Who Should Recite the Blessing Over Handwashing When Rising and Returning to Sleep?

Good week,

It appears that you should recite the blessing after your final awakening.

Sources: It is written in Or LeTzion, Part 2 (Chapter 1, response 2) that one who wakes in the middle of the night to relieve himself and intends to return immediately to sleep should wash his hands without the blessing over handwashing, and then in the morning wash again with the blessing. In a note there, it is explained that since the poskim dispute whether one must recite the blessing again when arising in the morning after such a wake-up, it is preferable not to bless at that moment but only in the morning. This ruling seems to apply in your case as well, for Sefer Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 4:15) discusses sleeping during the day, where there is some doubt whether water should be sprinkled three times over the hands. The Rema there writes that one washes without a blessing. Thus, the general principle of "doubtful blessings are to be avoided" applies to daytime sleep, and therefore it is preferable that you bless after your final awakening. This also covers any additional daytime sleep you may have.

With blessing,

Hillel Meirs