Sleep advice from the sleep experts! We can help with your sleep problems.

Have Sound Machine. Will Travel.

2009-07-01T14:51:00.002-05:00

We love to go camping in the summer.We love the outdoors and sleeping under the stars. That is, if I can sleep. While at home, I use a SleepMate 980 every night to block out the annoying sound of my husband's snoring. It works like magic. So you can imagine that I was a little nervous about sleeping outdoors without my white noise machine. Then a friend told me about the Sound Oasis Travel Sound Conditioner. I purchased it and decided to test it out on our first camping trip over Memorial Day weekend. It worked like a charm. The white noise setting was all that I needed to help me fall asleep while it totally blocked out my husband's snoring.

The Sound Oasis Travel sound conditioner is a compact design (perfect for travel) that allows users to drift off to sleep with soothing nature sounds and wake up to one of four alarm sound types (sound, jet lag reduction sound, voice memo or buzzer). Powered by 4 "AA" batteries or the included AC adapter, the Sound Oasis Travel Sound Conditioner is ideal for use while traveling or at home. It has 17 authentic, high fidelity built-in sounds: Ocean Surf, North Woods, Thunderstorm, White Noise, Night Train, Spring Rain, Island Surf, Bonfire, Stream, Hidden Cove, Wind, Asian Garden, Song Birds, Harbor Swell, Bamboo Chimes, Summer Night, Cooling Fan, Rain Forest.

Once we came home from camping, I tested out the various sound options. I sometimes go to sleep listening to Summer Night or the Stream setting. It reminds me of our camping trips and lulls me right to sleep.

A Stereo In My Pillow

2009-06-22T08:48:00.002-05:00

How many of you have spent hours tossing and turning all night and not been able to fall asleep because of distracting sounds, barking dogs, and noisy neighbors?This has been my story. I needed something to block out all the noise. I tried earplugs but they always fell out of my ears and did not mask the annoying noise. I also tried headphones and they are uncomfortable to sleep with. I needed something to help me sleep without hearing what the rest of the world was doing! I discovered Marpac Pillow speakers, a great tool for delivering quality sound that actually blocks out distracting noises and sounds.

Marpac Pillow speakers have been my sleep savior. All you need to do is slide the Marpac Pillow Speaker under your pillow (or under the sheet, directly under your pillow), connect to your sound machine, CD player, radio or TV and enjoy the sounds you choose to listen to. No longer do I hear my annoying neighbors and the yappy dogs! Marpac Pillow speakers deliver crystal clear sound and can be as loud or as quiet as you'd like. They've certainly helped improve my chances of blocking out unwanted sounds at nighttime.

A Small Light At Night

2009-04-20T22:08:00.002-05:00

A nightlight is a small light source (like a small lamp), typically attached directly to an electrical outlet, providing a dim light during the night. Many children sleep with nightlights in their rooms either as a source of comfort or a convenience for parents who don't want to stumble around in the dark.

My son does not like his room to be black or totally dark, so he sleeps with a small nightlight in his room. The Dreamy Star Automatic Nightlight has been wonderful for us. We have had it for over a year now and it works great. It features a built-in sensor that automatically turns on the light when the room gets dark and off when the room is bright. The Dreamy Star Automatic Nightlight illuminates the room with a warm, soothing glow providing a comforting light while my son sleeps. The gentle light is also great for me when I need to check on him before I go to bed. If he wakes during the night, he can rapidly get oriented to his surroundings and know that he is in the comfort of his own room.

The Dreamy Star Automatic Nightlight is a cute star shape and is ideal for the nursery, hallway, or anywhere you need a soft light.

Lovely Lavender All Night Long

2009-04-12T19:19:00.002-05:00

Lavender is known for its aromatic fragrance. But did you know that it has relaxation benefits too? Recently, research has confirmed that lavender produces calming, soothing, and sedative effects. Specifically, it is said that aromatherapy with lavender may slow the activity of the nervous system, improve sleep quality, promote relaxation, and lift the mood in people suffering from sleep disorders.

Knowing this, I wanted to try a lavender scent in my bedroom to help me relax before bedtime and get a good night's sleep. I purchased the Votivo Aromatic Reed Diffuser in the Lavender Chamomile Pear scent. What a lovely surprise this turned out to be. The lavender, pear scent is wonderful. It fills my bedroom with a lingering, gentle fragrance. The scent lasts all day and will lasts for months. I have been pleasantly surprised by how soothing I have found the lingering lavender scent to be. I really feel an inner clam come over me as I settle in for the night.

I think I will try a Votivo Reed Diffuser in my kitchen. I just need to find the right scent. And since the Votivo Aromatic Reed Diffuser comes in its own beautiful gift box, I think it makes a great hostess gift.

Dreaming About A Good Night's Sleep

2009-04-04T18:26:00.005-05:00

Do you dream when sleep or toss and turn all night long? Can you remember the last time you slept through the entire night? If you're like many adults, you may not be sleeping well and not getting the right amount of sleep. Today's fast paced society can make sleep seem like a luxury, not a need, but this is simply not true: you need quality sleep for good health. Sleep deprivation affects your entire body and mind.

I used to dream when I slept but then I developed a bad pattern of waking, tossing, turning, worrying and not being able to get back to sleep. I had heard about white noise and sound machines working as a sleep aid to block out unwanted sounds but I wondered if there was a machine on the market to help you get to sleep. I did a lot of research and quickly discovered that natural, outdoor scenic sounds helped many adults in my position get lulled back to sleep.

I bought the Sound-Oasis Sound Therapy System S-650. It has 12 amazingly therapeutic, soothing sounds - 6 authentic nature sounds and 6 therapy sounds. All of the recordings use state-of-the-art digital sound reproduction with extra long tracks. The Sound-Oasis Sound Therapy System S-650 creates a soothing atmosphere so users fall asleep easier, get higher quality sleep, enhance concentration, and feel more alert and comfortable throughout the day!

I now go to sleep each night with my machine turned on to the Ocean Surf or Thunderstorm setting. The sounds are wonderful and soothing. I find that after only a few minutes, I am immediately more relaxed and drowsy. I rarely wake up during the night anymore and if I do, I am able to fall back to sleep quicker. It's nice to be able to dream again!

Safe, Snuggly Lullabag

2009-03-17T09:52:00.002-05:00

The Pointelle Cotton Lullabag has been a favorite in my household for the past 5 years. Since our first child, 5 years ago to our newest baby who is 6 months old, all three of my children have had restful, warm, safe nights in this cozy sleep snuggly.

Pediatricians recommend that babies DO NOT sleep with loose covers or blankets. With the Lullabag, covers stay in place, so using the Lullabag in place of loose bedding helps to safely reduce risk factors associated with SIDS. The Lullabag is made with breathable cotton that is subtly textured keeping your baby warm in the Fall & Winter months, yet cool in the Spring & Summer months. It has a specially designed zipper system that zips all the way around the outer edge and can zip in either direction. This allows for easy midnight diaper changes and easy on-and-off.

I like that it is cotton and machine washable. The streamlined design uses the highest quality fabrics for optimal comfort and durability. It doesn't pill and washes very well. I have had comfort knowing that my children are warm, cozy and most of all safe when they go to bed at night. The Lullabag has been in staple in my household and I can't recommend it enough.

Bringing The Jungle Home

2009-03-12T11:56:00.003-05:00

Gentle Giraffe by Cloud B has got to be the cutest giraffe stuffed toy that I have ever seen. My three-year-old son has found a new lifetime buddy with Gentle Giraffe. We bought Gentle Giraffe because we misplaced a giraffe toy that used to come with us everywhere. The transition to the new giraffe for my son has been easy. I think it's because this giraffe does so much more than his previous toy. Conveniently tucked inside Gentle Giraffe's back is a removable sound machine that plays four unique sounds specifically composed to transport young listeners to the beautiful and mysterious plains of the Serengeti.

Safari Groove (Play) - Feel the rhythmic drums of a native tribe.

Relax (Safari Trails) - Imagine and explore the plains of the Serengeti.

Calm (Gentle Stream) - Sounds of a lazy stream provide an ideal setting for a good nights sleep.

Sleep (Victoria Falls) - Listen to the majestic waterfall and drift away into a peaceful slumber.

Gentle Giraffe is easy to use. There is a simple push button sound selection with volume control and an automatic time out function after either 23 or 45 minutes. The removable sound box includes 2 AA batteries. Gentle Giraffe also includes actual sounds from real giraffes. My son loves that. Gentle Giraffe makes a wonderful gift.

Let's Rock with Lulla-Bear

2009-03-09T09:25:00.005-05:00

Lulla-Bear is a new product that I think is just great. As someone who cannot go to sleep without the use of my Marpac Sleepmate 980A, I know what bedtime security and ritual is all about. Needless to say, my son has developed his own sleepytime routine that requires various nature sounds to send him off to dreamworld. However, he needs these nature sounds to fall asleep when we are traveling or in the car. In Lulla-Bear, I have found the answer.

Lulla-Bear is an MP3 music player that delivers digital quality songs and sounds through its "Surround" speaker system. Lulla-Bear has individual music banks for Play Songs, Lullabies and Nature Sounds. For us, we were hooked on the soothing forest sounds and the flowing stream. Lulla-Bear is our partner now, wherever we go.

What I also like is that there is a built in USB port to access the 512MB of storage. That means that you can apply your own stories and songs to Lulla-Bear easily and without any additional software. The "Feel Soft" activation buttons make it easy to use and so child friendly that Lulla-Bear will become a part of your family's every day. I'm sure that as my son gets older, he will begin requesting some tunes to add to his Lulla-Bear collection.

The Cutest Pink Bear Ever!

2009-03-01T11:49:00.002-06:00

I am a mother of boys. I have no pink in my house whatsoever. But I love pink and can't stop myself from looking at little girl clothes and dolls whenever I pass anything little and pink. And for some reason, all of my best friends have girls. I am an aunt to 3 gorgeous, girly nieces. My neighbors have a 5 year old girl and two year old twin girls. And wouldn't you know it, my boss is pregnant with a girl. So, as someone who likes to give gifts to all the special little girls in my life, it really doesn't get any cuter than this Personalized Pink Bear does it?
This ultra soft Monogrammed Pink Bear sits 14" tall and comes embroidered with a child's name in pastel colors. For birthday gifts, I always choose the pink bear with hot pink and purple letters. It is a wonderful keepsake that is just darling for girls everywhere.

Ladybug, Ladybug Say Goodnight

2009-02-24T11:50:00.005-06:00

Remember when you were a kid and a ladybug would fly by land on you? I remember being told that if you counted the dots on the ladybug that would tell you old she was. I'm still not sure if this is truth or fiction.

What I do know is that the ladybug is a favorite insect for many children. Perhaps it is the belief that if a child captures a ladybug, makes a wish, and then blows it away, the ladybug will then come back home to make the wish come true. I think that is why the Twilight Ladybug - Night Light is such a big hit with my girls. They believe that if they make a wish and turn on their ladybug, all of their dreams will come true.

With its illuminating shell and pretty, artful design, the Cloud b Twilight Ladybug Night Light complements any nursery or child's room. Both plush and soft and built to last, this nightlight is best placed on the floor in the center of the room, where it projects a starry night sky onto the ceiling and walls. For interactive fun, parents can also sit with their children and identify and describe the features of seven major constellations, including the Big Dipper and Pegasus, with the help of the beautifully illustrated Star Guide. The Twilight Ladybug also includes a sweet and charming story about how Twilight Ladybug, separated from his father, uses the constellations to find his way home.

There is something mystical and magical about the Twilight Ladybug - Night Light. My girls will not go to sleep without turning on their special light and making, wish after wish.

Have Lab. Will Travel!

2009-01-30T11:57:00.003-06:00

Our baby Lavendar Lab, we call him Bri-Bri, comes with us everywhere we go. He is one of the family! He's cute, soft and quiet and always within an arms reach. We first bought Bri-Bri when our son was 6 months old and was not sleeping through the night. I had read that the scent of lavender is a soothing scent that helps to calm and quiet fussy babies. We put the lavender lab in the crib and our son was immediately smitten. I'm not sure if it was the lavender scent or his soft, cozy fur that did it, but from that day forward Bri-Bri came with us everywhere. And I got a present too.

Baby lab comes with three convenient 100% cotton double layer burp cloths. These are great sweater savers for moms and dads – and you can look good while being spilled on. These spill cloths fit nicely on one’s shoulder or lap and are compact for easy diaper bag storage. Measures approximately 8”x19”. Baby Lavender Lab is two gifts in one.

Gotta Get Spunky

2009-01-20T13:40:00.002-06:00

Spunky Lovable Hugs by Gund is another one of my favorite baby gifts. How can you not love a cute, soft, puppy and a cozy blanket? Spunky is a precious plush tan dog with light beige patches and a big brown nose. I know Spunky would love to snuggle up with his new found friend whether it is a newborn baby or a small child. The puppy measures 12 inches tall and comes with a 32 x 26 inch blanket that can be personalized with baby's name and birthdate. This extra-special gift will be a keepsake for years to come. What I love about giving a gift made by Gund is that you know that it is a top quality product that adheres to the highest safety standards. I also like that all the products are as soft and as huggable as can be. When you give a special someone Spunky Loveable Hugs, it is sure to be a gift that will be treasured.

Moomsy Says Moo

2009-01-14T13:05:00.002-06:00

I've been a collector of cow toys and accessories for years. Who doesn't love a cute, little cow? Since I love cows so much, when we had our son, of course we decorated his room in black and white and found lots of child friendly cow accessories. Hands down, Moomsy Cow Comfy Cozy by Gund is one of the best cow designs out there. Some may use the Gund Moosy Cow as a blankie but our little guy uses it as his special spot to lie down. This wonderful, plush baby blanket is a special and unique treat! It has a squishy soft animal head and cute, whimsical features. The silky fur blanket body is lightly stuffed and has a full satin underside.It measures 24" long by 20" wide. My son won't lie down without his Moomsy Cow. He looks so cute, snuggled up to his cow. I also love the fact that it is machine washable. Moomsy Cow by Gund is a wonderful accessory that we can cherish forever.

The Cutest & Softest

2009-01-09T06:01:00.001-06:00

I have found a terrific gift to give to all my friends with baby girls. The My First Teddy Buddyluvs by Gund in pink is simply delicious. Picture the softest fabric ever with the cutest little teddy and a satin border and underside and you've got yourself a Gund Teddy Buddyluv. Three gifts in one - a snuggly, satin lined security blanket with a cuddly teddy bear rattle in the pocket. This wonderful pink blanket has that special Gund softness and is sure to comfort any baby girl. It measures 16" x 16". My daughter is 2 and she has not let go of her Buddyluv since she got it as a gift a few months ago. It comes with us everywhere. It's a perfect snuggly for the car, shopping cart, and crib. I have given this as a gift to 3 girlfriends already. I know the Buddyluv will be my go to gift from now on. And the fact that it is made by Gund means that it won't unravel, ball up or fall apart. Gotta love the Buddyluv.

Counting Sleep Sheep

2008-12-07T06:01:00.003-06:00

Have you ever heard that if you find something you love to do, your life will become immensely improved? I believe that this piece of advice along with “you need 8 hours of sleep a night” to carry on in this world is the best advice I have ever been given.

After my first child, there was no such thing as 8 hours of sleep a night. My daughter did not like to sleep. She cried on her back and fussed on her front. She hated being upright and wasn’t too keen lying down either. We tried a baby swing, a pacifier, a night light, a special blanket, a pillow. I could go on. Nothing soothed her and she wouldn’t sleep. Until, one day a friend recommend Sleep Sheep.

When our Sleep Sheep (a sleep machine with 4 soothing sounds) arrived the next day, I can honestly say that our life changed for the better. Sleep Sheep was (and still is!) the perfect nighttime companion for my daughter. The little plush sheep has a sound box tucked safely inside that lulls you to sleep with four soft sounds – A Mother's Heartbeat, Spring Showers, Ocean Surf, and Whale Songs. Sleep Sheep’s soothing sounds are an audio pacifier that was able to calm my fussy little daughter and allow her to sleep. And you know that if she was sleeping, of course we were too. Using a Sleep Sheep is now number 3 on my list of the best advice ever given.

If you have a baby who isn’t sleeping, you need to try the Sleep Sheep. This way, everyone can have a good 8 hour sleep.

Sunrise, Sunset.

2008-11-19T09:03:00.001-06:00

The morning sunrise is one of the most spectacular views in the world. If I had my way I would watch the sunrise everyday. However, my problem is that I like to sleep. Actually, I love to sleep and the thought of pulling myself out of bed on most mornings before the sun is shining is not a sunny one. I need a minimum of eight hours a night if I am going to be able to function during the day. Since I can't wake up and watch the sunrise everyday (and where I live, the view of the sun rising is not so good) I have discovered the next best thing to watching the sunrise. Ok, so I may be exaggerating slightly, but I really have found a wonderful alternative to watching the actual sunrise.

The BioBrite Sunrise Alarm Clock allows you to wake to a gradually increasing light rather than a horrible beeping noise. I have found that waking to a slowly increasing light can result in a smoother, more natural transition to wakefulness. Studies have shown that simulated dawn may help people feel more refreshed and wake in a better mood. The body is very sensitive to light in the early morning and therefore responds to fairly dim levels of light even through closed eyelids. Humans evolved to wake to the sun, so it is thought that the gradually increasing light sends the body the message that it is time to wake. With the BioBrite Sunrise Alarm Clock this happens gently and naturally, a great improvement over the jarring sound made by my alarm. I like to pretend that I am watching the sunrise as I wake each morning.

The BioBrite Sunrise Alarm Clock features an audible back-up alarm, the ability to set dawn and dusk cycles of 15, 30, 60, or 90 minutes, opal glass globe gives a soothing glow, dimmable bedside light for reading or soft lighting, intelligent LCD digital display fades to very low level when you want to sleep and a bonus security option so light comes on at random intervals from 4-11pm as if the house is occupied.

I have had this machine for over 6 months now and I can honestly say that I can't live without it. I love that I am no longer dreading the morning because now I wake up gradually to a soft light, my sunrise.

Sleep? All You Need To Do Is Cover Your Eyes

2008-11-15T08:50:00.002-06:00

In today’s fast paced society, sleep may seem like a luxury and not a necessity. However it is a need and must be treated as such. If you're like me, sleep is not always easy to come by. Here's my theory about why many of us cannot fall asleep at night. It's all about technology and lights. I don't mean that your blackberry or Mp3 player is keeping you up. I'm referring to the simple fact that light can disrupt your sleep. And what has lights on it? Technology. Think about it, your computer screen glows, the digital clock shines, the dvd player flashes 12:00 over and over again, your cell phone lights up, and all the other electronics with light displays beam in your face all night long. Since technology isn't going away, I have found the perfect solution. As soon as I am ready for bed I cover my eyes with my Infinity Sleep Mask by Dream Essentials.

This mask blocks out the light and let's me sleep in complete darkness. It is so comfortable because it is made with soft, silky double-velour fleece. It has a roll that allows the mask to breathe, while maintaining a barrier to light. The roll is soft to the face and holds the mask away from the surface of the eyes. The eye surface of the mask is made using a blackout fabric sandwiched between two layers of interfaced double-velour fleece. Then all layers are stitched together using an infinity symbol so that no layer of fabric will touch the eyes. This detailed process ensures the serviceability of the mask while wearing and laundering. I'm telling you, you don't even realize that you have a mask over your eyes. Nobody is going to see you and the best is, you can't see a thing (unless, of course you take it off). I wish someone had told me about the Infinity Sleep Mask year's ago. I used to try to cover up all the lights with paper and tape, now I just cover my eyes and am no longer disturbed by all the lights.

Peak-A-Boo Have You Heard About Noodle & Boo?

2008-11-09T16:05:00.002-06:00

Have you heard about Noodle and Boo yet? Love it! This is a product line you do not want your children to be without. Here is the Noodle and Boo story: Inspired by her children’s need for products developed for ultra-sensitive skin, Christine Burger founded Noodle & Boo. Working with professionals who specialize in natural, holistic skin care she developed products to nourish, replenish and protect delicate and sensitive young skin.

Noodle & Boo helps to ensure that each part of your child is carefully tended to with products that are safe, effective and specially created to work together for exceptional results. Their products fall into three categories: hair care, skin care, and bottom care. These products gently clean, delicately moisturize, and thoroughly protect each part of your child's body.

My little one had very rough skin and we tried all kinds of different lotions to help soothe his irritated skin. Nothing seemed to help clear up the dry patches. When my son's pediatrician recommended that we try Noodle & Boo Super Soft Baby Lotion I went out to get it right away. Noodle & Boo Super Soft Lotion contains sweet almond oil, which gently hydrates while vitamins E and C help to protect delicate skin. This ultra-light cream leaves skin amazingly silky soft and smooth. Noodle & Boo Super Soft Lotion's unique combination of emollients gently nourishes the skin and provides a protective layer of natural antioxidants that helps shield sensitive skin from environmental factors. My little one's skin was suddenly super soft. We now use only Noodle & Boo products for washing, moisturizing, sun protection and shampooing.

Once I saw what Noodle and Boo did for my son's skin you can only imagine how excited I was to discover that they also make a product line called Glowology for moms! Also to note, A-list stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Katie Holmes and Jennifer Garner use the Noodle & Boo products on their little ones too.

Why is it so hard to get eight hours of sleep every night?

2008-11-08T06:16:00.004-06:00

Perhaps it's because we are all so busy all the time. We pack so much into the day that by the time nighttime rolls around we still have all kinds of work left over from the day. It could be housework, yard work, schoolwork, family work, friend work or just plain old work work. Whatever it is that keeps you tossing and turning all night, it is work getting to sleep and even harder work staying asleep. So how can we do all the work in the daytime to ensure that we can sleep at night?

If you're like me, as bedtime approaches you start making mental lists of everything you've accomplished during the day and everything that needs to be taken care of tomorrow. The work never ends! I start stressing about what has to happen next and then continue to stress about how I'm going to be able to sleep through the night. I have learned not to go to bed unless I am tired, to avoid caffeine late in the afternoon, and to never watch TV in bed. But the best trick I have learned about how to get and stay asleep is to use a Sound Oasis Deluxe Sound Conditioner. This sound conditioner is the best, most advanced sound conditioner in the world. It has 20 main sounds & 5 mix sounds that can create 120 sound environment possibilities. There are 18 nature sounds digitally recorded in the wild by the world's leading nature recorders. My favorite sound, and the one that has always worked best for me, is the Ocean Surf. Other sound options include seagulls, song birds, thunder, white noise, night train, spring rain, and island surf to name a few.

You may be wondering how the Sound Oasis Deluxe Sound Conditioner works and sends me off to sleep? The answer is actually quite simple. I am able to create my own sound environment that is conducive to relaxation, sleep and improvement of everyday life. By bathing my room with the authentic sound of the Ocean Surf, the Sound Oasis Deluxe Sound Conditioner creates a peaceful atmosphere so I am able to fall asleep easier, get higher quality sleep, enhance my concentration, and actually sleep through the night. Eight hours of restful sleep is no longer work for me.

Turtles, Stars and Nightlights

2008-10-28T06:12:00.002-05:00

Recently I received the best gift for my 3 year old son who wouldn't go to sleep without his light on. He is one of those terrified darkness-fearing toddlers; and nightlights just wouldn't work for him. A friend bought us a Twilight Turtle Night Light and it is wonderful.

The Twilight Turtle Night Light is a plush turtle nightlight that emits a warm glow and projects a starry night sky on the walls and ceiling, beckoning my son to sleep. All you have to do is press the button on the turtle’s shell and stars appear and glow for 45 minutes—just enough time for my son to drift off to sleep—before automatically shutting off and preserving the battery life. Down the road, when my son is a little older The Twilight Turtle Night Light will be a great teaching tool. It actually displays 8 major constellations within Twilight’s star pattern. We will be able to use the wonderfully illustrated Twilight Turtle Star Guide to identify and discover the Big and Little Dipper and lots of others. In the meantime, the Twilight Turtle Night Light is an excellent night light.

No More Fans!

2008-10-26T08:58:00.005-05:00

As soon as the summer was over and we no longer needed the ceiling fan in my daughter's room, she couldn't fall asleep. You see we live in a small, cozy apartment and there is noise everywhere. She started staying up later and later and couldn't get to sleep until late in the evening when the apartment noises got quiet. I started to panic. She's only 4 so she needs at least 10 hours of sleep a night to be able to function the next day.

Then it dawned on me; she slept all summer without a problem. Aha! The ceiling fan lulled her to sleep. But, it was September and was too cold for the overhead fan. Once I had this aha moment I immediately began my search. I went online and found Sleepwellbaby.com and discovered there is a whole world of white noise machines that I never knew existed. There are white noise machines with the sounds of waterfalls, thunderstorms, crickets, heartbeats, white noise etc.

I found a product called the Marpac Marsona White Noise Machine - SleepMate 980 and ordered it right away. The Sleepmate 980A white noise machine is a miracle worker. It has an actual fan inside and creates a consistent whooshing sound, like rushing air, the sound a fan makes to help lull my daughter to sleep. From the very first night I put the machine in my daughter's room she was out like a light. I keep the Sleepmate 980A plugged in all night and the sound of my daughter's fan is replicated. The sound is adjustable for tone and volume and has two frequency levels for broader range. The tone and volume are controlled by simply rotating the "cap" and "collar" of the Sleepmate 980. This white noise sound effectively masks unwanted noises and helps my daughter fall asleep. The Sleepmate 980 hums all night and now we can all sleep again!

Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder

2008-09-12T08:44:00.002-05:00

This may sound very strange to many of us that have never experienced a sleepwalking occurrence or even been around a person that sleepwalks, but some individuals actually get up in the middle of the night, while asleep, go into the kitchen, and fix something to eat without even knowing they are doing so. This is known as Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder or NS-RED.

A person with Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder can get out of bed, walk into the kitchen fix a sandwich complete with all the fixings, pour a glass of milk, sit at the table, enjoy every last drop of the sandwich, go back to bed, and wake up in the morning not knowing they were up the night before.

Another sleep related eating disorder is known as night eating syndrome. With this condition, a person is fully awake and realizes they are eating during the night, but they are unable to fall back to sleep unless they eat.

Both disorders have similarities with the only real difference being that a person with night eating syndrome is fully awake and knows they are eating while a person with Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder is asleep and does not recall eating.

Symptoms of both Nocturnal Sleep Related Eating Disorder and Night Eating Syndrome include:

No appetite in the morning
Little appetite for breakfast
Eating more food after dinner than at the dinner table, this includes eating about half of the normal intake of food after dinnertime.
Having this eating pattern for at least two months

Individuals with either of these sleeping disorders can become overweight and develop Type II diabetes. The disorders are more often seen in women. About 1 to 3% of the entire population has this condition. A few people with sleep related eating disorders have a history of alcoholism, drug addiction, and other sleep disorders. Many times, dieters are prone to sleep related eating disorders due to the fact that they are hungry when they go to sleep.

If you believe you have a sleep related eating disorder, you should talk with your doctor. If you are on diet, learn what foods to eat that will fulfill your hunger pains so you are not hungry throughout the night, and begin a bedtime routine.

A bedtime routine can help some individuals especially if the eating is done during sleepwalking. In order to begin your bedtime routine, you should first invest in a few sleeping aids such as a white noise machine or tabletop waterfall fountain. Both of these will aid you in falling asleep and sleeping throughout the night. Remember, your bedroom should be dark and cool without any distractions such as a television.

Help For Sleep Deprivation

2008-09-11T17:56:00.001-05:00

Many individuals have trouble sleeping every once in awhile; however, sleep disorders are very serious and can lead to various health problems. If you are having trouble falling to sleep or are awaken throughout the night, it may be something as simple as you are not relaxing prior to going to bed or something outside your home could be waking you up in the middle of the night. If this could be the problem then you can combat the sleeping problem by investing in a tabletop waterfall fountain to help you fall asleep or purchase a white noise machine that will absorb sounds that might be waking you up.

On the other hand, sleep disorders such as nightmares, sleepwalking, or restless leg syndrome may not be as easy to fix. Talking to your physician about your symptoms can help you decide if you need more than relation tips. Stress is the number one reason many people do not sleep at night and can cause you to have trouble falling asleep or even causing nightmares that will awaken you.

No matter what the reason you are having trouble sleeping, creating a sleep environment can really help even if you need medical help as well. A sleep environment is one that offers a cool and dark atmosphere without any type of distraction. Yes, this means you must move the television, computer, or other distractions out of your bedroom. However, you can replace these items with such decorative and sleep aids as a tabletop waterfall fountain. Listening and watching the waterfall will help you drift off to sleep while relaxing you at the same time.

Another item that aids in helping individuals receive proper sleep is the Aromabreeze – Tabletop Spa Therapy. The Aromabreeze uses ultrasonic pulsations that create a soothing, healthy mist that utilizes light and aromatherapy at the same time.

For those having problems receiving adequate sleep these items often provide them with the proper relaxation tools in order to sleep the night away in peace.

Do you have a Sleep Disorder?

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Many Americans have sleep problems, as a matter of fact according to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders around 2/3 of all Americans have some form of sleep disorders and only 3% are finding help through their physician.

If you are one of the 2/3, you may not believe you need to seek to help from your doctor and try to carry on believing your sleep patterns are normal. If your daytime routine is being compromised for over a month you should seek medical help as stated by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. However, before seeking medical help there are a few things you can try at home. If these measures do not help with your sleep deprivation, then you should by all means talk with your doctor.

The first thing you need to do is create a sleep environment. In order to create a sleep environment, you may have to change some of things you do before going to bed. The bedroom should be dark and cool. This means, you should use dark drapes or ensure light is not coming into the room through the slits in the blinds.

The next thing on the list may be the hardest item on the list for most individuals to do and that is remove such things as televisions and computers from your bedroom. These are distractions that should not be in your sleep environment. If you want to watch television or be on your computer, do so in a different room.

The most important item of all for creating a sleep environment is a white noise machine. A white noise machine will absorb all those sounds at night that might be waking you up without you realizing what the noises might be. It could be the neighbor’s dog, traffic, or even sounds around your home such as the air-conditioner or heater coming on in the middle of the night.

If you are having trouble falling asleep instead of being woken up in the middle of the night, you might want to add a table top water fountain to your bedroom. A water fountain can aid in relaxing you and helping you drift off to sleep.

The good news is - there is help for individuals that are suffering sleep deprivation. Before taking medications it would be best to try the above tips, however, your sleep deprivation could be caused by a more serious condition that needs medical attention. If after using the above method, you are still not receiving enough sleep talk with your physician.

Help For Family Traveling

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The holidays are just around the corner and of course, you will be thinking about all the things you need to take to grandma’s house so the kids will have all their favorite toys and sleep aids along with everything you will need to drift off to sleep in a strange environment. It does not matter if you grew up in the home, your body is no longer use to the sounds around the house, and you will need some help in order to drift off to sleep and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.

The number one thing you should remember to bring along on the holidays is the Sound Oasis Travel Sound Conditioner. This innovative device will ensure you sleep quietly while enjoy the sound therapy. The features of the Sound Oasis Travel Sound Conditioner include 17 authentic built in sounds such as Ocean Surf, Thunderstorm, North Woods, Night Train, White Noise, Island Surf, Spring Rain, Songs Birds, Bonfire, Wind, Hidden Cove, Asian Garden, Rain Forest, Summer Night, Bamboo Chimes, Harbor Swell, and Cooling Fan. All will help ease you into slumber.

The Sound-Oasis Travel Sound Conditioner with jet lag reduction, which was developed by Dr. Jeffery Thompson and the Center for Neuroacoustic Research will help your body adjust and receive rest and peace.

If you have children, you know exactly how hard it is to get them down for a nap or to go to sleep at night in a different surrounding. You spend most of your time putting them back to bed instead of visiting with family. The best idea is to bring along items from home that help give them security. Before the holidays purchase the Sound Oasis Bear or the Sleep Sheep, then they will have this delightful sleep companion that they can take with them wherever they go and sleep peacefully.

For the traveling children you can choose from the Sound Oasis Sleep Bear or the Sleep Sheep. The Sound Oasis Bear is a must have while traveling. Your child will cuddle up with the bear and be soothed to sleep in no time even if you are on the road. The features include six clinic and customer tested baby sounds such as White Noise, the Womb, Ocean, Lullaby, heartbeat, and car ride.

The sleep sheep can be placed in the crib or just lying beside baby to help lull baby to sleep while giving them security with sounds like mother’s heartbeat, ocean surf, spring showers, and whale songs.

Either one of these will be great traveling companions for little ones and give parents a time to enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet, which is always a blessing during the holidays.