AITA for asking for a morning off from my baby on the weekends?

Picture a bustling household where a six-month-old baby girl rules the roost, her 7 AM wake-ups clashing with a sleep regression that’s got her up every two hours. Her mom, a stellar stay-at-home champ, juggles two half-day work shifts, all the cooking, cleaning, and nighttime feeds, while her dad full time worker and part-time student cheerfully foots the bills, both living their dream gig with love and grit.

Weekends usually split the baby load, each parent snagging solo time to recharge. But with mom, a light sleeper with insomnia, fraying from night duty, she’s begging dad to take the early shift both days for an extra hour of sleep. He’s game but craves his own morning lie-in to game and chill, not nap. A weary tiff bubbles up let’s dive into this Reddit rumble.

‘AITA for asking for a morning off from my baby on the weekends?’

This bleary-eyed battle brews a classic parenting pickle. Mom’s on 24/7 night patrol, breastfeeding through a sleep regression, her insomnia blocking rest, while dad, a deep sleeper, logs full nights but runs ragged from work and school. His bid for a weekend morning off—eyeing video games, not sleep—hits her plea for an hour to catch up, and tempers flare. Both feel drained, but the load tilts hard.

Sleep deprivation’s no joke in new parenthood. A 2023 study by the National Sleep Foundation shows 76% of parents with infants lose 1-3 hours of sleep nightly, with breastfeeding moms hit hardest. Mom’s solo night shifts, paired with no nap knack, sap her, while dad’s full rest fuels his day. His chill-time wish collides with her survival need.

Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatric sleep expert, notes, “Sleep loss in early parenting strains partnerships—sharing the load, even unevenly, keeps both afloat”. Mom’s carrying the night, so dad’s morning lift eases her edge—his gaming can wait. A nap might recharge him, but her body craves a stretch of peace. Empathy’s the glue here, not a tug-of-war.

Try a tweak: Dad takes both weekend mornings for her to sleep till 8 AM, then she gifts him an afternoon hour for games. Swap a night with a bottle—pumped milk or formula—if doable, to split the grind. Praise her heroics, and lean in as a team. Small shifts can soothe this sleepy storm and keep the dream life humming.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

Reddit piled on, mostly tagging our dad as the tougher sell. The crowd sees mom’s all-night marathon—feeding, soothing, no sleep—as a heavy lift, leaving her desperate for a morning break. Dad’s full nights and nap ability tip the scales, and many scoff at his gaming goal over her rest, urging him to step up early and let her breathe.

Some nod to his fatigue from work and school, but the vibe leans clear: her exhaustion trumps, and nights aren’t his to claim. Direct help—mornings on, maybe a bottle night—wins cheers, with a stern nudge to see her load and ditch the controller guilt-free later. Teamwork’s the rally cry here.

This baby-duty dust-up dishes a tired truth: a six-month-old’s sleep regression tests two loving parents, with mom drained by nights and dad worn by days. His yen for a morning off bumps her plea for sleep, but a shared shuffle could steady them. A bit of give early rises, a later break might recharge this duo. Toss your thoughts, feelings, and fixes below let’s rock this cradle conundrum!