Natural Sleep Aide - Need Help Getting Some Much Needed Sleep!

I also raised 4 very active children. 2 of them with ADHD. I am also a naturalist and refuse to take any type of medication. I understand not getting the sleep needed to keep up with the kids. What I did was spray a linen spray made with Lavender essential oil on the bed sheets and a few additional drops on the pillow. Then about 30 minutes before bedtime I would sit with a cup of chamomile tea with honey and just wind down. Just like a child, we can't go full force all day and expect to go right to sleep, we need quiet time. Once I go to bed I'd put on some peaceful classical music to go to sleep to. After doing this for a while I guess I have trained my body to know when it hears this CD it's time to sleep and I am fast alseep within 5 minutes.

Good luck with whatever you try!!!

1 mom found this helpful

You are not alone! Dont like to take medecine, so I was looking for other options. My doctor said:
1- Take a walk or a run in the evening, 6-8pm ( this the one that really helped me!!!!)
2-drink a glass of warm milk
3- Make a list of things u want to do tomorrow, before u go to bed, so u dont think about it in bed.
4- Do not read, do not watch TV in bed! If u read at night, read in the living room. Once u go to bed it has to be quiet dark room!
5-if u dont fall asleep in 20-30 min, get up and do something not too stimulating, like chek yr email, have a glass of milk, rub yr feet...
PS when I did take meds to help me sleep I was like a zombie all day! I slept all night, but didnt feel rested, if that makes any sence.
Hope this helps! and I hope you can get some quality sleep soon!

1 mom found this helpful

J....try Melatonin. It is available at the health food store. All natural and awesome. Also you can try Linden tea from Linden leaves. These are both all natutal, plant based - will not knock you out but will relax you so that you may fall asleep naturally. Once ingested these take 60 minutes to work as they harmonize with your metabolism.
Sweet dreams :)

1 mom found this helpful

I have mild restless leg syndrome and have trouble getting to sleep and I also do not like taking meds because it makes me so tired in the am. My mom told me about calcium/magnesium pills in the vitamins and mineral section. They are great they just relax you so that you can fall asleep easier and not wake up feeling medicated. I only take one and it helps me, my mom takes two. Everyone needs more calcium anyway. So it is definantly worth a try for you.

have you tried chamomile tea?

Melatonin has been working like a charm for me. There is a natural formula called 'Mid-Night" that you can take up to two hours before you must wake up. My sister in law uses something with Valerian in it. If you would like more info on that one, you can email me at ____@____.com

Dear J., Please buy some Melatonin, a natural sleeping aid. It is not expensive, and is found in most stores carrying vitamins. You would take one pill 30 min. before bedtime. I hope you will try this. S.

I love the sleepy time products at Bath & Body Works. They have Lavender/Vanilla and Lavender/Chamomile (my favorite).
B&BW offer room/linen sprays, body washes, body lotion and more.

I do not work for the company :o)...but love how the lotion helps me relax and fall asleep quickly.

Hope this helps!

Click on the link below until you get to Relax-Eze. I would also make sure that you were taking a good multi-vitamin and of course watch what you eat.

http://www.herbsfirst.com/caps.html

Hi J.!

I have used Melatonin 3mg. It's all natural and is actually produced by your body already. When your levels get low, as mine often do, you need to supplement them. It's available at any Walmart or any other drugstore (and it's inexpensive). You can start with just one tablet, but take two if needed. Good luck!

Hi J.;
i had the same problem and i tired an all natural herb called Valerian and it helped me. You can get it at a health food store and some pharmacy's. remember to realx and take some timne for your self befor you go to bed at night away from your adorable children. I have learned that to take care of my children, I have to take care of myself first.
Good luck to you,
K.
The M.O.M. Team
www.enhanceyourlifeonline.com

Hi J.,

Valarian Root is a ver ygood natural sleep aid. You can get it at any drug store or grcoery store.

Good luck!
D.

Valerian Root. It smells horrible but works great.

Hi! Over the counter sleep meds don't work for me either.
So I tried something called Midnite. It is all natural and dissolves in your mouth before bed. It works for me!! And when I wake in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep I take another one. I've taken up to 4 in a night. There are no harmful ingrediants. You can get it at most drug stores (I got mine at Eckard but now they are Rite Aid) for around $9.99. It's a small price to pay for a good night's sleep!! Good Luck!!

The one thing that I use to help me get to sleep is Sleepytime Tea. You can find it in your local grocery store. There is a sleeping bear on the box. I will fix a hot cup of before bed and sip on it while I read or listen to music. It just helps me to relax. I hope this helps.

We use Valerian root when we have trouble sleeping. It doesn't have the groggy side affects that chemical sleep aids give.

I even gave some to my 9 yo when she got hurt really bad from a bike accident to help her calm down and fall asleep.

My niece has recommended Simply Sleep and a tea called Sleepy time. Either of these might help and are not addictive.

I have an 11-year-old with ADHD who struggles to get to sleep. My husband (FP doc), her pediatrician, and her psychiatrist all recommended melatonin. It works for her and I've heard of it working for other people, too. Because it's natural, I don't feel like I am "medicating" my daughter - just helping her body do what it needs.

I have used Bath and Body Works aromatherapy when I can't calm down at bedtime. I use the roll-on Instant Aromatherapy, which contains lavender and chamomile. I think they also have pillow sprays. I just roll the aromatherapy on my wrists, snuggle up to my pillow, and drift off in no time.

Good luck. I'm sure you need the sleep with that houseful!!

Hi J.,

I'm a busy mom also. My husband is a heavy and loud snorer and when I must sleep I'll make some Sleepy Time Celestial Tea. It has a light flavor, is not habit forming and inexpensive:) Enjoy!

Try Yoga... by Yoga Buddies. Good Morning and Good Night that you do with your children or you can try ones by yourself. I've heard of parents falling asleep while doing the yoga thing with their children before bed.

Hi J.- I'm so sorry to hear your not getting any sleep. I too did not sleep for the first year my third son was born...I have never had a problem falling asleep on my own though. You could try melatonin - it's just a natural mineral/vitamin you can find at any drug store/grogery store...theres also a natural brand Hylands? I beleive that has things like camomile and some other ingredients in it...also found at drug stores.
Good luck
Nikki

I have a friend who has had severe insomnia....she takes Valerian (sometimes called Valerian root) in the liquid form. She says the liquid form works faster and is much more effective. I also know two people who take Melatonin and swear by it! Good luck!

I'm not sure if you're into teas, but I like to sip on valerian root tea before bed when I need a good nights sleep.

J., Oh wow do I understand how you feel! I am going through it right now myself. I have had insomnia for most of my life and now baby waking is making it worse. Try melatonin. It has worked for me in the past and is pretty safe, but ask your doctor as well. Ambien is a great prescription med, but only use that when nothing else works. Good luck!! A.

I have found a natural sleep aid that might help you! It is called Melatonin. Walmart carries it in the vitamin aisle. It is cheap the brand I use I get 100 pills for $6.00 but the bottle last's for a while. I am giving the melatonin to my kids every night.

Hi I take melatonin which is natural. You find it in the vitamin and supplement section of stores.
I started with 3mg about 30 min before bedtime, but that seemed to gradually quit working so now I take 6mg

i have strong reactions to medicines that can make me drowsy - like, i feel them the ENTIRE next day. i have only had luck with one sleep aid OTC - and that is advil PM. if i take one about 1-2 hours before bed, i sleep great, wake up pretty easily, and don't feel drugged the next day. that's just what i've noticed, and it's strange, b/c the sleep ingredient in advil PM is the same in tylenol PM, but i feel drugged and foggy the whole next day after tylenol PM. sometimes you just have to experiment. i ALWAYS tell my hubby what i have taken, and how much, just in case... because like i say, i react heavily to any medications that can make you sleepy (hey, even sudafed puts me to sleep). :)

also, some tips: dark room (very dark), no TV 1 hr before bed, no exercise 4 hrs before bed, gentle white noise, try same bedtime and wake time daily. you need a bedtime routine just like babies do - it preps your body for more effective sleep.

Hi.
Understand completely. I am overly sensitive to everything it seems. I even had issues with Melatonin.
I use Dr. Peter Gillham's Natural Calm Plus. The Plus has Magnesium, calcium, Vit C, Potassium and one other thing, I can't remember. I use the raspberry/lemon flavor. I drink it every night and it completely relaxes me into a good night's sleep, as long as one of the kids don't wake up!!
You have to play with it for a few nights to determine how much your body actually needs, but once you figure out the right amount, but it is wonderful.
You can get it at most health food stores, but if you have a Natural Foods Warehouse near you, it is a lot cheaper there.

Hi J...my daughter had a hell of a time sleeping after her father passed, and being as she was only three, our options were limited. We used Chamomile (sp?) tablets purchased from the local "hippie mart" (organic food store). They are just tiny little tablets that you let dissolve in your mouth and are 100% natural. They worked well for her with no ill effects - another option for you might be just to try the chamomile (sp? again) tea if you like tea. Good luck, and I hope you get some rest soon!

Tired body, busy mind, eh? If you don't need a pain reliever, why take Tylenol PM? -- don't need the Tylenol. And the PM is just diphenhydramine (Benadryl). I would look into avoiding caffeine later in the day -- after, say, 3:00. Consider taking Melatonin -- your body makes it -- perhaps you just need more than your body makes -- there's your natural sleep aid.

Then, just putting yourself on a bedtime routine just like we do for our kids: regular bedtime that doesn't change (much) perhaps a tea (non-caffeine, of course), pjs, brush teeth and wash face, read for a while and lights out -- something like that. There are a zillion self-help books and probably google sites you can read.

Good luck! Sleep is so nice, I wish we could all get more!

Hi J.! Valerian root has worked the best for me ~ also, any amount of caffiene in your system can interupt sleep (an 8 a.m. coffee can effect sleep). I would also recommend not eating past 5 p.m. If you go to sleep with a full stomach it interferes as well. I had insomnia for YEARS and I suffer no more! :) Best of luck to you!

I have used Melatonin they sell it in the herb part of stores and it is only a few dollars. It recommends you don't take it with any other meds though. But it helps reset your clock since melatonin is what your body produces naturally to fall asleep. I have tried it and it has helped and it is not one of those things that once you take you can't wake yourself up. That was something I was worried about with a little one. I hope you get some much needed rest.

We've used the sleepy time tea and it really works good for us. We've also done the warm milk and it works good too. Good Luck.