Self-Adjusting Sound Machines

Whether you’re three months old or thirty years old, getting and staying asleep at night can be tough. If you live in the city, you might get woken up by things like siren noises, loud neighbors, and backfiring cars. Even if you live in the middle of nowhere, you still have to content with tractor noises during planting and harvest and animal noises in the middle of the night. Instead of suffering from noises like these, though, you can use a sound machine to mask the night’s annoying noises so that you can fall asleep and stay asleep.

Using some sort of sound machine to create white noise or even just turning on a box fan in the bedroom at night is an old way to drown out disruptive background noises and stay asleep. While these approaches can be somewhat effective, you can still hear particularly loud noises above the white noise. Your fan or quiet radio can drown out soft noises and far-away noises, but the sound of your neighbor’s dog barking at three in the morning will jump out beyond that noise, waking you up or at least making your sleep less deep and restful.

Luckily, new technology has created a great new sound machine that can automatically adjust to your surroundings. The Ecotones Duet by Adaptive Sound Technologies provides this new technology. This type of machine will play whatever type of white noise you find most soothing, whether it’s natural night noises, running water, or just a fan-like noise. Instead of just feeding you noise, though, this sound machine will read the noises coming in from the surrounding area. If the noise around you grows louder, the machine will increase in volume to mask the new noises.

Even though a white noise machine can become pretty loud to drown out unexpected background noises, it still won’t wake you up because it will be that same sound you’ve grown used to. If you’re having trouble staying asleep even with your traditional white noise maker, one of these machines might be your perfect solution.

Drowning Out the Night

In today’s fast-paced world, it can be hard enough to sleep without having to worry about background noises that keep you awake. The backfiring car down the road can wake you up with a start, and the cat’s yowling at each other outside can keep you from falling asleep in the first place. You could sleep with earplugs, which can be annoying since you will either lose them halfway through the night or won’t be able to hear your alarm clock in the morning, or you could check you some sound machines to give you relief from the nighttime sounds that are keeping you awake.

Sound machines come in many different varieties, shapes, and sizes, but they all use soft background noises to drown out the more disturbing noises of the night. These types of machines usually use several different sound frequencies, which allows them to drown out different types of noises.

When you’re choosing a sound machine, you should think about your personal preferences in white noise. If you don’t want to be distracted at all, you might want to choose a machine that masks sounds with a radio-static-like noise, which won’t be distracting since it doesn’t bring any particular pictures to mind. If you want to calm yourself down with visions of a soothing environment, try sound machines that use waterfall noises or ocean wave noises to both soothe your mind and drown out background noises throughout the night.

If you just have trouble falling asleep, you might want to look at sound machines with automatic shut off functions. They’ll run for a couple of hours until you’re deeply asleep, and then they’ll turn themselves off so as not to waste electricity. If you’re a very light sleeper who is constantly waking up to small noises, though, you might want to check out the sound machines that run all night so that the noises that wake you are drowned out even after you’re asleep.

Check out these popular white noise sound machines:

• SleepMate 980a by Marpac
• S-550 by Sound Oasis
• Sound Spa by Homedics

$25 Rebate – Ecotones Duet Sound Machine!

Give your love the gift of sleep this Valentine’s Day and throughout  the month of February!

As an authorized Ecotones Reseller, Sleepwellbaby is pleased to invite customers to participate in this special rebate program during the month of February.  Instead of $149.95, your cost will be $124.95 (after rebate). The Ecotones Duet is one of the newest and most technologically advanced sound machines on the market today.  The Ecotones Duet Sound Therapy Machine "listens" continuously to the user's background for any unwanted or disruptive sounds. The unit responds in less than a tenth of a second by re-mixing it’s sounds. Or it may simply adjust the volume levels to neutralize the intrusion, but in a manner that is not invasive. Ecotones Duet Adaptive Sound Machine is different than traditional white noise sound machines because of the naturally recorded sounds that are up to 30 minutes in length. This effectively stops the annoying repetitious playback or loops which some find ineffective for sound machines.

Place your order today…while supplies last!

White Noise Machines - Is There Any Risk?

Sleepless nights – we've all had them before. What causes sleepless nights? It could be a variety of factors. Sometimes a lack of good quality sleep can be stress related. Sometimes it can be due to excessive activity right before bed. However, often times we are distracted because of noise. Whether it's a dog barking, cats fighting or even neighbors having a tiff, these noises are very intrusive.

Babies in particular have a difficult time falling asleep. If a baby is restless or becomes scared he or she will cry until a parent comes to provide comfort. However, if a baby is relaxed throughout the night, he or she will not feel the need to cry for help. This is where a white noise machine can help.

A white noise sound machine is a doctor - created and doctor - recommended alternative to drugs and other therapies. Instead of forcing the body to become sleepy, the system uses natural and relaxing sounds to bring about a peaceful state of mind and then a deep sleep.

These new generation sound machines go a step beyond simply paying relaxing sounds on CD. This high-tech baby sleep machine offers more than just looped recordings. It actually mixes complementary sounds into the soundtrack in response to external noises. These are interactive machines that actually adjust their volume and their choice of sound based on the external sounds around the room. Therefore, a baby who would ordinarily be distracted by a dog barking could rest deeply with the help of a system like the Ecotones Duet Sound Machine. The dear child would never even hear the noise, since the system would tune it out. The Ecotones Duet is able to automatically modulate its volume to mask the distracting sound.  The Ecotones Duet is perfect for babies, children and adults!

These sound conditioners are affordably priced and a safe alternative to drugs, hypnosis, holistic herbs and any other therapy out there you might imagine. There’s no better way to fall asleep than listening to beautiful sounds of nature!

New Baby Sleep Machine - Graco Sweet Slumber Sound Machine

Imagine if there was a way to help your baby fall asleep - in spite of all the distracting sounds around your home?  Every night, there seems to be some type of distraction happening. If there's not a neighbor fight happening outside, there's a helicopter flying by. Sometimes even human voices, from outside the room or a TV set, can be distracting.

A White Noise machine can help your baby (or a person of any age) quickly fall asleep usually within just a few minutes. One popular baby sleep machine is the Graco - Sweet Slumber Sound Machine. How does the Graco sound machine work? This is a high quality sound machine and it plays 12 selections of "white noise" that can help relax a baby's nerves. These sounds consist of lullabies, nature voices and other pleasant sounds. You can even record your own voice (always of comfort to a newborn) using an MP3 player plug in port. After the child falls asleep, the system turns itself off.

White Noise machines actually react to noises and distractions that are happening around the room. These sound stories actually react to noises by increasing volume or changing the type of sound that occurs. This results in the listener "tuning out" distracting sounds to the point where they are not even heard.

A baby sound machine can help a child go to sleep in a short period of time. This is a completely healthy and natural way to help your baby sleep. You don't have to worry about any drugs affecting the newborn’s health. Neither must you spend hours (cutting down on your own sleep) just to calm a startled baby.

These sound machines are very affordably priced. The Graco unit is less than $100 when purchased online. These sound conditioners are operated with batteries (4 AA type) or an a/c adapter which is included.

Escape To The Beach

What can be better than falling asleep to the sounds of ocean waves while out on the deck overlooking a gorgeous sunset? I can't think of anything that compares. So when I want to recreate this experience (or at least the best part) I turn on my Sound Oasis Sound Conditioner S-550-04 on the ocean surf setting and allow myself to be transported back to the memory of my favorite summer days at the beach.


The Sound Oasis Sound Conditioner S-550-04 has other sounds that I like too such as white noise, rain, wind, stream and summer night. They are all quite soothing and can help block out irritating noises. I like that no matter what sound I choose, it creates a peaceful atmosphere that helps me to fall asleep easier, get higher quality sleep, and feel more alert and comfortable throughout the day!


Since you can't always escape to the beach, the Sound Oasis Sound Conditioner S-550-04 allows the beach to come to you. Sit back, relax and sleep.

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

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.

No More Fans!

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!

Help For Family Traveling

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.

Bruxism – Teeth Grinding

Bruxism is the clinical name for clenching or grinding your teeth. This can be done during the day while you are wide-awake or during the night when you are sound asleep. Either way the grinding or clenching is done unconsciously. In most cases, the nighttime bruxism is seen in children while in adults the daytime one is most prevalent.

In most cases, this can be mild, however, it can lead to many different illnesses, and disorders such as headaches, jaw disorders, and of course damaged teeth. The problem is that if you are doing this during the time you are asleep, you do not know this is occurring, so it goes undiagnosed.

Symptoms of bruxism include:
Teeth grinding
Flattened or chipped teeth
Enamel missing exposing the inside of the tooth
Tooth sensitivity
Jaw pain
Tightness in the jaw muscles
Earache
Headache
Facial pain
The tissues of the cheek are often chewed

Regular exams by your dentist may be the best way to learn if you have condition, however, there is one home remedy that may aid in teeth grinding or clenching of the muscle while you are sleeping.

Since, stress can bring on the symptoms of Bruxim, relieving stress is one way to combat the problem.

Prior to retiring in the evening, you can use some inexpensive methods to help you relax and relieve stress. The number one way is to create a sleep environment. You can easily do this by removing all items from your bedroom that keep you awake or keep your mind on other things such as computers and televisions. The next thing you will want to invest in is a table top water fountain or sound conditioner such as a white noise machine.

One of the most popular table top water fountains is the Riverbed Fountain. This unique fountain will create a paradise with river rocks, light, sound, and touch that will awaken your senses and allow you to rid your body of stress before going to bed at night. The fountain provides your body with a calming effect that will allow stress to drift away, so you will sleep better and hopefully not grind your teeth.

Sleep Wellness

Today, health and wellness is on the minds of many baby boomers. We see sparkling water, energy drinks, vitamins, and all natural products popping up all over the place, however, many people do not realize that sleep is a very important aspect of staying healthy, revitalized, and full of energy.

Although there are many cures for sleep deprivation, the best way to ensure that you receive adequate sleep is by creating a sleep environment. The first thing you should do is walk into your bedroom and take a good look around. What items do you have in the room? A sleep environment or bedroom should only be used for sleep and sex. This means there should not be a television, computer, or other distracting items that will allow you to stay up past your normal hour of bedtime.

After you taken all of these items out of the bedroom, you can now add sleep aid items such as tabletop water fountains and white noise machines. You may not even realize what is waking you up at night. It could be a neighbor coming in late at night after work or other outside noises. A white noise machine will absorb all of these annoying sounds and emit a soothing and relaxing sound to help you sleep. A tabletop water fountain will help set the mood for sleeping. Both of these items are a great aid for sleep wellness.

Other things you will need to do is go to bed at the same time each night even on weekends. Your internal clock needs to know the routine. When you change the routine, your internal clock becomes confused thus making it harder to sleep. The bedroom should be dark and cool. A room that is too bright does not tell your brain it is time for sleep and a room that is too warm can cause you to wake up during the night.

Do not exercise shortly before bedtime. Yes, you need at least 20 minutes of exercise per day but you should not exercise later than three hours before going to bed.

A nice warm bath, the quiet sound of a waterfall, and soothing music will help your body relax so you can drift off to sleep without a problem. Close your eyes and sleep, your body will thank you.

Seniors Need Less Sleep?

We have all heard that a senior citizen need less sleep, but is this really true. Honestly, all senior citizens still need between seven and nine hours sleep. What really occurs is that as we grow older our internal sleep regulator changes making all of us feel like we have to go to bed at an earlier time, which makes us wake up earlier in the morning. Thus begins the vicious cycle. When you are arising early in the morning, your body begins to become tired in the middle of the afternoon, which causes us to desire a short afternoon nap. Now, you have a problem that is not easily fixed.

When any age person does not receive adequate sleep, it affects the daytime hours as well. Daytime sleepiness is a major problem for seniors and many others do not sleep well at night. This can dull the senses, sap energy, and makes you require a daytime nap. Taking a nap every day is not the answer for lost sleep in the night in most cases. Normally if you take a nap for a longer period of time than 30 minutes, you may have problems going to sleep again when bedtime comes.

The amount of sleep you need as you age does not change, but your sleep patterns do. The way to work with your internal clock and changing sleep patterns is to make a few lifestyle changes that will help you with sleep problems.

Ways for seniors to get their internal clock back on track and enjoy a restful night’s sleep:

• Create a schedule for going to bed and waking up. Stay on this schedule every day of the week

• Create a bedtime routine – soak in a warm bath, read, or listen to a tabletop water fountain such as the Alpine Calming Bamboo Fountain

• Create a bedroom for sleeping – the bedroom should be dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool. Invest in a white noise machine and aromatherapy products. A white noise machine will ensure that all noises that might be waking you up at night are absorbed and you will be able to sleep all night long without any interruptions. A few of the most popular white noise machines include the White Noise Machine-SleepMate 980A, the Marpac Marsona DS-600A, and the European 240 Volt SleepMate 980 Sound Screen. If the bedroom is not quite dark enough, you can also invest in a sleep mask such as the Dreamer Sleep Mask by Dream Essentials.

• Only use the bedroom for sleeping or for sex

• Eat at least two to three hours before your bedtime.

• Remember to exercise. You should begin a moderate exercise programs a few hours before retiring every night.

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine.

Sleep Disorders and Solutions

Practically every adult requires no less than eight hours of sleep per night to be totally rested. However, recent studies have shown that many adults do not get the sleep they need; in fact, forty million people residing in the United States have some form of sleep problem. Sleep problems are costly and dangerous.

What many people do not realize is that you must receive adequate sleep or it can lead to health problems and increased problems with high blood pressure and diabetics.

There are a variety of reasons Americans do not get adequate sleep including stress, traffic noise, other noises around the home, sick children, being too cold at night, being too hot at night, and alcoholic beverages.

On average, the most common sleep problems are insomnia and/or feeling drowsy during the day.

Symptoms of insomnia range from having problems falling to sleep to having problems getting back to sleep with many individuals waking up earlier than they wanted. However, just because a person has trouble going to sleep once in awhile does not necessarily put them in the same category as a person that suffers from insomnia. The big picture of what is going on in a persons life has to be examined. Insomnia is when a person has these problems every night for a few weeks. Insomnia is seen more commonly with females, individuals with depression, and those over the age of sixty.

Once again feeling drowsy during the daytime is quite normal. However, if you being to have problems with slowed thinking, heavy eyelids, and irritability you may need to talk with your physician. On the other hand, for insomnia and feeling drowsy during the day there are a few things you can do yourself that may be your ticket to a great nights sleep.

Many individuals have had success with several of their sleep disorders by setting a bedtime schedule. You should go to bed at the same time every night and awaken at the same time each morning. Avoid large meals 2 hours prior to bedtime, avoid caffeine, beer, nicotine, liquor, and wine 4 to 6 hours prior to bedtime, avoid taking naps after 3pm, and do not exercise 2 hours prior to bedtime. Things you should do involve creating a sleep environment.

A good sleep environment will be dark, quiet, comforting, and void of distractions. Distractions such as a television or even outside noise such as traffic will keep you awake or wake you during the night. Creating a sleep environment using products such as a white noise machine, tabletop water fountains, and Electric Aromatherapy Diffusers is one of the easiest and fastest ways for you to create a calm and peaceful setting that will help with sleep disorders.

A white noise machine in your bedroom will absorb all noises that might awaken you during the night. The white noise machine will absorb sounds such as traffic, strange settling noises of your home, or other noises around the home that enter your quiet time. A tabletop water fountain will give you something to center your mind on so you will be able to unwind and go to sleep will the electric aromatherapy diffuser will help in providing a relaxing and calm mood for sleep all night long.

Help for Restless Legs Syndrome

You have more than likely seen commercials on television for medications that will help with Restless Legs Syndrome and if you suffer with this condition, you may be considering talking with your physician. On the other hand, like many people today, the thought of taking drugs is a bit scary when you know what is going on in the drug-manufacturing world such as the case with Merck and Vioxx. Then there are also all the side effects that are a given when it comes to taking pharmaceutical drugs. Due to these facts, you may be a bit leery about talking with your doctor and seeking alternatives to drugs.

There is good news. In many cases, you can receive some relieve from Restless Legs Syndrome by taking a few self-care precautions and changing your lifestyle a bit. However, if these changes do not help then you will need to talk with your doctor. These steps will help even if you do need a little extra help with some type of medication.

In several cases of restless leg syndrome, the root of the problem is an iron deficiency, which of course can be helped by adding an iron supplement to your diet. Before adding this supplement, you should discuss it with your doctor. If there is no medical reason for your restless legs syndrome symptoms, then a few lifestyle changes may be in order.

A few things you can do to change your lifestyle and find relieve include:
• Take pain relievers such as Motrin or Advil
• Take a warm bath
• Massage your legs
• Have your low back massaged before retiring
• Try using warm or cool packs
• Eat properly
• Exercise
• Avoid caffeinated drinks a few hours before bedtime
• Create a sleep environment and bedtime routine

The number one thing that aids many people with restless legs syndrome is creating a sleep environment and a bedtime routine. For this, you will need to choose a specific time to retire. Yes, every night 7 days a week. This will help your body realize it is time to sleep. Along with setting your bedtime, you can include a warm bath, quiet time for reading or relaxing.

Next, you will need to look at your bedroom. Here you will have to create a sleep environment. A sleep environment is dark, quiet, and is void of any distractions. This means if you have a television or computer in your bedroom take it out. This will only keep you awake or give you a reason to stay up past your normal bedtime.

To ensure you can relax you will need to rid your sleep environment of noises that wake you up during sleep or hinder you from falling to sleep. This can be resolved with a white noise machine. Along with a white noise machine, you can also use tabletop water fountains that will aid in relaxation prior to falling to sleep. Not only will you be able to sleep but also with the white noise machine, you will not hear the traffic or other noises that might awaken you during the night.

Creating a Sleep Environment for Children

Most parents want their child’s room to be bright, cheery, and fun; however, this does not promote the best environment for children to achieve a quiet and peaceful night’s sleep. A sleep environment needs to be dark, cool, and quiet. It has been proven through research that the body receives better quality sleep in an environment such as the one above.

How can you achieve creating a sleep environment for your children while still giving them their own room in which to play?

Walk into your child’s room. Look around. If you are using blinds on the windows or light colored drapes light could be coming into the room from the outside. Using thick drapes for nighttime and naptime will help with this.

Do you have a toy box in the room? If you have a toy box in the room that your little one can get into without any trouble, you will be giving him or her a distraction. The toy box needs to be put in the closet or if at all possible have a separate playroom.

Look for any type of distractions in the room. You can remove these by putting them out of the sight of your little one, in the closet, or in another room.

Now, that you have the room ready, you are ready to add a few things that will ensure your child receives the best night’s sleep you can provide. A few of the most popular items for aiding in creating a sleep environment include white noise machines, tabletop water fountains, aromatherapy items, and even cuddly sleep machines.

White noise machines come in many shapes and size and can include sounds that are especially designed for children such as heartbeat or the womb. Both of these will give your child security while helping them fall to sleep. The white noise machines absorb all disruptive sounds inside and outside the home such as traffic or their parents, talking in the next room and then emits the sounds that are soothing. Your little one will be able to sleep all night long without any disruptions.

Tabletop water fountains can aid your little one is receiving a calm and quiet environment with the soothing sounds of a gentle waterfall. Be sure to place these out of the reach on a high shelf or on top of their dresser. The calming effect will aid in helping them fall to sleep and sleep throughout the night.

Cuddly animals that have aromatherapy technology or white noise machine benefits include the Lavender Lab, the Sleep Sheep, and the Sound Oasis Sleep Bear. All three of these items are great for children and will ensure a wonderful sleep environment.

A night light is fine as long as it promotes sleep such as the Twilight Turtle that transforms the room into a starry night sky.

Remember, your little one needs sleep in order to grow and be alert during the day. Creating a sleep environment is the best way in which to achieve this goal.

Stress and Sleep Deprivation

Stress is a major cause of sleep deprivation in America! The Better Sleep Council recently conducted a survey to learn what keeps Americans up at night and at the top of the list at 65 percent was stress with 32 percent of all Americans losing at least one night of sleep per week and 16 percent complained of stress induced insomnia.

Stress comes in all shapes and sizes, however, from this study 26 percent of women reported having problems sleeping once per week while only 16 percent of men complained of the same problem.

What causes stress in one person may not be stress to another. Stress can be job related, school related, family related or even traffic related. Many people go to bed at night and either go over the day or go over what they plan to do tomorrow before drifting off to sleep. All of these little things can be stress. Do you have a deadline to meet that is looming over your mind? Do you worry about the traffic causing you to be late to work? Do you have to have three children at three different locations tomorrow afternoon for ball practice, dance class, or other activity? Do you worry about paying all your bills on time? All of these if they are on your mind can keep you awake at night.

How to help relieve stress before retiring

• First and foremost – create a schedule for going to bed and waking up. Stay on this schedule every day of the week – do not treat yourself on weekends and stay up to watch the late show if that is not in your regular schedule. Your body needs to be on a routine.
• Create a bedtime routine – soak in a warm bath, read, or listen to a tabletop water fountain such as the Alpine Calming Bamboo Fountain
• Create a bedroom for sleeping – the bedroom should be dark, quiet, comfortable, and cool. Invest in a white noise machine and aromatherapy products. A white noise machine will ensure that all noises that might be waking you up at night are absorbed and you will be able to sleep all night long without any interruptions. A few of the most popular white noise machines include the White Noise Machine-SleepMate 980A, the Marpac Marsona DS-600A, and the European 240 Volt SleepMate 980 Sound Screen. If the bedroom is not quite dark enough, you can also invest in a sleep mask such as the Dreamer Sleep Mask by Dream Essentials.
• Only use the bedroom for sleeping or for sex – Take the television out of the bedroom, the computer, and any other work type materials.
• Eat at least two to three hours before your scheduled bedtime.
• Remember to exercise. You should begin a moderate exercise programs a few hours before retiring every night.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. These items can cause you to have restless sleep patterns.

Menopause and Sleep

Women during perimenopause and menopause often complain of sleeping problems, which are often associated with hormonal and psychological factors. Hot flashes are one of the prominent problems that occur during before menopause and during menopause that often causes poor sleep and has been known to cause insomnia if the hot flashes occur prior to going to bed.

Along with hot flashes, 56% of menopausal women complain of insomnia without night sweats or hot flashes. Some even have complaints of other sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and snoring. No matter what all women have sleeping problems during menopause and some even have them up to seven years before the onset of menopause. Menopausal women have restless sleep, toss and turn, and have problems going to sleep.

A few of the reasons sleep is a major problem can be blamed on daily stress, fatigue, overwork. All of these when combined can lead to an unbalance of your bodily functions, which then causes metabolic changes that can lead to sleep disorders. On the other hand, most sleep disorders in menopausal women are attributed to unbalanced hormone levels.

Before you rush out and get on hormone replacement therapy there are some things to try. Remember, hormone replacement therapy does have side effects that are harmful to your body and your overall health. Trying natural ways to cope with menopausal sleep disorders should be your first choice.

There are three major approaches to coping with Menopause Sleep disorders which include lifestyle changes, all natural herbs, and of course medication.

Begin with creating a room for sleeping and a sleeping environment. Using products such as white noise machines, tabletop water fountains, and Electric Aromatherapy Diffusers can be the best way for you to create a calm and peaceful setting that will help you achieve better sleeping patterns.

When you use a white noise machine in your bedroom, the machine will absorb all noises that might awaken you during the night. Once awaken you may experience insomnia. The white noise machine will absorb sounds such as traffic, the hot water heater, or other noises around the home that tend to keep you awake. A tabletop water fountain, will give you something to focus your mind on so you can relax and drift off to sleep and the electric aromatherapy diffuser will help in providing a relaxing and calm mood for sleep.