Picture this: it’s waaaay past midnight, and I’m deep down the internet rabbit hole. One minute I’m reading about the current state of the world and US politics, and the next, I’m mindlessly scrolling through social media, wondering which item from the Container Store would fit better in our pantry. My eyes are watering, I’m yawning more 🥱 than a chimpanzee, and yet, here I am, clutching my phone like it’s the piece of dark chocolate. As a responsible adult, I know I should stop. I know I’ll regret this late-night digital binge that magically repeats itself.

Better sleep for kids starts with better sleep for parents 😴

My younger son is an active sleeper and is always hot in bed. And my older kid has a hard time falling asleep. Getting back to the school routine after a lazy summer is like trying to convince a cat to take a bath – theoretically possible, but likely to end in tears (yours, not the cat’s).

Mountains of research have shown that good sleep is absolutely essential for children’s growth, mental health, and physical well-being. When kids get regular, quality shut-eye, they consolidate memory and learn better.

And getting good quality sleep isn’t exclusive to kids only, but applies to parents equally. A Harvard study showed that having a week of less than 5 hours sleep each night leaves a person as impaired as being legally drunk. When we actually manage to get a decent night’s sleep (I know, easier said than done, right?), we’re more present, more patient, and better equipped to handle both the joys and challenges of raising kids.

My top picks for better rest

So, in my infinite wisdom (read: multiple Google searches at 2 am), I’ve found a few things that might help parents and kids catch some 💤:

/