Tag: bed
Top 5 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep
As a parent I count my blessings each time I get a full night’s sleep, it’s enough to make me want to jump out of bed with joy in the morning. If my toddler doesn’t wake me then I’m usually lucky enough to sleep through the night. But on occasion when I just can’t drift into a slumber, whether for reasons of stress or just a plain old inability to sleep, I turn to natural foods to assist.There are some simply brilliant foods to help induce Zzz’s. These foods contain tryptophan which converts to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming chemicals. Serotonin promotes calm and melatonin helps to cause drowsiness and lower body temperature for a restful sleep. The perfect package for shut-eye.
I recommend trying one or two of these foods 90 minutes before you plan to close your eyes so your digestive system has time to process what you eat before slumber. It’s always a good idea to avoid caffeine and alcohol at least four hours before sleep and don’t go to bed when you’re either hungry or full as this will contribute to a disrupted night’s sleep.
Top 5 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep
1. Bananas
High in serotonin and melatonin, bananas also contain potassium and magnesium which is a muscle relaxant.
2. Oatmeal
A small bowl of oatmeal contains melatonin and complex carbohydrates which can help more tryptophan get into the brain. Topped with some warm milk this is a healthy source of comfort food and if you’re slightly peckish it will keep those hunger pangs at bay.
3. Almonds
A handful of almonds contains tryptophan and magnesium to relax muscles.
4. Low-fat Cottage Cheese
Low-fat cottage cheese contains tryptophan and is a lean source of protein that will help keep your blood sugar regulated throughout the night.
5. Flaxseed
Known for their mood lifting properties. Sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of flaxseed on a small bowl of oatmeal or on a portion of low-fat cottage cheese.
If you feel like a warm drink before bed a cup of chamomile tea can help to promote calm thanks to chamomile’s natural soothing properties. If you want something a little richer a glass of warm milk contains tryptophan and calcium, known to reduce stress and stabilise nerve fibres.
Take your pick from these Top 5 Foods and see what works best for you.
Most importantly, don’t stress about not sleeping. Having a regular routine before bed will help to get your mind and body in the mood for sleep. A warm bath with some relaxing aromatherapy oils and reading a good book before bed contribute to winding down and preparing for rest.
The Best Cot Bed
Your baby will probably sleep in a moses basket until they are around 6 months old when they will be starting to out grow the moses basket and need a larger area to sleep in. If your baby is able to rollover a moses basket certainly won’t leave much room for their new sleeping positions!
When we were setting up our baby’s nursery we purchased the East Coast Country Cot Bed.
After looking at many other cot beds I know we made the right decision with this one and it looks truly gorgeous in our baby’s nursery.
This is the best cot bed for quality, style, price and it’s suitable from birth to approximately 6 years.
The East Coast Country Cot Bed is a quality cot bed in a classic style cot that will suit any nursery. It looks beautiful as a cot bed and when it’s converted into a starter bed with lovely curved head and foot boards.
The East Coast Country Cot Bed has a refined and classic appearance with beautifully curved top rails. It has a soft look to compliment any nursery.
Features of the East Coast Country Cot Bed:
- 3 mattress base heights – as your baby grows and is able to sit up, kneel and stand you can adjust the height of the cot bed to create a safe sleeping place for your baby
- 2 fixed sides
- 2 split ends to convert to bed mode
- The sides of the cot have protective teething rails
- Crafted from pine
- Available in an antique or white finish
- Suitable from birth to approximately 18 months as a cot bed
- Suitable from 18 months to 6 years as a starter bed
- Cot bed dimensions length 145 cm x width 77 cm x height 101 cm
- Conforms to BSEN 716
The East Coast Country Cot Bed requires a cot bed mattress measuring 140 cm x 70 cm.
I recommend the John Lewis Spring Cotbed Mattress L140 x W70cm for this cot bed.
And we love the Jolly Day Out cot bed fitted sheets by The Gro Company.