A specially scented “pillow”

If they can’t fall asleep

“For the lucky few, there are children who climb into bed and are asleep within seconds. That wasn’t the case in our house,” says pediatrician and father-of-three Jack Maypole, M.D., educational advisory board member for The Goddard School. “When my kids’ active imaginations kept them up, I’d make them aromatherapy ‘pillows.’” He filled a fist-size square of cloth with a bundle of fresh or dried lavender or hops ($3 to $6 for 1 oz., MountainRoseHerbs.com). Next, he gathered up the corners and secured with a rubber band, then affixed the pillow to the headboard. How it helps: Lavender lowers heart rate to bring on calm and hops has natural sedative properties. Says Dr. Maypole, “The scents helped the children relax quickly.”