Sleep – we all want more of it, so why is it so hard to get?
Specifically – that consistent, restorative, uninterrupted, eight-hours-a-night kinda sleep.
In the Mother’s Day edition of Body & Soul, Australia’s leading sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo shared how you can give mum what she really wants – a good night’s sleep.
Hint: if you’re sleep-deprived too, you can pinch these nifty gift ideas for yourself!
5 Ways to Help Mum Sleep Better
The best gift you can give mum this Mother’s Day is probably a good night’s rest.
Especially with many mums being primary caregivers, breastfeeding and going through menopause (oh, the fun just doesn’t stop!), I am certain all your dear mum really wants is to sleep that little bit easier – and here are five ways that can happen.
However, there are still many things that you – as a daughter, son, or partner – can recommend to you the mother in your life that will help her sleep that little bit easier – even if these forces may be against her.
Here are five expert-endorsed and unexpected gift ideas that will really help her get the rest she needs.
1. Book her a massage
Not only for her weary bones; but the evidence indicates – yes, scientific evidence, as noted in a 2010 study by Group Health Research Institute, Washington, that massages can reduce anxiety by 50 per cent – which may be keeping her up through the night. And, if you really want to push her sleep buttons, give her a 10 minute nightly back massage too, over the course of three days: a 2013 clinical trial published in the International Journal of Science and Research found this was able to help individuals fall asleep faster, and improve sleep quality, too.
2. Offer some sound relief
Whether it’s snoring (probably the second worst thing you can hear from your parents’ bedroom), or perhaps the little ones are kicking and screaming, noise is a major sleep saboteur: a 2019 study by the University of Basel, Switzerland, found that for every 10 decibel increase in noise, sleep onset was delayed by 5.6 minutes, and sleep efficiency reduced by three per cent. Perspectively, this means that a noisy household could lengthen the time it takes mum to fall asleep by 45 minutes, and reduce her sleep quality by 24 per cent. To remedy this, try some soft, female designed earplugs from Otifleks, or visit your local pharmacy – they usually have a range of ear plugs on offer, too.
3. Give the gift of bamboo
Especially for mums who are hot sleepers, pregnant, breastfeeding, or going through menopause; bamboo will be a lifesaver: it contains thermoregulatory properties, which can keep the body cool throughout the night, instead of overheating (and waking up in a sweaty mess). Ideally, seek out 100 per cent bamboo sheets, available from brands including The Bamboo Shop and bamboo pjs, like the range by Clementine Sleepwear.
4. Create a scent-sational sleep sanctuary
A sleep sanctuary goes beyond the stock standard bedroom – it’s about curating a space she loves to wake up in. For this, there are a few necessities, naturally: a mattress and pillow suited to her sleeping profile, a doona that feels ‘just right’ (see point above RE overheating), a tech-free space, and a beautiful scent to lure her into slumberland: 100 per cent organic lavender oil is my pick. Go one step further by adding it to her diffuser before she’s entered the bedroom – your thoughtfulness will make her feel that little bit more special.
5. Send her to sleep with a gratitude note
What every mum wants: a simple thank you. Help her sleep easier this Mother’s Day (and every day) by letting her know she is valued, loved, cared for and respected. A simple note is more than enough – often, it’s the gesture that counts (you don’t need to be a wordsmith). For me, that would be writing something like: “Mum, thank you for supporting, loving, listening and laughing with me. Through the highs and the lows, the thick and the thin, the good and the bad – you’ve been there by my side. Thank you, I love you, and sleep well.”
Especially for mums who are hot sleepers, pregnant, breastfeeding, or going through menopause; bamboo will be a lifesaver
– Olivia Arezzolo, Australia’s leading sleep expert
Olivia Arezzolo is a sleep expert who holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology); certificate of Sleep Psychology, diploma of Health Science (Nutritional Medicine); Certificate of Fitness III + IV. She is also the author of Bear, Lion, Wolf. You can find her online here.