Since becoming a parent I spend what seems like a ridiculous amount of time thinking about sleep (versus actually sleeping). Both my husband and I have had bouts of insomnia throughout our lives, so I guess it’s no surprise that we wound up with night owls for children. Fortunately, we’re now firmly in the toddler and preschool years and the nights of constantly broken sleep are the exception, rather than the norm. But, I still think about sleep.
Most of us have some kind of routine for falling asleep. My husband winds down with whatever book he’s currently reading, but swears by the books of Margaret Truman for helping him get to sleep when he’s having a lot of trouble. My kids require three books* and a song. I like to crawl into bed early and read or binge-watch a TV show (lately something by Anne Bishop has been on my bedside table, and Scandal has been in my DVD player). And if you (or a little person in your life) are having trouble sleeping, there are books like these to help you find your own bedtime routine:
A Woman’s Guide to Sleep Disorders.There are a number of sleep disruptions that are unique to women, like pregnancy or menopause. This book addresses ways for women to sleep well.
Sleep to be Sexy, Smart, and Slim. Although I haven’t read this book yet myself, I’m drawn to the grandiose claims of the title. The book promises to help women get the best sleep of their lives.
The Book of Meditation: Practical Ways to Health and Healing. One of the major causes of insomnia in adults is stress, and meditation is a known stress reliever. Check out this book or one of our many others on the subjet to help clear your mind before going to bed.
Itsy Bitsy Yoga: Poses to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer, Digest Better, and Grow Stronger. Help your little one unwind with some calming yoga before bed!
Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems. Whether you agree with this book or not, I’m willing to bet that most parents who have had trouble with getting their kids to sleep have come across Dr. Ferber’s book at some point. For those who prefer an alternative to “Ferberizing,” The No-Cry Sleep Solution is a popular alternative.
-Irene
*Just kidding, we don’t really read that last book to our kids. But it makes me laugh every time I think of it, especially this reading.
Eleventh Stack 
Oh I feel your pain! My twins are 3 years old and for the first year and a half I didn’t get more than about 4 hours sleep a night and even that was unbroken. Now they sleep 11 hours straight and I really try and not take it for granted!
The 3 months of child induced sleep deprivation (from #1) were worse than anything I remember including 2 hour nights in the army. #2 didn’t make it any better and the previous experience wasn’t a body of knowledge we could build on. Today, I’m one of those folks who can generally roll over, say “goodnight John-boy” and be asleep.
I’ve been lucky to hardly ever have insomnia but for the short period I did I found Valarian (in liquid form) a really helpful aid. It really relaxes the system for some people and it’s natural but wouldn’t knock you out like a high-powered drug would.
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i know exactly how you feell. I dont have children of my own but i do have two step kids who live with us. i really think about sleep alot as i have to get up and leave home by five every morning and i dont get home before 8pm. it is very hard as i hardly get any sleep.