In my house, a deep, restful sleep does not come easily! We have one highly sensitive 6yo who takes forever to wind down from the day to get to sleep, and one energetic 3yo who thinks he no longer needs day naps and then wakes constantly all night, which of course leads to one worn out mama who would kill for just a couple of consecutive hours of sleep! My husband is blessed to have the ability to simply close his eyes, fall instantly into a deep sleep and not wake till morning, despite the nocturnal shenanigans of the rest of us. Over the years I have found that a consistent pre-sleep rhythm and avoidance of all stimulants is essential for ensuring a good night’s sleep in our family. [Read more...]