LilSugar

Do You Believe Parents Can Influence Babies' Sleep Habits?

babysugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:00:04 -0800

Some parents would give their right arm just to get their lil one to sleep through the night. They read books, consult the web, and even hire trainers to come in and coach their nocturnal tykes. While there are various philosophies when it comes to coaching your wee one to sleep through the night, Dr. Richard Ferber's self-soothing techniques continue to prevail among sleep-deprived parents.

A new study conducted by Canada's Today's Parent found that 69 percent of parents believe that controlled-crying techniques work if parents implement them properly, but more than half of the parents surveyed said it didn't work for them, meaning most parents don't believe they are implementing the philosophy correctly. A further look at the study showed that parents who enter sleep training with the belief that they can influence how their tot gets his shut-eye were more likely to be successful with the process.

Do you believe that mom and dad can train a baby to sleep?

Have You Had Trouble Sleeping in the Last 30 Days?

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:47:12 -0800

A recent health survey took a snapshot of our national health and found that in the past month, 30 percent of Americans have had difficulty sleeping. I am not sure if the figure seems high or low to me. So I thought I would do some independent research and post the question to you. Me? I've had my bouts with insomnia, but nothing has kept me from sleeping in the last month.

How Do You Co-Sleep?

babysugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:00:14 -0800

Getting a restful night's sleep with a newborn requires some work. Some mamas prefer to place their tots in their own rooms, but 51 percent of LilSugar readers kept their babe's within arm's reach. Though doctors and the CDC recommend not to sleep with your wee one, 55 percent of our co-sleeping readers said they wouldn't change their ways.

To reduce the potential for suffocation, some co-sleeping parents opt to put baby in a bassinet that attaches directly to their bed, like the new Bednest. Others go the more traditional route and keep baby on their mattress. Which did you choose?

When Did You Stop Swaddling?

babysugar — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:00:57 -0800

Snug as a bug in a rug. That's how many mamas describe their newborns once they are swaddled up tightly in a blanket. New moms work hard to perfect their swaddling technique, watching the maternity ward nurses like hawks and testing out various sizes and shapes of blankets before finding the perfect one.

While some lil Houdinis find a way to break out of any type of wrapping, many find comfort in the warmth and security the carefully wrapped blankets provide. But, there comes a point where the lil ones start moving around too much to remain in the swaddle, and their parents must make the transition to swaddle-free sleep. Doctors recommend weaning a baby from her wrappings around the four-month mark (or when she starts to roll over) for safety reasons, but many parents keep up the practice in order to maintain a restful night's sleep (for both the parents and the baby).

When did you give up the swaddle?

Nap Time: It's Like Kindergarten All Over Again

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:00:18 -0800

I hated it when my preschool and kindergarten teacher cued us to take out our nap mats - why nap when there was coloring to be done? Before I blame them for ruining my chance at becoming the next Picasso, it looks like they might have been on to something: a new study suggests that an afternoon nap might make you smarter.

Pitting nappers against non-nappers, researchers gave a group of 39 healthy, young adults a memory test before and after a 90-minute nap. When taking the memory test the second time, the non-nappers' scores dropped an average of 10 percent. Meanwhile, the nappers did even better the second time around. The University of California, Berkeley researchers also found that how much sleep the nappers got was much less important than the type of sleep they received. The more "stage 2 non-REM" sleep the participants had - a lighter form of non-dreaming sleep - the better they did.

Apparently, our brains get clogged during the day with information overload and taking a nap helps it recharge. After a brief resting period, it's able to consolidate the information it's picked up through the day, while also clear itself to be more adept at learning new information. While many of us don't have 90 minutes to snooze during our lunch break, even a 15 to 20 minute nap can help too.

Chronic Insomnia May Shrink Your Brain

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:00:17 -0800

The problem with worrying over the amount of sleep you're getting is that the worry literally keeps you up at night. Now, there's another study to lose sleep over: a report in Biological Psychiatry claims that chronic insomnia may shrink your brain. The study, which compared 24 subjects with severe insomnia to 13 normal sleepers, links insomnia to less density in the parts of your brain that regulate decision-making and rest, most notably in severe insomniacs. One researcher quoted in the article notes that the findings support other recent research confirming that "bad sleep is bad for the brain at a neurological level, not just the psychiatric level as a nuisance." You know that getting a good night's sleep is part of being healthy; being well-rested helps you lose weight and reduces blood pressure in addition to helping you feel energized throughout the day. If you're having trouble falling asleep, check out some common reasons why and a few reader-tested solutions.

How to Know You Need More Sleep

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:30:10 -0800

It's common not to get enough sleep every so often, but if you're constantly depriving yourself of shut-eye, your body will soon let you know. According to Prevention magazine, here are five signs that you need more sleep.

Simple decisions stump you.
You're still hungry after eating all day.
You keep coming down with colds.
Weird things make you cry.
You've become a klutz.

If this sounds familiar, I have some suggestions on how to get the zzz's you need so read more.

Make your bedroom a sanctuary. It should be dark, a comfortable temperature, and your bed should be covered in soft and cozy linens. Remove all technology such as the TV, computer, and your cell phone, and replace them with candles and calming music.
Take a hot bath before bed, or sip a warm cup of tea or milk. Both are soothing and help you wind down.
Other foods are sleep inducers such as bananas, honey, and oatmeal.
Limit the amount of caffeine you're getting, especially in the late afternoon/evening.
Exercise daily. Using up energy will help you feel more sleepy at night. Just be sure to complete your workout at least three hours before bedtime to give your body temperature and heart rate a chance to return to normal.
Try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule each day of the week, even on weekends. Getting up and going to bed at the same time everyday will help your body fall into a natural rhythm, so it knows when to sleep, and when to be awake.
If work or family issues are making you think and worry in bed instead of snoozing, figure out how to manage them. Talk to your boss, spouse, a friend, or therapist.

Casa Quickie: Keep Warm With a Hot Water Bottle

CasaSugar — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:00:24 -0800

If you hate sliding your sleepy body into icy cold Winter sheets, invest in a hot water bottle. Before bed, slip a hot water bottle between the sheets to warm them up. Since my feet are usually the coldest part of my body, I like to put a hot water bottle toward the bottom of the bed. Another great benefit? You'll be able to fall asleep sooner, because you won't be wasting valuable energy warming your body up.

Hump Day: Too Tired For Sex

TresSugar — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:00:17 -0800

Welcome to Hump Day, TrèsSugar's sex advice column. If you have questions about sex, send them to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's question:

“I love having sex with my husband, but sometimes I just feel too exhausted. What positions are good for when you're tired?”

To see Dr. Glickman's answer, read more.

Work, kids, dealing with the day, running errands - it takes it out of you. Fortunately, there are some ways to make it better.

If you’re exhausted because you’re so busy, you might want to schedule time for sex. If you’re too wiped out to be spontaneous anyway, what’s the harm in adding sex to your calendar? Or instead of waiting until nighttime, a little afternoon delight might do the trick. Another useful approach is to go to sleep at your usual time (or even a bit earlier) and set an alarm for an hour and half later. When we sleep, our brains go through a series of cycles and on average, they last about 90 minutes. Some find that taking a snooze and then waking up for sex, even if it’s later in the night than usual, can be a great way to feel a bit more energized.

You might also find that better sleep can make a big difference. A bedtime routine to help you relax, replacing your pillows, even getting a new mattress can help you sleep better. If you don’t sleep well because of pain or discomfort, like back or neck pain, perhaps addressing that can help, too. In addition, stress causes the body to release cortisol, and too much cortisol can kill sexual desire. So if you can let go of some of the stress, you may find your libido coming back.

OK, so enough sleep suggestions. Here are some ideas for making sex better when you’re tired.

Make yourself comfortable. If you’re on your back with your knees bent, prop each of your legs up with a pillow. Or try putting a pillow under your hips. That can keep your hips in a comfortable position without having to work at it. A regular pillow may work just fine or try the Wedge. It has a firm foam core, so you get lots of support, with a soft, machine-washable cover.

You could also try spooning. It doesn’t suit everyone, but if you can make it work, it can be a really relaxing way to have sex. It might be easier if your top leg is resting on a pillow, but that’ll depend on how your bodies fit together. Or perhaps your husband could give you some oral pleasure first. If you get turned on, maybe it’ll help wake you up.

Get flirty with each other. A few minutes of making out before heading to work, copping a quick feel while making dinner, or sending flirty emails and text messages can make sure that you stay connected. That makes it a lot easier when you do have sex.

At the same time, it’s also important to have some time to yourself. A lot of sex therapists report that some people stop feeling sexual when they spend too much time with their partner. We each need to find a middle ground, where we can stay connected while also having enough room to be ourselves. If your lack of desire comes from feeling too connected, there are lots of ways to change that. Schedule a weekly time when you each get the house to yourself. Or take yourself out to a café. Getting a little more room can make it easier to come back together.

Since everyone’s a bit different, I’d love to hear from some other folks. What works for you when you’re too tired for sex?

Website du Jour: Sleep Talkin' Man

TresSugar — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:51 -0800

As someone who sleep talks on occasion, I get extremely embarrassed when someone hears me. Going back as far as middle school sleepovers, I find it mortifying that I can say such nonsensical and potentially revealing things with absolutely no control. This fact should make me feel sorry for Adam, an Englishman whose wife records and then blogs the "colorful existence" he lives in his dreams, but I can't help but laugh. The site, My Sleep Talkin' Man, is simply too outrageous.

Here are some of the best sleepy sentences from Adam:

"Snail fiddling is not an occupation I'd be proud of. You dirty f*cker."
"You can't be a pirate if you don't have a beard. I said so. MY boat, MY rules."
"My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!"
"I'm baking pillows. Burn them slowly, keeps them fluffy! Mmmmmm, pillows."
"I don't want to die! I love sex. And furry animals."
"No, not the cats. Don't trust them. Their eyes. Their eyes. They know too much."
"Hey, don't . . . don't say anything. Why don't you put it in an email, then I can ignore it at my pleasure."

Isn't it just so badgertastic?

Source: Flickr User Evil Erin