Six out of 10 Mums say lack of sleep, at an average of only 4 hours per night, has 'put their relationship under immense strain' and leaves them and their partner 'too tired for anything', a major new survey has found.

The problem is compounded by the fact that many couples both work full time which is sadly leaving one in 10 couples on the edge of separating. Baby exhaustion has a devastating effect on couple's working life where Mums on average return to work when their babies are only 22 weeks old. Over one-third of Mums say lack of sleep 'affects their working ability and output' and 64% say their boss is 'not understanding of their tiredness'. Understandably, an overwhelming 94% think 'paid maternity leave should be for 12 months, not the current six months' as returning to work too early leaves them 'fed-up, exhausted and pulled in too many directions.'

The problem doesn't only lie with Mums. More than half of Dads with babies say their work is also 'adversely affected by lack of sleep' without sympathy from their companies. However, whilst Dads do help out, it is still Mum who does the majority. One quarter of Dads 'wake up when baby cries' and over half simply slumber on, or pretend to! However, even if they don't get up, they are still woken up leaving them 'bad-tempered' and 'irritable' with their partner.

Elena Dalrymple, Editor of Mother & Baby Magazine and a mum herself comments: "Parents-to-be have no idea how the lack of sleep a baby brings will put pressure on their relationships. If you're only getting 4 hours sleep night after night and sometimes less, you'll most likely take your frustration and anger out on your partner. It's amazing so many relationships survive the onslaught of a baby, but sadly, some never recover. It's shameful so many dads don't get up during the night because if parents work as a team they can get through this difficult period."

"A baby who has difficulty sleeping can put enormous strain on even the strongest and most loving relationship. Most of us can either remember or imagine how draining and demoralizing it is to get up several times in the night to a crying baby, who despite your best efforts is unable to settle. We hope that by offering sensitive and expert advice and support we can help parents to enjoy their babies' precious infancy and still have the time and energy needed to nurture their own relationships, commented Andrea Grace, Sleep Expert.

The sleep deprivation of today's parents has reached such a level that advice is sought from Mother & Baby Magazine and Pampers, more than any other issue. In a bid to offer detailed guidance on this topic, they are holding the first-ever BIG SLEEP WEEK. It starts on the 9th September, a Thursday, because sleep training usually takes an average of FOUR nights to work and this timescale includes the weekend.

For more information visit www.pampers.co.uk