Listen up, parents. Sleep is not a luxury – it’s necessity to be a good parent! Here are Real Tips for Parents to Get Better Sleep and enter to win the Fitbit Charge HD to get a real handle on your sleep! Thanks Verizon for this amazing giveaway and The Dream Bed for letting us try it out!
Ironically I type up a post about with only four hours until I need to get up for my day. But that’s what most of us as parents get used to. If we’re gonna get anything done, we have to sacrifice and most the time that sacrifice it’s our sleep.
And that’s exactly what you should do – if you want to gain weight, increase your chance of heart disease, diabetes and the other numerous health issues that is causes when you don’t get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep nightly. And let’s not even talk about being irritable, grumpy, and downright pissy all day long to everyone – especially to your kids.
So what can you do to make all the other challenges of you day not cut right into your precious sleep time?
Take a lesson from yourself and listen to those things you tell your kids before they go to bed.
You’ll find out you’re pretty stinkin’ smart.
1. Make a Routine.
Creating a routine is one of most vital things as parents we do for our kiddos as soon as we bring them home from the hospital. You set a time and stick to it. Do the same thing for yourself and say 10 PM is your bedtime – and that’s it or you are in trouble mister!:)
2. Make it Comfortable to Get in the Mood.
When you tuck the kids in at night, you always make sure the temperature is just right, the pillow is perfect and of course, the bed is just right. Do yourself a favor and do a little audit of your own bed situation? Are you waking up feeling like you slept on a box of rocks? If you’re bed is over 7 years, it’s time to order a new one. Did you know you spend about 1/3 your lifetime in bed? So give your body a little respect (it’s the only one you got) and get a new bed for dream sleep.
No time? Then get online and order The Dream Bed. A few clicks and 48 hours later you’ll have a new bed in a box at your door. But this is no air up mattress – not at all just check out how it works. And you’ll rest peacefully knowing that when you buy a Dream Bed, they’ll give one to someone in need.
And make sure to set the mood…for sleep that is. I know, just because you lay down doesn’t mean your brain is ready for sleep. So get the mood with essential oils. There are several different ones to choose from and you can make your own blend for just the perfect sleep formula for you!
3. Turn it Off.
That’s right. Turn it all off – the phone, the TV, and most of all, your brain. And the only way that’s gonna happen is if you quit doing it for at least an hour before you go to bed. Just because you flip the switch doesn’t mean your head stops turning. So quit Pinteresting and posting and think about sheep.. and sleep… and whatever else gets your to nod off (I normally think about laundry since I have no interest in giving it anymore time in my day!)
4. Watch the Water.
The last thing I tell my kids at least an hour before night-night time is NO water so they don’t wet the bed. Hopefully, you’re past that stage (lol!), but you don’t want to fill up your bladder so you have to wake up in the middle of the night for a bathroom break. That includes a nightcap as well. I’m not saying you can’t have a glass, just be mindful of the timing as alcohol doesn’t normally make for restful sleep. And note to your healthy folks – make your workout part of your morning routine if you can. Getting all worked up at nighttime makes it difficult for the body to slow down for bedtime. So schedule accordingly.
5. Quantify to Get Quality
You just thought your Fitbit was made for steppin’ – actually it’s made for sleepin’ too! You can evaluate your sleep time with the Fitbit Charge HD. The #1 best seller at Verizon, the Fitbit is a mean little machine that helps you stay on top of your health. The graph in the free app shows you your sleep time, records, and whether or not you had good sleep.
That’s the one that counts.
Get Your Sleep In Check – Win a FitBit Charge HD, powered by Verizon!
Don’t Miss this #mamachallenge Moment:
How Do You Find the Right Mattress?
I slept for about 7 hours. I wish it would have been longer!
I slept about 6.5 hours.
I could use some sleep!
I do relaxation exercises before bed. I slow my breathing and go through each of my body parts in my mind and I am asleep before I know it!
Honestly, if my husband didn’t snore I would sleep a heck of a lot better LOL 🙂 Love your tips.
I know I don’t get very much sleep. Sometimes I get between 6-8. I’m probably lucky if I can actually get eight hours of sleep a night.
I would love some more sleep! I suffer from insomnia and some nights I get no sleep at all. I would be interested in seeing what the FIT BIT says about my sleep habits! LOL
I tell you, I have the worst time sleeping. I have a sound machine, a sleeping mask, and now I just need a new mattress, LOL… This sounds great to me!
I sleep 7 – 9 hours each night. Sleep is so important! My husband on the other hand is lucky if he gets 5 hours 🙁
Sleep? Seriously, what’s that? 😉 Yeah, I’m guilty as charged and need to do a better job getting my Zzzz’s. I’ve heard the Fitbit is really a great resource for healthier living though!
I always try for 8 hours at night but usually fall between 6 and 7…
Sounds good to me I struggle a lot to sleep but I chalk it up to pregnancy – but who knows. I’m sure all these ideas will help!
i got about 5 hours last night
I get more sleep now that my kids are older. I get from 7-9 hours of sleep every night but it sure was hard when they were younger. Great tips!
These are great ways too get better sleep. I love my Fitbit. It is a great way to track your sleep.
I have to remember to watch how much water i drink at night. These are great tips. A sleep tracker would be handy.
I slept about 9 hours last night but I’m browsing the web too much tonight so it will be closer to 7 tonight. 🙂 I do love sleep though!
I really have been looking into a fitbit. Even though I typically try and get around 8 hours of sleep, I’m curious how much of that is actually sleep and how much is tossing and turning!
It is important to get enough sleep and this device is a great way to keep track of one’s sleep.
i got about 7 hours sleep last night
Last night I slept about 4 hrs
Sleep is such an important thing! I’ve only been averaging 6 hours a night 🙁
My sleep varies each night. I need a routine.
I got 2.5 hours of sleep last night. I should probably be in bed and not entering this giveaway!
Getting into a routine straight away is very smart! I think adults and kids thrive on that.
i have started doing relaxation exercises before bed. it really seems to help
I am one of those people that needs to go to bed early, and wakes up pretty early. I cannot go without my sleep or I will likely hurt people.
Having a night routine was really helpful, like short exercise.
About 6 hours of sleep.
Only about 6 hours..and I needed like 20! Lol
5-6 hours of sleep
7 hours usually.
Not sure how long I slept as I was woken up a couple of times by the storm.
I got about 8 hours sleep last night.
I get between 6-7 hours of sleep per night. Because of my health I’m very careful about my rest.
It’s all about the routine and sticking with it. Also, totally agree with turning off all the gadgets – everything, so that you can really disconnect and start resting so that you can lead into a better sleep.
Kelly
http://kickingitwithkelly.com
I got 6 hours of sleep last night which is longer than usual. Nifty gadget and youre right you cant be at your best without sleep!
With 4 kids, 2 under 2 I would say not enough!??
I usually sleep at least 7 hours, but last night woke up a couple of times.
My kiddo woke me up in the middle of the night and I wasn’t able to fall back asleep right away, so I had about six hours of sleep last night. I am super tired today!
On average, I get between 6 to 7 hours of sleep a night. Sometimes I can get more.
These are all very great tips! I got about 6 hours of sleep last night.,
I went to bed a bit before 11 and woke up a bit before 8, but I think I woke up a few times!
7.5 I did pretty good for a change.
Last night I think I got around 6 hours of sleep!
I think I slept for about 8 hours.
I sleep for about 7-8 hours at night.
around 6 hours last night
Around 6-7 hours, I rarely get a good full nights sleep.
Last night was an exceptionally bad sleep, maybe five or six restless hours… Bleh!
Last Night I Slept About 6 Hours.
Last night I got about 6 hours total, but I woke up 3 or 4 times.
I get about 8 hours….mostly because i fall asleep around 9 on the couch!
I slept 8 hours last night. I was so tired that I laid down, left my phone alone and was out within minutes.
I’m lucky if I get a full 7 hours….
Due to my work schedule I can only have at least 4 hours of sleep & the most is 7 hours on my days off
about 6 to 7 hours of sleep
I slept for eight hours last night.
Probably close to 7 hours. Then, I visit my friend the coffeemaker! 🙂
Really nice giveaway!
I don’t know how much I slept last night. There were 7 hours between the time I went to bed and the time I got up….but I have a baby.
I sleep about 7 or 8 hours a night.
I slept 6 hours
I slept for 7 hours or so.
I had 7 hours of sleep last night
I slept for about 7 hrs
I slept 5 hours, that is why I needed a nap in the afternoon.
Last night, I slept from around 11 pm to 7 pm. I don’t usually get that much sleep, though…my schedule has been off lately.
I only slept for 5 hours last night!!
I’m lucky if I get 6 hours a night. I don’t manage to get to bed until around 11 and then get woken up usually a few times before the alarm goes off at 5:30.
I usually get 7-8 hours a night.
I sleep 6 hours.
Roughly seven hours.
I got about 7 hours, I try to get a decent nights sleep.
I sleep about 8 hours
i slept about 8 hours last night!
I slept about 7 hours.
I slept approximately 4 hours last night.
I think I get 5-6 hours of sleep per night. My dogs keep me awake.
I got about 5 1/2 hours last night. 🙁 Rare for me to get much more than that these days though!
4 1/2 hours.
8 hours
I wish I could say I get alot but I think I average about 6 to 7 a night.
It takes forever for me to actually fall asleep. Once I’m asleep- I figure that I get about 6 hours or so.
5-6 hrs
I slept for maybe 4hrs..=(
My guess is about 6.5, but it would be great to have a FitBit so I know how much sleep I got, and track the improvement while I make changes:)
I get about 6 hours of sleep on weekdays and 8 hours on the weekend.
I slept for about 7 & a half hours! Usually I have trouble getting out of bed but today wasn’t too bad!
I sleep 9 hours.
I slept about 8hrs.
I think I slept about seven hours last night.
I slept for 7 hours last night
I got my usual 6 1/2 hours last night of sleep
I sleep around 7-8 hours.
I actually got more than normal. 6 hours. Normally my son comes into bed earlier.
Usually about 6 hours
Not enough! lol! I can definitely use all the sleep help I can get!
about 6 hrs..not enough..
I think I get about 6-7 hours a night depending on the nights.
I got 7 hours of sleep last night – I try to get 8 as often as possible.
I only got 6 hours of sleep. I enjoyed reading your review.
i slept around 6 hours last night. i am sleepy right now though. ready for more sleep.
Sadly, only about 3 1/2 hours : (
I slept 7 hrs last night!
I got about 6 hours of sleep and I am trying to improve my habits as I am getting older its so hard not getting enough sleep.
Last night may have been 6 hours, maybe a little less. 🙁
I have a 4 month old baby…I currently sleep on average between a total of 5 to 6 hours.
I slept maybe 8 hours
I slept for about 8-1/2 hours last night! It was really nice to get that much!
I slept for 8 hours. which was amazing!
I slept about 6 hours last night.
I adore sleep but I haven’t been getting enough lately….but last night I slept a full 10 hours and it was GLORIOUS!
I slept 7 hrs. last night.
I’m guessing around 6 1/2 hours
I got 7 1/2 hours of sleep last night.
7 hours…. zzz
I slept nearly 7 hours and still had a hard time waking up!
I slept for 7 hours last night!
I would say about 7 hours a night
6 hrs.
I slept for about 5 hours. That’s my normal.
I think I slept about 7 or 8 hours.
I slept around 7 hours last night. At one time I was lucky to get 3 hours a night. I have since put myself on a sleep schedule and try really hard to keep it!
Last night I slept about 8 hrs.
7 1/2 hours could have used more
I get 6-8 hours most nights.
i got 7 hours
I slept about 6 hours last night! Darn those thunderstorms!
7hrs
Usually about 5 hours
I slept 7 hours last night.
I sleep about 6-7 hours a night.
4-5 hours
Not enough on most nights 🙁 Last night I clocked in at 7.5 hours but then it’s Saturday today so I was able to sleep in 😉
I slept for about 8 hours.
I sleep about 6 hours
Probably about 5 hours. Ever since I had my first child 14 years ago I’ve had insomnia. Now that I take chemo treatments its even worse, Can’t wait to get a good nights sleep. Thanks for the awesome giveaway 🙂
Renee
I must have been exhausted because I know I got at least 8 hours, maybe 9. I usually only get about 6 or 7.
I sleep between 4-8 hours depending on the night.
finally got some sleep yesterday and got in a full 7 hours!
I slept around 7hours last night.
I slept for 7 hours last night.
I slept about 7 hours last night. I try to get as close to 8 as I can!
I usually get about 6-7 hours of sleep.
I have a two year old who hates sleeping so I got about 5 hours! I’m always tired!!
[email protected]
About 6 1/2 . . . not enough!
8 hours
I sleep 4 – 5 hours a night.
I think I slept for about 8 hours, but it would be nice to have one of these wonderful devices to tell me! 🙂
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
All I know is that I didn’t get enough sleep last night!
I sleep 5-6 hours normally, but I sleep in on the weekends!
I got 3 hours before getting up to get kids to school and then 2 napping off and on.
I think I slept maybe 8 hours but I was up at least four times. My daughter woke me once, but I have no idea why the other three times.
I sleep about 6 hours per night.
Last night I slept about 7 hours!
Last night I got a little over 7 hours of sleep. That’s a typical night…I’m a deep sleeper.
I probably sleep on average between 6-7 hours. The nights I sleep 8, I wake up super refreshed!
I got about 5 hours of sleep last night. It seems to be the norm for me lately unfortunately.
I try to get about 7 hours of sleep, but some nights I wake up in the middle of the night and it takes a few hours to go back to sleep.
I get about six hours of nightly sleep.
not enough 3 or 4 hours
hope i win!!
Only like three hours. I’m exhausted, but was having trouble sleeping. 🙁
I get about 6 hr’s a night
I only got 5 hours of sleep.
I slept about 4 hours 🙁
Sleep? What is this sleep that you talk of?!
If I am lucky 6 hours.
I sleep 4 to 8 hours a night.
I usually sleep 6-7 hours and that works for me! I would love to get 7-8, but it just doesn’t work out that way
I only slee about 4-5 hours a night! It is a problem!!
I get 6-7 hours of sleep, but its not straight through. My fiance and I work opposite shifts and I am a light sleeper so I hear him getting up in the morning, only a few hours after I have gone to bed
I sleep about 6 hours a night
About 7.5 hours, but I bet I woke up at least 15 times.
6 hours
Last night I got 5 hours, so tired!!
I get 4 hours if I’m lucky between my 2 jobs and my kids
Last night I got about 6 hours
Not enough!! Probably about 5 hours total.
I would say about 5 hours
Got a full 8 hours last night 🙂
About 4 hours total..
Not much- I wake up throughout the night and I was up at 4a today to pee.
About 5 if I am lucky…
4 hours last night, which is average. sigh…
I would say about 6 hours of sleep.
There’s certainly a lot to learn about this subject. I really like all of the points you’ve made.
Last night…amazingly….I got 7 hours of sleep! My mom kept our toddler so I got hours of uninterrupted sleep for once!
Thanks for the chance!
about 8 hours
I sleep about 7 hours a night.
My classes are in the afternoon today, so I was able to get 8 hours of sleep 🙂
I try for 8 hours but more like 6 hours due getting up several times a night! My email is [email protected]
This would be so amazing. Last night I had about 5 hours of sleep. I lost my precious Nana at the beginning of May so my sleep has been awful.
I got 6 hours last night. But that’s more than the norm. Too many kids.
I slept around 5 hours
I got about 6 hours sleep
i sleep about 7 hours a night. when uninterrupted i like to sleep for 12 hours. that’s rare. very rare.
I sleep around 7 hours.
I get about 5 hours of sleep.
I slept 6 hours last night. Thanks so much for the chances to win.
approx 5 hours
I think that I got about seven hours of sleep last night. It wasn’t enough. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
I got about 5 hours sleep last night. That’s about average amount since my first son was born.
It varies from a few to maybe 6 or 7 hours, I rarely get more than that because once I do get to sleep I wake up too many times and can’t get back to sleep easily.
i slept 7 hours
I got almost 9 hours of sleep last night!!
About 4 hours ??. With a newborn and a 2 year old sleep is a thing of the past
I slept 7 hours last night.
I slept for 5 hours last night
I would be lucky if I can get 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
I “sleep” about 8 hours but I am up and down constantly!
Most nights about 5 or 6 hours because I have an infant.
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I always feel i need more sleep…gosh i feel i have accumulated it for years and i can sleep for six months at a stretch 🙂
Keep lovin
Allthatsmom
My problem is with my husband tossing and turning in bed! Does anybody else deal with this issue?
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