Last night, I went to sleep around 11:30 only to wake up at 3:00 AM. Darn insomnia. For me, sleep is as elusive as the Loch Ness monster. It's a bummer, too, because sleep is so important for health. Not only does it directly affect your energy level, a good night's rest can also help you manage your weight, and research now shows that skipping sleep can harden your arteries.

If you're like me and sleep doesn't come easy, try these tips:

• Exercise regularly, but not within three hours of bedtime.
  
• Don't eat or drink a lot before bed.
• Stick to a schedule, and try to go to bed at roughly the same time each night.
• Make your bedroom restful by turning out all the lights, keeping the TV and radio off and maybe investing in a white noise machine (or using something like a quiet fan or air purifier for white noise).
• Relax before bedtime with a bath, a book or anything else that calms you. Avoid the computer and TV right before bed as they can be stimulating.

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Some people might think we're a little nutty about our kids' early bedtime. I mean, we can be flexible. This summer, our boys enjoyed many a late night since they could sleep late in the morning. But mostly, and definitely when school is in session, Joey and Danny head for bed around 8 PM. That gives them 10.5 hours of sleep before we start the day with a rousing wake-up call.

Research says we're not so nutty after all, because getting too little sleep or not spending enough time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is associated with overweight tendencies among children and teens.

Compared to normal-weight children, one study found that overweight kids slept about 22 minutes less per night and had lower sleep efficiency, shorter REM sleep, less eye activity during REM sleep, and a longer wait before the first REM period. One hour less of total sleep was associated with a twofold increased risk of being overweight. One hour less of REM sleep was associated with a threefold increased risk.

What's the deal? It seems sleep loss causes changes in hormone levels that may affect hunger. Less sleep also allows for more waking hours in which to eat. In addition, sleep loss leads to fatigue, less physical activity, and fewer calories burned. A vicious cycle for sure. And one I plan to avoid for my kiddos. Bedtime tonight: 8 PM. On the dot.

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I've always heard not to eat certain foods before going to bed because it would make falling asleep a little more difficult. Things that would fall into this "no eat zone" category are spicy foods for example (it could cause heart burn). But what kind of snacks will actually help your chances of dosing off more pleasantly?

This site has the answer in regards to bedtime snacks for adults, teen and children. One snack mentioned for adults sounds pretty appetizing: three cups of popcorn sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. You can go with the low fat variety for an even healthier option. If your children get the munchies before calling it a day, try a banana with two teaspoons of peanut butter.

Quick edibles such as these should be consumed at least half an hour before hitting the sack. I can identify with another item on the list: cereal before bed! Nothing wraps up a day better than a bowl of Cheerios. Check out the site for more snack suggestions to sleep better.

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My kids normally have plenty of unscheduled time to play or just unwind, but the last couple of weeks have been busy ones. At dinner last night, I couldn't help but notice that they both just looked tired, and I realized that it was time to slow things down.

The holidays are a fun and magical time for kids, but even good stress can cause wear and tear on their physical health. Ediets has a list of 10 tips to make the holidays more peaceful for your children, including a few of my favorites:

• Make physical activity a priority, especially outside play. Exercise relieves stress and exposure to sunlight may help your child sleep better.
• Incorporate relaxation into your child's day through play.
• Make your home a quiet space. Reduce screen time (computer, TV, etc.) to reduce exposure to holiday advertisements.
• Be a stickler about bedtime; sleep is essential.
  

Have some more tips for making the holidays fun and stress-free for your kids? Share them with us!

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How many of you grew up getting a snack before bed? Whether it was because of tradition or more like a bribe to get you to go to sleep, many of us were raised with a little treat before bed and now, as adults, it can be a tough habit to break.

Unfortunately, eating right before you hit the sack can sabotage a healthy eating plan by adding extra calories into your diet (calories that cause you to exceed your daily allowance). If you can't seem to break the midnight snack habit, take a look at these suggestions that may help you wean yourself off the ritual.

Some of the tips include brushing your teeth right after dinner, as a clean mouth may keep you from snacking, avoiding TV in the evening before bed, as all of the food commercials could make you crave something to eat even if you're not hungry and going to be earlier because hopefully you'll end up asleep before you begin to feel hungry once your dinner has digested.

Have you got any other tips to help those trying to break the midnight snack habit?

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Recently, my husband came home and asked, "Why do our kids go to bed so early?" He'd been talking to some co-workers who balked at our kids' early bedtime. "Because they're tired," was my answer. Our kids have always gone to bed early -- even as small babies. We're the envy of our neighbors in the evening, but I see few lights on down the street when my kids get up before dawn. Early to bed...early to rise, that's what they say.

No matter when your kids get to bed, though, it's important to make sure they're getting enough sleep. A lot of the same health problems that can occur in adults who are sleep deprived can also happen in kids. Sleep loss has been linked to obesity and anxiety in children, as well as a lowered immunity to viruses. Not only that, sleepy kids are more accident prone. One only needs to watch a sleepy toddler try to walk to understand why. A tired school-aged child on a bike or a sleep-deprived teenager in a car are at risk for much more than a head bonk on the coffee table.

How much sleep does your child need? Read this simple chart to find out. If you don't think your child's getting enough, try moving bedtime back 15-30 minutes at a time, until you reach the time you'd like them to be in bed. Scroll to the bottom of this article for a few tips on easing your child into bedtime. What kinds of things do you do to get your kids to fall and stay asleep at night?

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