(Richmond, VA) – American families face a period of significant transition each year in August, as they transition from a summer sleep schedule to a school schedule. Not only are summer vacations coming to an end for elementary and high school students, millions of families are preparing to send students to college for the first time. The stresses associated with the experience can have an impact on quality of life, and it can be difficult to transition. A leading sleep tips website is offering some sleep advice to help families cope with the change.

“There’s no doubt about it, this is a season of major adjustment for many families,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co. and creator of SleepBetter.org. “After a period of vacations at the beach, trips to see relatives and lots of staying up late at night, it’s time to try to re-establish family sleep routines.”

Schecter says getting back into a normal and healthy pattern before the school year starts is critical. Continuing to stay up late while getting up early for school can lead to sleep deprivation, which studies have shown can cause inattentiveness’, irritability, lack of judgment, poor memory, anxiety, and even depression.

Here are some more back-to-school tips from SleepBetter.org:

• Work before school starts to ease back into the routine of getting up early. Get up a little earlier each morning, until you reach the time when you’ll get up for school.
• Try to find regular times for going to bed and getting up in the morning and stick to the routine, even on weekends.
• Listen to your body! When it’s tired, go to bed!
• Kids and adults should stop playing stimulating video games well before bedtime.
• Try to create a good sleep environment (yes, this can be a challenge in a freshman dormitory!)
• Avoid the temptation of late-night pizza (another major challenge at college!)
• Make sure your bedding is clean and fresh. As junior heads off to college, maybe it’s time for him to give up the cartoon sheets and pillows he’s been using since 5^th grade.

For more tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

###

(Richmond, VA) – With its extra-long days, heat and humidity, summertime always represents a challenge for getting a good night’s sleep. With many Americans cutting back on air conditioning as a way to save money, the quest for good sleep is even more difficult. A leading sleep advice website is offering assistance, however, with tips to help people cope with the seasonal strain.

“Longer days and heat in the summer can really have a profound effect on our sleep patterns,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co., and creator of SleepBetter.org. “If possible, work to keep your house dark and sheltered from the worst of the heat and sunshine of the day. Keep your home as cool as possible during the day with shades and blinds, especially if you want to avoid high air-conditioning bills.”

Schecter says the ideal sleeping temperature is 68–72 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be a challenge to achieve in the summertime. A ceiling fan in the bedroom can be a major help: the swooshing sound and cool breeze can help provide a favorable environment for good night’s rest.

Here are some more summer sleep tips from SleepBetter.org:

• Avoid hot, heavy meals at dinnertime. A rich dinner can come back to haunt you in the middle of the night, especially in the summer.
• Make sure your bed clothes are made up of cool, lightweight and breathable fabrics. Your sheets, blankets and pillows can make a major difference in your summer comfort.
• Take a cool bath or shower before bedtime.
• Don’t make major changes in your regular routine, even during summer break. Staying up late, sleeping in and extra long naps can interfere with your normal sleep patterns.
• If you have long hair, put it up in a ponytail or bun on the top of your head so it isn’t covering your neck and shoulders.
• In extraordinarily hot periods, look for the coolest room in your house to sleep. During a heat wave, don’t be reluctant to have a “family campout” in the basement.

For more tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org

SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

###

Pillow Giveaway Added for Selected Bedtime Story Submissions

(Richmond, VA) – SleepBetter.org, the web’s premier source for news, tips, and information on how to sleep better, announced today that it is expanding its program to teach parents how to help their children settle down for a good night’s sleep. The Bedtime Stories Project launched in May and includes a partnership with movie and TV star Betty White. It’s an effort to revive the practice of incorporating bedtime stories into a healthy sleep routine.

The Bedtime Stories Project is designed to show the value of using a bedtime tale to help children calm down before “lights out.” A survey conducted by SleepBetter found that families overwhelmingly prefer stories they create for their own enjoyment. The Bedtime Stories Project is collecting original bedtime tales by its site visitors as a way to showcase their creativity and encourage families to continue creating them.

“We’re concerned that bedtime stories are being replaced by television and video games,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co., and creator of SleepBetter.org. “A well-rested child is healthier, happier, and performs better in school, and bedtime stories have an almost magical power to help them end their day and drift off to sleep.”

SleepBetter.org visitors have submitted 100 stories to the project, and that number is still growing. Because of this outstanding response, SleepBetter is adding more rewards for the authors. One reward already included in the project is an illustration by internationally-known artist Bill Nelson. Nelson has illustrated covers for Time, Newsweek, Atlantic Monthly, and TV Guide. He also created the beautiful illustrations for the Sleepy Tales Book found on SleepBetter.org. The author of a story submission chosen by SleepBetter will receive a hand-drawn and colored illustration of his or her story by Nelson.

In addition to these two rewards, SleepBetter has decided to award prizes to four runners-up. The authors of each of these stories will receive a SleepBetter pillow by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products. Carpenter Co. bedding products can be found at a variety of retailers, including JCPenney and Bed Bath & Beyond. For more information, please visit http://carpenter.com.

The deadline for submissions to The Bedtime Stories Project is June 30. The five finalists will be announced in early July.

One author who submitted her story to The Bedtime Stories Project has already been rewarded. The story Cotton Candy and the Big Mouth Frog, written by Bonnie Cox Harrison of Virginia, was chosen to be read at an event in late May by Betty White. Video and images from the event can be found at The Bedtime Stories Project web site.

For more information on The Bedtime Stories Project, and to submit a story, please visit http://sleepbetter.org/bedtimestories

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org

SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org .

(Richmond, VA) – Wedding bells and sleepless nights can go hand-in-hand this time of year. June remains the most popular month for weddings in the U.S. and getting married not only is one of the most important events in a person’s life, it’s also one of the most stressful. So, a leading sleep advice web site is offering tips to help brides and grooms cope with the strain.

“Weddings usually are wonderful and joyous events,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co., and creator of SleepBetter.org. “But considering all the months of preparation and planning that go into the average wedding these days – not to mention the money involved – it’s no surprise that the bride and groom can feel pressure and tension along with their happiness.”

Schecter says getting proper rest as the big day approaches can help wedding partners be at their best for a milestone day they hope to remember their whole lives. “There really is such a thing as ‘beauty sleep.’ Beauty sleep is getting enough sleep that you wake feeling rested and rejuvenated. Improving your sleeping routine can be the best way to go from feeling droopy and slow in the morning to feeling like you’re ready to take on the world with shining eyes and a quick smile.”

Here are more June wedding stress relief tips from SleepBetter.org:

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol, which suppress deep sleep, within three to six hours of bedtime.
• Do your best to put aside wedding planning two to three hours before sleeping.
• Write out a “worry list” or “to-do list” of bothersome matters before bed to help your mind disengage.
• Sure, there’s a lot going on, but do your best to keep to a regular sleep pattern: Retire within two hours and rise within one hour of the same time every day, even on weekends.

For tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org .

###

(Richmond, Va.) - Still hunting for the perfect Mother’s Day gift idea? While it’s wonderful to give an outing with the family, beautiful gifts and, of course, flowers, one thing that mothers universally don’t have enough of is sleep. With Mother’s Day right around the corner on May 9th, leading sleep advice and information web site SleepBetter.org is offering tips to help sleep-challenged moms and the families who love them.

“Let’s face it, flowers and chocolates are fine, but what most moms need these days is a chance to re-charge their batteries,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co., and creator of SleepBetter.org. “Even if you can’t create a life of leisure for mom, you can help her make the most of the sleep opportunities that she does have.”

Schecter says the perfect gift for Mom might be an opportunity to take a nap on a busy day, or perhaps even an offer to get up with the kids in the morning (and not just on Mother’s Day!) so she can sleep in a little.

For families who want mom to be able to open a gift on Mother’s Day, Schecter suggests looking at a new generation of sleep products that can enhance the rest experience.

• Additional tips from SleepBetter.org to help mom (and dad, too) get a good night’s rest:
• Nap no later than 8 hours before you are planning to go to bed to avoid sleep interference.
• Put work aside two to three hours before sleeping.
• Write out a “worry list” or “to-do list” of bothersome matters before bed to help your mind disengage.
• Make the bedroom into a sanctuary. Try aromatherapy, or bring the freshness of the outdoors inside with air-dried sheets and sunned pillows and comforters.

For more tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://sleepbetter.org.

###

You’ll be better prepared for filing your tax return if you’re well-rested.

(Richmond, Va.) - Each year, millions of Americans wait to file their federal income tax returns until the deadline is looming, leading to stress and sleepless nights. With the April 15th I.R.S. deadline fast approaching, leading sleep advice web site SleepBetter.org is offering some tips to help sleep-challenged taxpayers through tax season.

“For a lot of folks, tax season is one of the most stressful times of the year,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co., and creator of SleepBetter.org. “The best advice, of course, is not to procrastinate. But in the real world, we know that, for a variety of reasons, plenty of people find themselves up against the deadline every year.”

Schecter warns that rushing to meet the filing deadline may cause people to overlook important details and could increase the risk of making errors. “Take a deep breath,” says Schecter. “In fact, if you can manage it in your schedule, try to get a good night’s sleep before preparing your tax return. An alert and well-rested taxpayer is less likely to make mistakes.”

Here are some more tips from SleepBetter.org to help stressed-out taxpayers:

• Take heart: sometimes just taking the initiative to solve problems is enough to beef up your confidence level and shake away those doubts and fears, and help you fall asleep.
• Set the stage for successful sleep: Try dimming the lights a couple of hours before bed. This will work as a cue for your brain that sleep is just around the corner.
• Establish a cutoff time for crunching numbers, and stick to it!
• After putting away the tax return for the night, sip some warm milk or herb tea before going to bed. It will raise your body temperature and to help induce sleep. Chamomile tea is a good choice.
• Snack on protein and complex carbohydrates up to one hour before bed to enlist the aid of these naturally calming compounds.

Each time of year brings different sleep challenges. With a little effort you can get a great return on how much and how well you sleep. And, since the quality of your sleep affects all other aspects of your life, it’s worth the time to take a few moments to review your sleeping arrangements.

For tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://sleepbetter.org.

###

(Richmond, VA) — After a long and, for many Americans, extraordinarily cold and snowy winter, springtime is finally on the horizon. A leading sleep advice web site says people hoping to improve the quality of their sleep should see spring as a perfect occasion to consider some changes in their sleeping environment.

“We know that the first day of spring on March 20 won’t mean the end of cold weather for a lot of folks,” said Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products at Carpenter Co., and creator of SleepBetter.org. “But, the change of seasons is a golden opportunity to take a look at how making some changes can make a big difference in your nightly rest.”

Schecter says the first thing on a spring cleaning sleep list should be switching out those flannel pajamas. “Spring sleepwear is lighter and more airy than the winter duds you’ve been wearing for the last few months. The light fabric should make you feel like you’re not sleeping under a ton of material. Being too hot makes it hard to stay asleep during the night.”

Here are four more spring cleaning sleep tips from SleepBetter.org:

• Have you aired out the house since winter? All that stale air can affect your sleep. When it’s warm enough, open the windows during the day to let some fresh air into the house.
• Are you an allergy sufferer? Make sure your pillows and mattress are clean and that your pillows have been switched out recently so you are not affected by an overabundance of allergens like dust mites, dust, and old skin cells on your pillow. You might also consider a hypoallergenic pillow.
• Use the right kind of blanket. A breathable blanket can make a huge difference in your sleep comfort. Try a few different blankets to see which gives you the best sleep quality.
• The transition to longer days with more sunshine can cause a sleep schedule disruption for some people. Resist the urge to stay up later and keep to your normal bedtime.

Each season brings different sleep challenges. With a little effort you can get a great return on how much and how well you sleep. And, since the quality of your sleep affects all other aspects of your life, it’s worth the time to take a few moments to review your sleeping arrangements.

For tips to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org

SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

###

This release can also be found here:
Five Spring Cleaning Sleep Tips from SleepBetter.org [trackback]

Summary: Noted sleep expert and SleepBetter.org contributor comments on nighttime chatterbox who has become an Internet sensation.

(Richmond, Va.) — An English ad-man’s overnight verbal outbursts are an Internet phenomenon, but noted sleep expert Michael J. Breus, PhD, a contributor to sleep tips web site SleepBetter.org, says sleep talking is actually quite common and may have a genetic underpinning.

If you haven’t heard about Adam Lennard by now, you probably will. Lennard has become a world-wide Internet comedy star because his wife records his sleep talking nightly. She posts his nocturnal comments on her personal blog, called “Sleep Talkin’ Man”. Both husband and wife insist Lennard is sound asleep when he makes observations such as the following:

• “You can’t be a pirate if you haven’t got a beard. I said so. MY boat, MY rules.”
• “No dog, no play. It’s as simple as that.”
• “I think you should sit down. Surely your ankles can’t take the weight.”
• “I want to be a cowboy. I don’t want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!”

“Generally speaking, sleep talking can be a frequent event where the sleeper vocalizes anything from mere utterances to a coherent entire conversation,” says Breus. “Often the sleeper will have a monotone voice or grunt out the words, sometimes incoherently. While others have been known to actually sing in their sleep.”

Breus, who is the author of the book Beauty Sleep, says sleep-talking usually occurs in the lighter stages of Non-REM sleep and sleepers usually have no memory of what they said. “The actual words or phrases have little to no truth, and usually occur when they are stressed, during times of fever, as a medication side effect or during disrupted sleep,” Breus added.

Some good news for the Sleep Talkin’ Man and others who mutter in their sleep: sleep talking in and of itself is nothing to worry about. Said Breus, “There is no indication of psychopathology. It really does not mean anything that we currently know of. We do know that it will also happen in times of sleep deprivation.”

The only thing you may have to worry about is who happens to be recording you while you’re sleeping.

For information to help you sleep better, please visit http://sleepbetter.org. You can also find sleep tips and articles from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Dr. Michael Breus
Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and both a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Breus is also the author of Beauty Sleep and the in-house sleep expert for SleepBetter.org.

Dr. Breus is a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and belongs to several speakers¹ bureaus. He has provided editorial services for numerous medical and psychology peer-reviewed journals and has given hundreds of presentations to professionals and the general public. Find out more about Dr. Breus by visiting http://www.thesleepdoctor.org.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

###

This release can also be found at these sites:
SleepBetter.org: Sleep Expert on “Sleep Talkin’ Man:” It Could Happen To You
PRWeb: Sleep Expert on “Sleep Talkin’ Man:” It Could Happen To Anyone
Online PR News: Sleep Expert on “Sleep Talkin’ Man:” It Could Happen To Anyone

(Richmond, Virginia) – Holiday time is upon us, and with it comes family trips, household visitors, home decorating chores, party planning, gift-shopping and — of course — all those extra bills to pay.  All of this added stress can lead to sleepless nights, but it doesn’t have to. SleepBetter.org, one of the premier sites on the web for sleep advice, is offering a series of tips to help ensure that holiday stress doesn’t keep you from getting a good night’s sleep.

According to  well-known sleep expert and contributor to SleepBetter.org, Michael J. Breus, Ph.D, “Stress of any kind is a proven cause of sleep disorders and interrupted sleep patterns.”

“Your health is your most important asset and it takes good quality sleep to maintain it,” adds Breus. “Some studies also link poor sleep with increased susceptibility to ulcers, heart disease, obesity, depression and a host of age-related ailments. Sleep deprivation also is frequently cited as the cause of highway fatalities and other accidents.”

SleepBetter.org offers the following tips to enjoy better sleep while enjoying the holidays:

• Keep your schedule: Even during the festive season, sleeping habits for adults should be as regular as possible. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. Don’t spend your day off from work in bed or you won’t feel rested the next day.
• Don’t over-indulge, Part One: When you eat heavy, greasy foods, especially in the evening, your body won’t be able to digest them quickly, leaving you to the mercy of that food while you’re trying to sleep.
• Don’t over-indulge, Part Two: Take it easy with “holiday cheer.”  Even though alcohol is a depressant and will help the body fall asleep, it will create problems during the second half of the sleep cycle, when the effects have worn off and a backlash effect occurs.
• Travel smart: If you’re traveling for the holidays (as a passenger), invest in a travel pillow to catch a nap and avoid a stiff neck; wear comfortable clothing and bring along an iPod or other MP3 to play soothing music to help you sleep during the trip.

For  tips to help you sleep better throughout the year,  please visit http://www.sleepbetter.org.  You can also get sleep advice from SleepBetter on Twitter and Facebook.

About Carpenter Co. / SleepBetter.org
SleepBetter.org is dedicated to helping people sleep better. Designed as an online resource, the Web site creates a forum for visitors to define, discuss, and discover solutions to their particular sleep needs. SleepBetter.org’s quest is to continually gather pertinent sleep information, then share this knowledge with the general public. The site also shares tips on the best sleep related products, both in stores and online. SleepBetter.org has created the Sleep Better seal as a way to easily identify products recommended for their superior quality or scientifically based design. Created by Carpenter Co., the world’s largest producer of comfort cushioning products, SleepBetter.org provides information and advice that visitors can use to sleep better. For more information, please visit http://SleepBetter.org.

###

This release also posted on:
Business Wire