sleep tight

Is bedtime chaos central at your house? I often give my kids a pre-bedtime bath to "calm them down" but they end up inventing all kinds of new games in the bath and riling each other up instead. So I always need a little extra help getting them to mellow out when they finally hit the hay. The Lulabie® aromatherapy teddy bears ($29.95 each) introduces kids to the "sleep well” ritual from birth on. The Lulabie® teddy bear gift sets include a scented teddy bear with a “sleep well” aromatherapy formula, a short bed time story that tells the story of Lulabie Land and its animals to read to your child before he goes to sleep, and a relaxing music CD. Created by founder Sabrina Polakoff, who knew a good night of sleep was the most precious gift any parent could have, the Lulabie® “sleep well” formula is a blend of aromatherapy and includes 100% pure lavender oil to help calm and relax, orange to calm down, thyme to revive the soul and cardamom to release fatigue and stress. The patent pending scented technology allows for a slow and constant release of the fragrance, so kids can enjoy the aromatherapy scent for months. Choose from Rubie (beige), Rhodie (pink), Saffie (blue), and Selie (brown). Go to www.lulabie.com for more info or www.walmart.com, www.amazon.com and www.target.com to purchase.

traveling with tots

If you have to stay in Brooklyn, check into the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. (It's just over the bridge from Manhattan so it's a great spot to unpack in if you are planning a trip to the city too). In addition to getting all of the basic amenities you get at any Marriott hotel (think clean, comfortable rooms, dependable service, and attention to detail), you'll find it's a great place to escape to with kids. We took Harrison, age 3, and Ava, 20 months, with us for the weekend. The hotel happily provided extra beds and linens, including fluffy pillows and down comforters. You'll love the cityscape and bridge views looming before you; your kids will love the HDTV and selection of Pay-Per-View movies. You can request an in-room fridge to store their favorite foods and snacks. The best thing about the hotel for kids is the lap pool, designed for adults but very amenable to kids who want to splash around a bit. The lifeguard closed a lane for us and some other mini swimmers each time we went down for a dip! Walk a few blocks to visit the New York Transit Museum where kids will love trekking through old train cars and going through the different turnstiles that have been in operation over the years. If you really need a break, leave the kids at home and take advantage of the hotel's romance package ($379 through December 31st; champagne and chocolate covered strawberries included). Go to www.marriott.com and search for the Brooklyn Bridge destination to make your reservations.

father's day: you snooze, you lose

More than 80 million Americans snore. If your dad is one of them, pick up this one-of-a-kind anti-snoring device, Silent Snooz ($12.95), for Father's Day. Designed to ease and even eliminate discomfort for those subjected to snoring, Silent Snooz offers an innovative design, aromatherapy benefits, and a drug-free solution. How it works: The V-shaped nasal dilator fits comfortably on the base of the nose and exerts different levels of pressure to effectively open the nasal passages. In three sleep-inducing scents--soothing Eucalyptus, calming Lavender and fragrance-free Original, Silent Snooz is available at Associated Wholesalers, Avon Catalog, CVS.com, Drugfair, Kerr Drugs, Ingles Supermarkets, Hannaford Brothers, Harmon, Magic Mark Stores, Rite Aid, Walgreens and select drugstores nationwide. It's definitely a gift that goes a long way and has tons of payoff. Sweet dreams!