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vanilla milk

Festive Colouring Fun

13th December 2022 by Sam Leave a Comment

Download our fabulous and fun Sleep Well colouring in sheets to help keep little ones occupied over the festive period.

Click the links below to download each sheet:

Merry Christmas

Christmas Tree

Sleep Well Cat

To find out more and get some top tips for keeping calm and sleeping well over Christmas, read our blog Keep Kids Calm Over Christmas.

Merry Christmas and wishing you a happy sleepy bedtime from the Sleep Well team. 🌟 🎄

Would you like to get more tips and exclusive Sleep Well discounts? Sign up to our newsletter for more sleep tips. 👇🏻

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: bedtime habit, christmas, christmas books, christmas eve, christmas time, insomnia, kids christmas sleep, relaxing christmas, sleep aid, sleep well milk, sleeps, valerian, vanilla milk, warm milk

Keep kids calm over Christmas

13th December 2022 by Tamsin Smith Leave a Comment

Are your ears ringing with the words “How many sleeps till Christmas”? If they are, here are a few ideas for pre-bedtime activities to help keep kids calm over Christmas. They’re all aimed at ensuring your children remain happy, tired and ready for bed.

5 sleeps to Christmas 🌿

Crafty Christmas Fun

Get a Christmas decoration kit. There are plenty on offer from a variety of retailers. Or why not go DIY? Nothing beats sticking bits of cotton wool together to create a little snowman, or covering your entire kitchen in glitter as you make your own Christmas cards. Honestly, try it. It is fun.

Plus… we all love a good bit of colouring in, whatever age we are. Why not try one of our Sleep Well Christmas colouring sheets? Download them here, here and here. Then sit down around your table with a delicious mug of Sleep Well hot chocolate. The totally natural sleep aid that is safe for all the family, so you can look forward to a peaceful night.

4 sleeps to Christmas 🌿

Christmas Treasure Hunt

We used to get our children to do these and they loved them, whatever the time of year. Come up with a list of easy festive clues. How about ‘where the turkey is going to be cooked’. Answer: the oven. Or ‘where Santa will wash his socks’. Answer: the washing machine.

Give them the first clue and then put each subsequent clue in the place that the previous one leads them to. At the end, there can be a prize. Although we guarantee that kids (young and old!) will have far more fun hunting than they will getting the prize. Most importantly, make sure there’s a prize for each child as you don’t want tears at Christmas!

3 sleeps to Christmas

Festive movie or story magic

There’s nothing better to keep kids calm at Christmas than all curling up together and watching a Christmas movie. There’s sure to be some old favourites on offer, as well as new ones. Check out Good Housekeeping’s list of ‘Best Christmas movies of all time‘.

Don’t forget to have a Sleep Well hot chocolate while you’re watching, to make everyone feel more relaxed and ready for bed. Just make sure dad doesn’t snore through the film and drown out the best bits!

2 sleeps to Christmas

Festive Baking

We know that the little ones can sometimes be a much bigger distraction when they’re trying to ‘help’ you, but baking with them at Christmas can be fun.

The easiest thing to do is give them their own bit of pastry or mixing bowl of goodies and let them make a mess with theirs while you practice your Great British Bake Off techniques alone. BBC Good Food has some great recipes.

1 sleep to Christmas: Christmas Eve

Hopefully you’re all ready for Christmas and you can spend some time together having quality family time.  Here are a few more Christmas activities for you and your children to have a fun but relaxing day:

Keep kids calm on Christmas eve

  • Go for a walk: This will serve two purposes, firstly it will be enjoyable (as long as it’s not raining) and secondly getting fresh air and exercise will help them sleep later.
  • Christmas eve boxes have become popular and it’s a wonderful way to spread the giving. The perfect kind of Christmas eve gifts include cosy pyjamas and a nice Christmas themed story book. Or how about a game that the whole family can play?
Keep kids calm at Christmas with an outdoor walk
  • Scatter reindeer food and prepare a little treat for Santa. Reindeer food is very easy to make. Simply get some edible glitter from the cake decoration section of your supermarket and mix in with some oats. As for Santa’s treat? Well, he’ll probably like something that might also take your fancy.
  • Track Santa’s journey as he heads across the globe with the Norad Santa Tracker. Kids love watching his progress across the world and it’s a brilliant countdown to when he arrives.

Stock up on Sleep Well to help keep kids calm this Christmas

Finally, don’t forget a nice drink of Sleep Well milk which will help calm everyone down ready for bed. Sleep Well contains a herb called Valerian. It’s safe for all the family and can be drunk hot or cold. The perfect, family friendly bedtime treat. It’s available in chocolate, vanilla, or oat milk.

Wishing you all a very happy, relaxing and sleep-filled Christmas. The Sleep Well team ⭐️

Would you like to get more tips and exclusive Sleep Well discounts? Sign up to our newsletter for more sleep tips. 👇🏻

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: bedtime, bedtime habit, calm kids, christmas eve, christmas time, insomnia, kids on Christmas, sleep aid, sleep well milk, sleeps, valerian, vanilla milk, warm milk

How to Sleep Well over Christmas

12th December 2022 by Tamsin Smith Leave a Comment

It’s not just children who get over excited at Christmas time. Adults are also prone to a little overindulgence and stimulation, which can leave us struggling to get to sleep over the festive season. So how do we sleep well over Christmas?

Why is it difficult to sleep at Christmas?

Before we work out how to get a good night’s sleep at Christmas, we need to figure out what is likely to be causing festive insomnia.

Many of us are busy socialising with friends and family, which can mean over-indulgence with food, alcohol, and caffeine. Then there’s the stress of worrying if we have remembered everyone’s presents or got Christmas lunch organised. We also tend to stay up late because it’s the holiday season and there’s some good films on TV, or parties to go to. Lots of late nights and lack of sleep might then result in you wanting to have a lie-in and that disrupts your sleep patterns. All these factors can add together and create disturbed sleep.

Tips for how to get a good night’s sleep over Christmas

Avoid too much alcohol

Excess alcohol will impact your sleep. Researchers have found it changes the normal sleep cycle. It can make your sleep shallower and increase your heart rate, which means less time spent in REM sleep when your body is repairing itself mentally and physically. So, while many of us fancy an extra tipple with our friends and family, beware, because it could be impacting your sleep. Also, watch out that you don’t mistake that tired feeling after a few vinos, as a sign you are going to sleep well. Alcohol might make you initially feel more drowsy, but it will cause you to have a more disturbed sleep later on.

Keep your bedtime routine where possible

We’re not going to suggest that you don’t have some festive fun, whether that’s socialising or binge-watching Christmas movies, but if you start having difficulties getting to sleep, then maybe you should pay some attention to your bedtime routine.

We’re all slightly different in terms of how many hours sleep a night we need, but in general terms an adult should be getting between seven and eight hours sleep, although some might need up to nine, while others will be happy with a little less. Teenagers require more, as any parent of a teen will tell you! If you are going to bed much later than you would usually, and/or lying in later because you’re not getting up for work, then you could find it impacts your natural routine and your sleep suffers as a result. Pull your bedtime routine back in synch and your sleep will thank you for it.

If part of your problem is that you’re away from home visiting friends and relatives and in a strange bed, you might find it helps to take your own pillow and duvet with you. There are also plenty of earplugs on the market should you be in a place that is noisier than you’re used to, or forced to sleep near to a snorer, so plan ahead.

All three flavours of sleep well in a cosy setting
Avoid caffeine before bedtime

There are several ways you can be over-stimulating your brain before bedtime. The first is by ingesting stimulants such as caffeine. We’ve already mentioned how alcohol can impact your sleep quality, and we all understand the effects of caffeine, and yet so many of us will go out for a meal and end it with a coffee. Sometimes we’ll double whammy it by making it an Irish Coffee. Caffeine blocks Adenosine, which is a substance we have in our bodies that makes us feel sleepy. While the hour after you’ve drunk it is the worst, it stays in your system and studies have shown it having an impact for up to six hours afterwards.

Remember also that it’s not just coffee that contains caffeine. Tea also has it at a slightly lower level than coffee, and a serving of Pepsi or Coke, can contain as much as a cup of tea in terms of caffeine. If you do fancy having a coffee to round off your meal, then make sure it’s a decaf and be aware of what mixers you are putting into drinks or what soft drinks you’re consuming. It’s easy to think we are avoiding one insomnia culprit, only to discover we’ve swapped it for another.

Avoid Tech

The other way that we can over-stimulate our brains is by too much blue light. Many of us will take our phones or iPads into the bedroom and be using them right up to the moment we turn out the lights. It’s recommended that you don’t use any devices for between thirty minutes and an hour before bedtime. The reason is that they emit ‘blue light’ which can trick your body into thinking it’s still daytime. This includes not having a TV in the bedroom. Remember that if you’ve been given a sleep tracker to monitor and improve your sleep, those screens count too!

Have a milky drink with natural herbs

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has a leaflet called, ‘Sleeping Well’, and they recommend that people, “try something milky or herbal” before bed. Sleep Well is the perfect choice because it is totally natural. Using whole milk and honey as a sweetener, it also contains the herb Valerian which has been helping people to sleep for over two thousand years. The Royal College recommends that using Valerian to help you sleep works best if you take it every night for two or three weeks, so make sure you include Sleep Well as part of your bedtime routine. Suitable for all the family, it’s available in vanilla, chocolate and oat ready to drink cartons.

Don’t let Festive Stress ruin your Christmas

Christmas can be a stressful time, but it’s important to get any festive preparations into perspective. If you have forgotten to stuff the turkey, it’s fine. Nobody is going to remember that by Boxing Day. The festive period is a time to enjoy and relax, so focus on the positives and allow yourself some relaxing activities before you go to bed. Listen to some music, have a bath, read a book, and keep the bedroom for sleep and time with your partner.

Merry Christmas and wishing you a happy sleepy bedtime from the Sleep Well team. 🌟 🎄

Would you like to get more tips and exclusive Sleep Well discounts? Sign up to our newsletter for more sleep tips. 👇🏻

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: bedtime habit, christmas, christmas books, christmas eve, christmas time, insomnia, kids christmas sleep, relaxing christmas, sleep aid, sleep well milk, sleeps, valerian, vanilla milk, warm milk

Sleep Well hot chocolate

20th December 2021 by Tamsin Smith Leave a Comment

Enjoy our delicious Sleep Well hot chocolate recipe, easy to make and perfect to wind down with at the end of a long day.

Sleep Well Hot Chocolate
Make your own Sleep Well hot chocolate

Sleep Well Hot Chocolate

So rich and creamy, just perfect for cold winter nights as part of a healthy bedtime routine. 😴

And best of all, it’s so easy to make! 😌

What you need

  • 1 x 200 ml carton of Sleep Well chocolate milk
  • 1 tbsp of whipped or squirty cream
  • 1 tbsp mini marshmallows
  • 1 tbsp chocolate sprinkles
  • A pinch of cinnamon powder (optional)

STEP 1

Heat the Chocolate Sleep Well milk in a small pan over a medium heat. Transfer to your favourite hot chocolate mug.

OR

Pour the Chocolate Sleep Well into your mug and heat for 30 seconds on high in the microwave. Give it a good stir to remove any hot spots.

STEP 2

Squirt the cream on top of the Sleep Well and add your favourite toppings. We love mini marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles. Why not add a little cinnamon for a final aromatic touch?

Download and print yours here 👇🏻

sw-hot-chocolate-print-recipe-2Download

Wishing you a happy sleepy bedtime from the Sleep Well team. 🌟 🎄

Would you like to get more tips and exclusive Sleep Well discounts? Sign up to our newsletter for more sleep tips. 👇🏻

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: bedtime, bedtime habit, christmas, christmas eve, christmas recipe, christmas time, hot chocolate, insomnia, recipe, relaxing christmas, sleep, sleep aid, sleep well milk, sleeps, valerian, vanilla milk, warm milk

Essential oils for better sleep

15th December 2021 by Tamsin Smith Leave a Comment

Using natural plants is by far the most preferable way to treat insomnia and help you sleep better rather than turning to synthetic drugs. Plants have been helping us sleep for thousands of years and there have been many scientific studies into their effects, which have shown that some really are effective at improving sleep and relaxing us.

What are essential oils? 🌿

Essential oils are natural oils extracted from plants through a process of steam distillation. It requires a lot of the plant to distil it down to a good quality essential oil. The benefits off essential oils are many, but include the ability to weaken certain viruses, strengthen your immune system and soothe anxiety. They can also be great at helping you relax and sleep better.

How can I use essential oils to help me sleep?

Essential oils can be used in several ways to help you get a great’s night sleep. Some have a direct impact on your drowsiness whilst others reduce anxiety. It’s likely the anxiety that is keeping you awake.

You can inhale, ingest or apply to your skin. But, if you do apply topically, remember they need to be diluted in a carrier oil. Choose from grape seed, sweet almond or olive oil.

alt="Use lavender essential oil drops on your pillow for better sleep"
Use lavender essential oil on your pillow and feel a deep relaxation at bedtime.

Which are the best oils to help me sleep?

Our Top 6 essential oils for better sleep 💤

Lavender

Perhaps the best known essential oil and the one most commonly used to help improve poor sleep. There are references to Lavender in the Bible! And the Romans scented public bathhouses with it whilst Cleopatra allegedly used it to seduce Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

It isn’t just anecdotal either. There have been many studies on the benefits of lavender. It’s proven to improve the quality of sleep and increase deep sleep so you wake more refreshed in the morning.

Lavender also helps reduce anxiety by impacting several nerve transmission pathways. Put into a diffuser, add a few drops to your bath or onto a cloth and inhale. Or add to a carrier oil and apply topically to your skin.

Valerian

Known as nature’s Valium. Although not as well-known as lavender, perhaps because it doesn’t smell as nice, it has been helping us relax and sleep for thousands of years.

There have been many studies which show valerian reduces anxiety. It can help children focus and reduce hyperactive behaviours. It not only cuts the amount of time it takes for you to fall asleep, but helps you get a better quality of sleep.

Because it’s not the best smelling oil, people tend not to use it in massage oils and diffusers. Instead they ingest it.

Valerian is the special ingredient we use in Sleep Well milk. We combine it with whole milk and honey, to create a delicious and natural bedtime drink. Available in in chocolate, vanilla and even oat varieties, Sleep Well is suitable for all the family.

Studies show that valerian works best when taken regularly over a two-week period.

alt="Valerian plant is a great natural solution to sleep well"
Valerian is a beautiful plant and is one of the most effective to improve your sleep routine.

Holy Basil

Holy Basil is another herb used for thousands of years as a cure for all sorts of illnesses. From eye disease to bronchitis.

While many of us use basil in our cooking, it is the jagged leaf edged cousin Holy Basil that’s used for essential oils.

You might have also heard it referred to as Tulsi. Holy basil is said to lower your stress hormone, cortisol, and also help regulate blood sugar. It can be added into a drink, bought as dried tea, or put into diffusers.  

Patchouli

Patchouli not only smells good, but it is said to help increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine in our bodies.

These two hormones make us feel good and reduce anxiety and depression which, in turn, helps you sleep better. Used in diffusers or scents, it can also be applied directly to the skin.

Chamomile

Chamomile is well know for helping to relax and reduce anxiety. Packed full of antioxidants, it is often used in tea form. It contains apigenin, which binds to receptors in your brain. For the tea, dried flowers are usually used. But as an essential oil, it makes a great anti-inflammatory when a few drops are added to oil to dilute.

The great benefits of chamomile flower will help you in times of anxiety and stress.

Ylang Ylang

A really popular scent in relaxing massage oils, Ylang Ylang can reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. This can help you sleep better.

Ylang Ylang has antiseptic properties. Most often applied to the skin via a carrier oil, you can also add a few drops to your skin to help fight chronic fatigue and insomnia.

Warning about essential oil diffusers if you have a dog or cat

Many essential oils are highly toxic to pets, this includes Ylang Ylang, tea tree oil, cinnamon oil and eucalyptus.

For this reason, animal health experts warn that people with dogs and cats shouldn’t use diffusers in rooms where their pet can inhale the vapour, as it can cause respiratory distress.

They also shouldn’t use oils topically on pets without veterinary advice.

Some oils are safe, but check before you use them around your furry friends.

All diffusers should be used in a well-ventilated area and not inhaled constantly. ⚱️

Would you like to get more tips and exclusive Sleep Well discounts? Sign up to our newsletter for more sleep tips. 👇🏻

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: bedtime habit, chamomile, essential oils, holy basel, insomnia, lavender, patchouli, sleep aid, sleep well milk, valerian, vanilla milk, warm milk, ylang ylang

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"Bought this for my 22 year old daughter who has been having sleep issues. After drinking it, she slept through whole night without feeling rubbish the next morning. Definitely buying more and for my son who is 18, who I think will benefit from it too -thank you!"

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"My son has ADHD and Autism and we cannot live without this product! It really helps calm him down and has made a difference to his sleep ! Love it."

Emma

"I have been using the chocolate Sleep Well for the last few months. My anxieties have been high and restless nights have not been good. Since using Sleep Well, I manage to sleep through and I feel more refreshed in the mornings now."

Lisa

"I honestly can't sleep without it. I have really bad insomnia and as soon as I started to drink one of these a night my sleeping pattern turned out to be amazing. I had the best night's sleep ever, I woke up in the morning feeling so refreshed and wonderful."

Jenny

"It's amazing. I suffer with some PTSD which can cause me not to sleep as well. Drinking Sleep Well gives me a full uninterrupted night's sleep."

Tom

"Absolutely delighted! Sleep Well tastes so good and creamy. It's given me the best night's sleep I have had in so long. I usually wake up a couple times through the night but slept the way through after drinking Sleep Well. I will definitely be ordering more."

Jacqueline

"Sleep Well was easy to add to my nightly routine and tastes so good that I look forward to drinking it each and every night before bed. Most importantly it helps to set my mind and body at ease and to grant me the rest and relaxation time that I truly need."

Jade

"I love the chocolate Sleep Well!! It's a staple in my fridge now, especially for nightshifts, as it helps me achieve quality sleep quickly after a shift and also helps keep my sweet tooth at bay! I highly recommend you give it a try!! I am VERY impressed!"

Claire

"Sleep Well has been an amazing kick start for me to stop taking sleeping tablets & train myself for a good night’s sleep.  I LOVE my Sleep Well vanilla drink.  Haven't taken sleeping tablets for a week - woooo hoooo.  Thank you."

Tracy, charity worker

"I love Sleep Well. I was struggling to sleep and it really helped."

Heather, aged 11

“My daughter is 18 and has always had a problem with trying to get to sleep.  We have tried every hot night time drink and relaxation methods.  She is so stressed from college and now uni.  I saw an advert for Sleep Well on Facebook and ordered it.  Molly had the best night’s sleep, she felt so relaxed.  She said it tasted lovely hot and cold.  Can’t wait to see it in our supermarket.  #welldonesleepwell”

Gill, relieved Mum

“My two loved Sleep Well before bed time with stories.  They also slept like little logs xx”

Georgina, mum of two little ones

"Morning! I tried your milk last night instead of my usual Horlicks. It was like an anaesthetic - I didn't dream, hadn't moved in my bed and woke up feeling refreshed. It works brilliantly thank you."

Zeph and her terrier Mr Fudge
“Why hasn't someone thought of this before? Brilliant.”
Frank, knackered Dad
"I'm a part time insomniac and can't believe how well I slept."
Debbie, very busy PA
"The best night’s sleep I’ve had in seven years."
Susie, stressed lawyer

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