Mothers who work have extra problems. Eighty-three per cent of those who combine motherhood with career say the lack of sleep affects their performance at work. Again, things are worse for those over 34. But two thirds of fathers also say they are adversely affected. And around two-thirds of men and women say their bosses do not understand the problem.
Parents resort to all kinds of measures in a bid to get their new son or daughter off to sleep.
The fresh-faced image of famous older mums like Madonna and Cherie Blair doesn't usually show the entourage of helpers that follow them around. He said there was a reason for older mums feeling the effects of sleep deprivation more badly, and for single mums showing lower rates of irritation. We know that as people get older, they become more sensitive to sleep deprivation, and one supposes that , on average, single mothers might be younger.