Sleep-deprived Fifi Box asks for help saying she felt she was letting her daughters down and “wasn’t good enough”

One of the hardest parts about motherhood is without a doubt, sleep deprivation. It’s hard to function when you are running on very little sleep.

One mama who know the feeling of being exhausted all too well, is mum-of-two and radio host, Fifi Box.

At the end of July, Fifi, 43 shared an Instagram post saying she was sleep deprived as her one-year-old daughter, Daisy had forgotten how to sleep.

“We’ve had better weekends,” wrote Fifi alongside an adorable selfie of herself with Daisy.

“In addition to the little carpet burn on her nose (after a valiant attempt to stand) at 12 months Daisy has forgotten how and when to sleep and I’m so sleep deprived I’m not even sure what time of day it is. My poor little snuggle bug 💕😩 ps. Open to any tips 🙏”

Fifi’s post was met with an outpouring of support and advice from her celeb mama friends.

“SLEEP REGRESSION PAIN IS REAL.. Hang in there, she’ll remember again,” wrote comedian Em Rusciano.

“So hard!! If it keeps up.. I say find a good sleep consultant and pay them all the money 😬 So worth it 💕” added mum-of-three and 7 Network journalist, Jodie Speers.

A week later, Fifi took on board the helpful advice that was offered and welcomed a sleep specialist into her home to help get Daisy back into a sleep routine.

In an emotional post, Fifi, who is also a mum to seven-year-old Trixie, said the expert help had transformed their lives.

“This is @sleepbysteph and over the weekend she made us the happiest family! I recently shared the struggles I’ve been having as a mum with a baby that stopped sleeping for longer than an hour in lockdown,” began Fifi.

“I’m not very good at asking for help, and because I love my kids so much I feel like it is my job alone to care for them and to manage any challenges. I was being strangled by the guilt that I was letting them both down and I wasn’t good enough.”

Fifi went on to say that thanks to all the love and messages she received she realised she was “not a failure for asking for help.”

“I welcomed the amazing @sleepbysteph into my life and she has transformed our lives! Daisy is sleeping in her cot through the night, I have stopped feeding her to sleep (which meant I was tied to the bed for hours on end and she was only sleeping lightly so waking every time I moved) she is routinely napping, happy at awake times instead of grizzling all day because she’s tired.

“And Trixie has got her mummy-time back because I’m not attached to Daisy 24/7 so I can spend quality time with both the girls. And I am getting a good nights sleep which is making me a happy and present mum instead of being constantly stressed and tired!”

Fifi finished the post saying she could not have done it on her own and urges other mamas who need help, particularly those who are feeling isolated with lockdown in Melbourne – where Fifi lives – to ask for help. .

“By surrendering and allowing Steph to weave her magic we are back to a fully functioning family! I wanted to share this in case any mums are in a similar situation and need to ask for help. Especially during lockdown when it’s even more intense and isolating. @sleepbysteph is available online or over the phone to support you, she is the warmest loveliest beautiful mumma!

“You’re not alone and with the expert help and experienced advice getting babies and children in healthy sleep routines is so achievable!”

As mums, it’s sometimes so difficult to ask for help and to feel like you need to struggle through, even when you’re not coping.

It’s for this reason, we applaud Fifi for sharing this struggle and it’s a sentiment many of Fifi’s friends and followers felt too.

“So wonderful to hear you asked for help and so glad it’s made a difference! It never ceases to amaze me how important sleep is!” wrote Olympic Gold medallist and mum-of-three Libby Trickett.

“I can just ‘feel’ you in this post Fifi. 💕💕💕 relief, love, frustration, joy..the lot! Ah..motherhood,” added The Morning Show‘s Kylie Gillies.

“I’m so so glad @sleepbysteph was able to help you, @fifi_box. She is just the best xx” commented new mama, Edwina Bartholomew.

Proving just how good it feels to get a good night’s sleep, Fifi shared this post. Alongside a smiling selfie of herself in bed, she wrote:

“Ps. This was me after the first time I slept for 8 hours straight in over a year. I was so happy I don’t even care how puffy and unflattering this is, I had to capture the moment, I was a happy well slept mumma.”