by Kelly Wilbanks posted in Parenting

When I retell my best parenting stories, they aren't usually from between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. We don't stop being parents at night. We're never off the clock and soothing babies to sleep is vital for the health of everyone in the family.
I'll admit it, we've all been a little sleep-deprived at my house since my baby Annie joined our family in February. I had to laugh (albeit inwardly) when my 5-year-old recently used it as an excuse for a bad attitude. "Mommy, I've been cranky because Annie is keeping me awake at night and being tired makes me cranky." Of course, she wouldn't take my suggestion of a nap.
Crankiness has plagued us all at one point or another these past 6 months. That is why I stole an hour to myself to get some things that will help us through the nighttime. I went to Target, because I knew they'd have everything I needed to create the right ambiance for sleep.
Having three small children usually keeps me homebound in the afternoon during naps, so my shopping trip was a rare escape. After walking the aisles and combing through clearance bins, I made it to the baby section and discovered some real must-haves: light-blocking curtains, cute crib bedsheets, and a birdhouse nightlight.

1. Many sleep experts will tell you one of the main reasons we struggle with sleep in America is light. Cellphone light, TV light, lights from computer screens all mess with our internal clocks and make it hard to fall...