Think sleep is overrated? In my twenties I loved boasting that I could survive on 4-6 hours. By the time I hit 30 my body couldn’t function on less than 9-10. Guess it was making up for lost hours?
Sleep was actually something my husband and I bonded over on our first date, both agreeing that the more sleep we could achieve the better. Are we lazy? No, we just need our beauty rest.
Venturing into parenthood, sleep becomes a hot commodity for you and baby. Suddenly you’re primary goal in this new stage of life is getting your little one to sleep through the night. With The Baby Whisperer’s sleep training method, both our girls slept through the night by ten weeks.
Going on sleepless night number three post E’s tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery, I started thinking dreaming of the various sleep techniques I’ve established through the years. Looks like I need to go back to the basics of what really works.
Feeling sleep deprived? Try my 7 must-haves to sleep like a (well-trained) baby.
1 | noise machine while traveling for work and adapted the same routine when the girls were infants. The noise machine is still on duty, however we love this app when away from home. White noise has been proven to help with sleep by blocking distractions like faucets dripping, sirens (hello city living) and noisy neighbors.
2| Sleep Mask: Blocking out all light while sleeping is imperative for the production of melatonin, the chemical of sleep. We also use blackout shades on our bedroom windows.
3| Blanket: I call this the mommy woobie. It’s so cozy and soft and can be used year round. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but it’s impossible for me to sleep without it.
4|Bladeless Fan: Temperature does matter while sleeping. Rather than cranking up the AC, using a fan can help regulate temps. I love this bladeless fan by Dyson. Totally kid friendly and easy to clean.
5| Tempur-Pedic Symphony Pillow: I’m a Tempur-Pedic addict and without my pillow or mattress there’s no way I can sleep soundly. A Tempur-Pedic mattress is life changing, the pillow is an added bonus. While I can’t bring the mattress with me, this pillow is always by my side.
6| using Natural Calm to reduce stress and improve sleep a few months ago. It works wonders!
7| tips for choosing cotton sheets. Personally I go for 100% Egyptian Cotton and at least 300 thread count.
What are your family’s must-haves for getting a good night’s sleep?
