. While some husbands will simply do whatever is asked when it comes to sharing parental responsibilities, others need a little push in the right direction. Study Says Working Full-Time Benefits Moms
To get dads more involved with parenting responsibilities mothers can:
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1. Communicate their needs. Men are not mind readers. If you need your spouse to take one of the middle-of-the-night feedings, let him know. If you need to lie down for a few minutes as soon as he walks in the door, tell him. Your spouse can't meet your needs if you don’t let him know they exist.
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