Timsmil, I'm about to get an AU Furniture sleeper sofa for my small guestroom/sitting room. They've got an unusual structure that means no 'bar' in your back. I've heard only good things from people who own them. You can search on their site (below) for a store near you where they're available. Best of all, for my purposes, they are very short front-to-back when they've open. (Like I said, my guest room is *small*.) A typical sleeper is 90-100', within which you only get a 72' long mattress (even in Queen sizes). The AU sleepers are only 83' deep, and within that you get an 80' long mattress, even on the Full & Twin sizes. The long mattress is great for grown-up visitors. The AU Furniture sleepers do cost more than competitors -- the Full size is about $2000 in microfiber, more in leather (under American Leather brand). The Crate & Barrel 'Nuevo' sofa is made by AU Furniture and has the same mechanism and virtues. It's bulkier, overall. Hope this helps! Here is a link that might be useful: AU Furniture website

I also have this problem. As I get more stressed the same pattern recurs: I start waking up progressively earlier, the monkey mind starts chattering and my night's sleep is ovah. So I will find myself up for the day at 6 am...5:30 am...5 am...4:30 am. Terribly difficult to get through a busy and hectic day when exhausted! I have found something that has worked miraculously well for me. It's a simple meditation practice of concentrating on one's breathing to relax. I force myself to think only about breathing calmly and normally-no special counting or visualization, just in/out, in/out, in/out. The trick is not to allow my mind to 'engage' because once the thoughts start to rev up, I'm doomed. Again, the key is DO NOT LET YOUR MIND START THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING. Nothing, only breathing in and out. If I find thoughts crowding my mind I come back to the breathing. It works too; like flipping a switch for me. I'll be diligently concentrating on my breathing, wide awake and the next thing I know, it's my normal wake up time and I have made it through the night and early am dangerous period. Good luck, I really sympathize and empathize with this one! And a question for anyone who suffered with this problem connected with a stressful work situation, and then retired: does that cure it? Or is this just something that is hardwired into one's personality? I keep thinking like you Joanie, that once I'm retired and don't have the aggravation of a job my sleep will be blissful. But...will it?!?! Ann

My daughters started sleeping over at friends' houses when they were about age 7 or 8, maybe 2nd grade. My kids never had a problem going to other houses. But once my daughter had a friend sleep over and the girl decided in the middle of the night that she wanted to go home. Another time, my daughter had a sleepover for her birthday. She was turning 10. Two of the girls got up during the night, went snooping in my kitchen, found a jar of honey and poured it on a third girl. After all the screaming, I took all three home. And I apologized profusely to the girl with the honey in her hair and her parents. She was a very shy, sweet child. I have felt terrible ever since. Never leave ten year old girls unsupervised!

My daughter just turned 3 and she sleeps pretty good at night. Lately, it has been much tougher to get her to take a nap in the afternoon though. On most days she really needs it. She almost falls asleep while she is eating or when we are driving somewhere, but then as soon as she gets to her bed she starts playing. I have noticed that she has a tough time sleeping through the night when she doesn't get a nap or when she goes to bed too late. From time to time she talks in her sleep and I can tell that she dreams about fighting with a friend about a toy. Sometimes she wakes up and screams, I think it is when she has a nightmare. She'll say that there are dinosaurs outside or something else that scares her. Is your son still taking naps? Maybe that would help. He is probably realizing that something is going to happen soon that is going to change his life. Try to be patient with him, soothe him when he wakes at night and cuddle with him a little. I would try not to sleep in his bed or let him sleep in your bed too often. When my daughter is upset, my husband or I are staying in her room long enough to calm her down. Then we turn her music (classic or children's music) back on and let her go back to sleep. Very rarely do we let her sleep in our bed and she doesn't even really like it. She has occasionally done it during a bad thunderstorm or so. I think it is tough for a kid that age to adapt to major changes in their life. When your baby is there, he will probably get a little jealous from time to time. I am sure it will be a big challenge for you to manage your work and two little kids. Are you going to have some help with the kids? I know staying at home and mainly talking to a little kid can drive a person crazy. Good luck!