Australian swimmer Emily Seebohm has candidly shared the toll that parenting has taken on her mental health, revealing she was nearing a “mental breakdown” while trying to manage her toddler’s sleep routine.
The four-time Olympic medalist turned to TikTok to ask fellow parents for guidance after her two-year-old son, Sampson, began resisting bedtime and skipping naps.
Emily, who shares Sampson with former partner Ryan Gallagher – known from season five of Married At First Sight – admitted that the changes have left her exhausted.
“I’ve never had problems with Sampson’s sleep. He had always been a great sleeper,” Emily explained. “But recently, he’s decided to not be a great sleeper.”
She described how Sampson now refuses daytime naps and often protests at bedtime, sometimes only falling asleep if she lies beside him – and occasionally not until after 9pm.
“I’m just really struggling and I’m literally going to have mental breakdowns,” Emily confessed. “I need some me time and he needs to sleep.”
Fans quickly responded with support and suggestions. One commenter noted that the challenges might be related to co-parenting, pointing out that moving between two homes with differing routines could be affecting Sampson’s sleep.
Emily acknowledged the potential impact, noting that while she does not co-sleep, she thinks Ryan does, which complicates consistency. “But hard to get on the same page, so I just have to focus on here,” she said.
Other parents reassured her that sleep disruptions are normal for toddlers and encouraged maintaining a steady routine to help Sampson settle.
In a follow-up TikTok, Emily shared a heartwarming moment of Sampson exploring his new “big boy bed,” offering a glimpse of progress amid the challenges.
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