Sleep Tips Archives - MothersRest

I bribe my children to go to bed

The boys are old enough to put themselves to bed. They’d prefer to do other things. Like yelling or legos or dance-offs or wrestling. So I bribe them. Who knew that 2 quarters could be magical? And yet that’s all...

Why bedtime is a whacked out game of Bingo

We’re potty training little brother right now. Which entails saying things like, “You’re a big boy now!” This is met with wails of protest from the bigger boy in the house. Who likes to remind us that’s he almost 4....

We have toddlers and no TV

We’re one of those weird families that avoid the TV like the plague. The other day, my oldest said: “Mommy, I know how to turn on the TV. Do you want me to show you how?” In other words, yes,...

Drink more, sleep poor (and other truths about alcohol)

Guess what, ladies? Alcohol is a POISON. Because, well, it’s ethanol – which people put into their cars. What the what? For real? I don’t know, but it sounds disgusting anyway. This is just one of the many things I’ve...

Feeling like Mommy Dearest: why you need REM sleep

As a first time mom, I experienced a high level of anxiety. Then I wandered into a dark world. Suddenly, I found myself in a place of rage. Too strong a word? Perhaps. How quickly lack of sleep took its...

You can ROCK daylight savings this spring

You guys, the days are getting LONGER! Are you not beyond excited over this? Maybe you’re like me and turn into a cute, little bear and hibernate all winter long. As in, I am ready to stuff my face with...

How to rock daylight saving time this fall

First off, I’m having a super hard time dropping the “S” from this twice-annual event. It’s been “daylight savings time” my whole life. Kinda like how “February” doesn’t actually have an “R,” whereas, “Washington” does. Not kidding on that one...

How to deal when your kiddo wets the bed at midnight

Ah, the blessed childhood tradition of wetting the bed. Is it driving you to drink, too? Now, I do have friends whose kids at the uncanny age of 2 decided one night that they were just done with diapers. Those...

Momma’s off duty at 8 (and don’t you forget it)

I don’t really do New Year’s Resolutions. I also didn’t grow up giving up stuff for Lent (because in the 80s, Baptists didn’t know what it was.) And I don’t have a quarantine bucket list. To compensate, I randomly set...

How to survive 6 hours in the car with your baby

Yes, it’s possible. Without losing your sanity. Having a buddy along is definitely preferable, but I’ve had the pleasure of attempting this a couple times by myself to visit the Mimi and Poppa, and I’m still here to talk about...

8 tips to get your baby on a sleep schedule

How do I remember those first couple months as a new mom? “Fondly” may not be the first word that comes to mind. New baby snuggles: awe-some. Lack of sleep: awe-ful. I do remember when we all made it to...

10 super fun things my kids don’t do. Because: BEDTIME.

At 7pm, life in our house gets a little cray cray. I turn into an automaton with one goal: get the boys in bed by 8. And, yes, it takes an entire hour to make this happen. Especially if #RockStarDad...

Working mother hacks

So you had a fabulous maternity leave. You followed my advice and turned off your damn work email and created a maternity leave manifesto. You’re rocking this new-mom thing! Well, sleep deprivation may just win the battle when you return...

Turn off the damn baby monitor (and other sleep tips for moms)

One day your shiny, new baby will sleep. I promise. But for you, uh, sleep is now a glitter-covered unicorn. And I’ve heard those suckers are nearly impossible to catch. The months of painful sleep deprivation, accompanied by the fog...

12 simple tips for better sleep on vacation

You’ve waited months for vacation. You’ve saved for it. You’ve planned for it. You’ve off-loaded all your work projects so you can actually enjoy it. Then you spend the first night tossing and turning. Even though you’re sleeping on the...