Sleep pillow sprays

[Peanutbutterjar]

Has anyone got experience of using one of those sleep aid pillow sprays? My first instinct is they are a bit of a gimmick and wouldn’t help with sleep issues. It’s for my partner, he wants to avoid sleeping tablets but is having trouble getting to sleep, he is ok once dropped off.

Any recommendations?

I've used the Avon lavender one for years, I think you can get in on eBay - I've always had good results

Well lavender is supposed to help you sleep.

I find lying on my back with my arms by my side, breathing deeply then tensing and relaxing each muscle in my body working from the toes up helps me drift off.

I've used the This Works one for a couple of years. It's probably a placebo effect but I do think it helps a bit - it's just a nice smell and a little ritual to signal that you're going to sleep.

Thanks for the replies. I will give the lavender spray a try, and tell him about the tensing technique.

Getting to sleep needs a ritual if it's something he struggles with. It then becomes a habit.

1. Don't wait until you're nodding off on the couch before you go to bed. If you usually start to nod off at ten, start getting ready at half nine.
2. Have lamps on in bedroom, not the main light.
3. Have a tidy room.
4. Have a quick warm bath or shower.
5. Spend 15 minutes reading something.
6. If you're a worrier about the next day, make a list of what you're going to do tomorrow.
7. Use ear plugs, turn lights off, don't be too hot or too cold.
8. Don't worry about not getting to sleep!

I love pillow sprays. Sadly the main reason for me not nodding off seems to be not getting ready for bed at a set/similar time with it being the school holidays.

A bedtime routine half an hour before wanting to sleep is usually pretty good.

Thanks Bezm. He does do some of those things, but probably not for long enough to create the ritual effect. Doesn’t help that he works shifts so natural sleep pattern is interrupted anyway.
Our neighbors can be quite noisy so he uses TV to drown out sound of them, this can’t help so I will suggest ear plugs instead.

Breathing exercises are good. As a general rule, one where you breathe out for long than you breathe in are best for relaxing. And as you breathe out, feel your body relax.

Audio books or podcasts - so you have the light off, have them on loud enough to hear but quiet enough to sleep through. I have problems staying asleep so I use the Radio 4 iplayer app to help me fall asleep again quickly. Often a 30 min programme takes me several nights to finish

I use the This Works one. It’s not cheap but it does help me.

I tried around 3. One was This works - which didn't. Another was L'occitane which also didn't. Cannot remember the other one but that was no help either!

However, since I got rid of the feather pillows (why did I bother??) and went back to Primark cheapo pillows and their duvet cover I am sleeping much better!!!!

I don't think they do much, but they are nice to use. More use, I think, is lavender oil in one of those little tealight burners, half an hour before bed - and a mug of Horlicks or Ovaltine.

I use the Avon lavender and chamomile one. I do have a better sleep with it.

I just buy a 100ml bottle of lavender oil for about £10. I sprinkle it on pillow to help me sleep and also add to bath water. It lasts about 6 months.

Camomile tea really helps. I also doo some deep breathing and tense and release muscles. He could asldo try white noise to block outside noise x

I have the L'Occitane one...it's lovely.

Sleepy by Lush body lotion knocks me out I just put some on my chest and upper arms and away I go.

I have found the this works one does help. The avon one, while nice, didn't for me. I second the tea, it's a good sleepy signal. You can get small bottles of this works which might be worth a try.

An eye mask that completely blocks out the light helps me drop off more quickly too.

I think it's trial and error, what works for one won't work for another

I just use vanilla.

This works is the best, expensive but good, the Avon one is ok, but this works is better imho.

I have dreadful trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep.

Advice I had inc. belly breathing, that helps, and also to try and keep your eyes open, sound odd advice but it is really hard to keep your eyes open they feel heavy.

I like the this works spray I got a small tester for a fiver in m and s

Any recs for eye masks?

The tiny This Works kits are definitely worth a go.

Clary sage essential oil, a few drops on a pillow or hanky is good for sleep. I make my own pillow spray, half water, half witch hazel and as many drops of lavender essential oil as needed to smell lovely.

L'Occitane one worked for me. Love it

Cotton wool pads soaked in witch hazel makes a good compress for eyes.