Peaceful Nights » Sleep Space

Of the 7 senses, proprioception is one of the most important when it comes to sleep.  What is proprioception? It is the sense stimulated by deep pressure and joint contraction, which we get from our joints and muscles, telling us where we are in space.  Going for a jog or having a massage is a good way to access the proprioceptive system, which explains why we sleep so well after exercise or a relaxing massage. How does this work? In terms of sleep, proprioception is associated with the release of Serotonin, which is a vital regulator chemical in the brain.  Serotonin is not only a...

Are you anxious the minute your baby goes to sleep that you may not hear her cry for comfort or food? Have you found yourself standing over her crib checking that she is breathing on your way to bed at night? Or felt that cold sweat as you awake from a dead sleep at 2am to rush through and check your little one is all right? If you have, you are in good company. We all want to be sure we meet our baby’s needs timeously and that our babies are safe as they sleep at night. There are a variety of baby monitors; some baby monitors only monitor sounds and cries, while others monitor breathing...

QUESTION: My daughter is 21 weeks old now. The last few days she just wants to sleep on her stomach. This scares me!!! I sit by her, watching her the whole night just to make sure she is breathing. And I am exhausted! Is there a specific time they learn that they must not lay with their noses is the mattress? Is there a pillow I can buy to make sure she can still breath??? Also… she still wakes every two hours! Is this normal?? I have tried so many things to help her sleep longer periods. But she still doesn’t. Hope you can help me, PLEASE.   ANSWER: I can feel...

  If you find yourself bending over your sleeping baby listening for breath sounds or even rousing your little one to ensure he is still alive, you are in good company. There is without question no greater fear for parents than finding that their sleeping baby had died in his sleep. Sleep is our first separation from our baby and one that provokes anxiety for many.   SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) also known as Cot/Crib death is still the leading cause of death in babies under a year of age in America. The same would not be true for developing countries where illness and social problems...

What is white noise? Think of yourself sitting in a crowded restaurant with friends.  If you sat back and listened for a moment you would be amazed at all the sounds that you hear.  You would hear many different conversations going on, each person’s tone of voice, cooking noises, dishes being rustled about, the traffic on the road outside, noise from people walking past the restaurant, perhaps a coffee machine, chairs being pushed out or pulled in and lots more.  In this busy, noisy space, somehow we manage to hold a conversation with another person.  Our brains are amazing.  We are able to...