Circadian rhythm is the body’s internal clock that is responsible for regulating  a person’s sleep cycles, alertness, digestive system, hormones and body temperature.

Primarily run by the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the Circadian rhythm responds to the amount of light and darkness it receives from the environment.

The Circadian rhythm is disturbed when your eyes are exposed to a lot of artificial light.

It is also negatively affected by irregular schedules where bedtime and wake-up times are not maintained properly.

In this blog, let us learn more about the Circadian rhythm clock.

Things that dominate the Circadian rhythm—

1. Light Exposure- Light is the chief signal that tells the internal clock what to do and keeps the mind & body in-sync with the external environment.

2. Melatonin and Cortisol- Melatonin is a hormone that helps a person fall asleep. Every night, from about 9 PM, the body starts producing melatonin in preparation for sleep.

Every morning at about 7-8 AM, the body starts suppressing melatonin production.

Around the same time, it also starts the production of cortisol. An increase in cortisol helps your mind and body to gain alertness and get ready for the day.

3. The Master Clock- The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), located in the hypothalamus part of the brain has been nicknamed as the Master Clock.

This part of the brain largely governs the Circadian rhythm by receiving light signals and darkness signals from the eyes.

4. Other influences- In addition to the above-mentioned factors, things that influence a person’s Circadian rhythm include physical activity level, food intake, and social interactions.

What happens when circadian rhythms are disrupted?

When the Circadian rhythm is disrupted, the body's internal clock falls out of balance. And with it, a number of other bodily systems fall out of balance as well.

As a result, numerous physical health and mental health issues start to occur.

1. Sleep Disorders- Sleep related health conditions like chronic insomnia, jet lag, excessive daytime sleepiness, shift work disorder, and delayed/advanced sleep phases are seen in people whose Circadian rhythm is not working properly.

2. Mental health issues- People who consistently find it hard to get their required hours of sleep also suffer from some form of mental health conditions.

Those conditions include depression, SAD (seasonal affective disorder), anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.  

3. Chronic diseases- Regular disturbances in a sleep schedule often lead to a host of chronic diseases that have an adverse affect on a person’s health.

Those diseases include obesity, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How to maintain a healthy Circadian rhythm?

If you want to avoid all the Circadian rhythm disorders, then it is important for you to maintain a healthy Circadian rhythm.

Here’s how you can maintain a healthy Circadian rhythm—

1. Regular exposure to light- Make sure that every morning you soak-in some sunlight.

Though morning time is ideal to get some sunlight, most times during the day is fine for exposure to natural light.

However, it is best to avoid the sun during midday and early afternoon as the sun gets too strong at that time.

2. Adhere to a sleep schedule- It is important for you to go to bed at a specific time every night and wake up at a specific time every morning if you want your sleep-wake cycles to keep running smoothly.

3. Exercise- Engage in some sort of physical activity (walking, jogging, strength training, swimming, yoga etc.) on a regular basis in order to support your Circadian rhythm.

But at the same time, avoid any intense workouts late in the evening.

4. Screen time- Stop looking at screens at least an hour before bedtime.

Blue light from electronic devices (cellphone, tablet, T.V. etc.) hinder the production of melatonin, a hormone which is important for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.

5. Bedtime routine- Prepare your body to go to bed and take rest for the night. In order to do that, create a bedtime routine that you find relaxing.

Your bedtime routine can include anything from washing your face and putting on moisturiser to taking a warm bath and reading a book.

Circadian Rhythm FAQs

What is a normal circadian rhythm?

Humans have a built-in 24-hour biological clock that is crucial for regulating their sleep-wake cycle, metabolism, hormones and body temperature.

This biological clock is known as the circadian rhythm.

It is responsible for keeping a person alert during the day and making her fall asleep and stay asleep during the night.

The circadian rhythm is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)— a part of the brain.

It is done mostly by regulating the levels of cortisol and melatonin (on the basis of light-exposure) as and when needed.    

What is the 10, 3, 2, 1, 0 rule for sleep?

This  rule helps you in enhancing and sticking to a steady sleep-awake routine.

According to the 10, 3, 2, 1, 0 rule, you need to eliminate caffeine 10 hours before sleep, cut off alcohol 3 hours before bed, stop working 2 hours before bed, stop looking at screens 1 hour before bed and hit the snooze button 0 times in the morning.  

Why do older people wake up at 3:00 am?

It has been found that older people often wake up around 3 AM due to shifts in their sleep cycles. These shifts have made them stay longer in lighter sleep stages than deemed normal.

The shifts in sleep cycles are mostly caused due to various age-related factors.

The main factors include increased cortisol levels, advanced circadian rhythms (earlier bedtimes), and hormonal changes such as reduced melatonin.

Another major factor is the need to urinate more frequently.

How many hours of sleep should I get each night?

Most adults need to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.

However, the exact amount of sleep required by a person depends on certain elements such as their activity level, age and the condition of health.

One of the most important factors while trying to get proper sleep is to adhere to a specific sleep schedule.

A person needs to go to bed at night at the same time and wake up at the same time everyday in order to maintain a sleep schedule efficiently.

Which organ controls circadian rhythm?

The prime structure that determines the workings of the circadian rhythm in mammals (including humans) is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is located in the hypothalamus part of the brain. It is considered to be a master clock containing as many as 20,000 nerve cells.

These nerve cells receive direct input from the eyes and help in synchronising various bodily functions within the 24-hour light-dark cycle.

What vitamin deficiency causes you to wake up at 3 AM?

Studies have shown that a Vitamin D deficiency in the body can cause a person to wake up at 3 AM.  

Certain health conditions such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism can also lead to circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

These sleep disorders can often leave a person feeling exhausted and sick.

Who sleeps for 90% of the day?

Koalas spend 90% of the day sleeping. That’s 22 hours of sleep in a 24-hour time period. Natives of Australia, Koalas live and hence, feed mainly on eucalyptus trees.

These cute little thickset arboreal marsupials spend about 10% of their day eating and sitting around.      

What hormone is released at 3AM?

Scientists have found that the level of the stress hormone, Cortisol, starts increasing between 2 to 3 AM in preparation of your body’s wake-up process.

However, in case you are already stressed about something, or anxious, then the natural rise in cortisol can make you fully awake in an instant.

What does Chinese medicine say about waking up at 3 AM?

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), when a person wakes up between 1 AM and 3 AM on a regular basis, it means that there is an imbalance in the Liver meridian.

Liver meridian (a key energetic pathway in TCM) is responsible for regulating blood, detoxifying the body and processing the emotions of a person.

When a person is waking up in the above-mentioned hours, it is a sign that that person might be suffering from severe stress, anger and/or frustration.

So much so that it is creating a hindrance in that person’s sleep cycle and preventing her from entering a stage of deep rest.          

Humans are biological machines that run on energy. This energy comes from nutritious food, water, the Sun, proper sleep, regular exercise and a stress free life.

Some of these factors are within our control, while others are not.      

Whether you’re struggling to stay focused at a meeting, hitting the wall at the gym or getting tired easily while running after your kids; that sudden and severe feeling of fatigue is a sign of low stamina.

The good news is that stamina is not a static trait that we are born with. With time, patience and proper steps, stamina can be built.

Given below are nine effective ways to increase your stamina—  

1. Maintain a healthy diet.

For great stamina, it is important to include healthy foods in your diet.

Foods like iron-rich leafy greens, high-quality proteins (eggs, chicken, yogurt), fruits (banana etc.), healthy fats (nuts, seeds, peanut butter etc.) boost your stamina, help with muscle recovery and improve oxygen-circulation.

Also, simple sugars can cause mid-afternoon crashes. So, go for complex carbohydrates instead.

Make foods like lentils, oats, sweet potatoes, brown rice and quinoa a part of your regular diet.

These foods would release you from the ‘spike and sink’ cycle that makes you feel exhausted; even when you have no reason to feel so.

How to increase stamina by food? Simply take heed of the information mentioned above.    

 
2. Stay hydrated.

It is a well known fact that dehydration causes fatigue. In other words, fatigue is hidden dehydration.

When the water in the human body drops by even 2%, it can make a person feel sapped. This ‘perceived depletion’ of energy can make doing a simple task twice as hard.

When you feel super-tired but have no real reason to feel so, the first thing you can do is hydrate yourself.

You can drink water, lemon juice, unsweetened fruit-juice etc. for hydration.

Whether you’re working indoors or outdoors, keeping a bottle of water nearby and sipping from it throughout the day is helpful in keeping yourself hydrated.

Staying well-hydrated is a great way to boost energy levels.

3. Get enough sleep.

Humans need sleep. Sleep is super-important for proper functioning of the human body.

Various aspects of a person’s health and well-being depend on the quality of sleep they get on a regular basis. One of those aspects is stamina.

Did you know that stamina is not built by your body when you are moving. It is built while you are sleeping.

When you are asleep, your body is busy repairing tissues and balancing the hormones that are responsible for regulating energy.

When you are constantly sleep-deprived, your mental and physical ‘energy cup’ never gets filled properly.

Hence, you remain tired and end up with a low stamina.

For a grown adult to maintain their physical and mental health, around 7-9 hours of sleep is required every night.

If the sleep requirement is not completed during the night, taking a nap during the day should suffice.

Wondering how to increase stamina naturally? Taking a daytime nap is a good step in that direction.  

4. Manage your stress.

It is a known fact that stress drains energy— physical and mental, both. As a consequence, stress can reduce your stamina to a great extent.

It is also a fact that stress can make a person lose focus on the task at hand. But having a high stamina (mental as well as physical) can help a person perform well under pressure.

You can follow various stress-management techniques that eventually help in raising your energy levels, improving resilience and elevating the ability to sustain effort.

Stress-management techniques include proper diet, exercise and appropriate amount of sleep.

So, how to increase stamina at home?

Manage your stress!  

5. Get moving.

You don’t need to join a gym and train like a professional athlete in order to build endurance. One of the best ways to increase your stamina at home is by exercising regularly.

You can try ‘zone-2’ exercises such as a brisk 30-minute walk or a steady bike ride 3-4 times a week. These exercises train your body to burn energy more efficiently.

They are called zone-2 exercises as you can still hold a conversation without gasping while performing these exercises.

Once you have successfully incorporated these stamina building exercises into your daily routine and feel strong enough; you can change your regimen and exercises to take your stamina to greater heights.

Under the new exercise plan, you can move on to strength-training exercises such as squats, push-ups, lunges, resistance bands and dumbbells.

These exercises aid in building good muscle mass, improves your metabolism and hence, upgrades your stamina.

When you have a strong body, it feels lighter. Also, you would be able to control your movement more efficiently, ultimately using less oxygen.

Consequently, you acquire better stamina.

What’s more?

Exercising also helps in reducing the cortisol levels in your body.

Low levels of cortisol means more energy for you to carry out the tasks that you need to on a daily basis, and then some.

6. Quit smoking and drinking.

Smoking and drinking has negative effects on health.

People who drink and smoke frequently have decreased lung capacity, improper blood circulation and a low physical endurance.

They also have low levels of energy.

Have you been wondering how to increase stamina and build physical endurance? Avoiding smoking and drinking is an important step of achieving that goal.  

7. Follow the 10% rule.

To improve your stamina, you need to slowly escalate the time and intensity of your exercise regimen.

However, in order to avoid burnout and injury, it is important that you increase your workout duration and intensity gradually.

It is often advised that you should never increase your workout time and intensity by more than 10% per week.

A slow progression of things is necessary for your cardiovascular system to adapt to the activity level-changes safely.

When you read blogs on stamina building for beginners, you would find the 10% rule in almost all of them.    

8. Take frequent breaks.

If you have a sedentary job that requires more sitting than actual physical activity, then your stamina tends to decrease due to lack of use.

So, to counter that, you can get up from your seat every hour and walk around (or stretch) for two minutes.

Doing this would help with blood circulation and prevention of that lethargic feeling you get after sitting at the same spot for hours.

Have you been thinking, how to stay active longer?

Take short breaks frequently!          

9. Push yourself.

When you are trying to achieve something worthwhile, it is important to push yourself.

And when it is about increasing your stamina and making yourself stronger, you absolutely need to push yourself to reach your goals.

It does not matter if you are not trying to improve athletic performance, but simply need to improve your stamina for regular work; you still need to push yourself to work harder and continue your workout routine.

Sometimes, you may feel like quitting. However, don’t lose sight of your goals. Keep going. Stick to your routine unless a doctor has advised not to.

You can push yourself by setting up micro-goals.

Which basically means giving yourself the strength to go on by setting little goals that seem achievable.

Tell yourself, “I’ll run for five more minutes”, “climb up and down these flights of stairs twice more”.

Set-up these mini-goals and watch yourself reach them.

But at the same time, know your limits.

If you feel too much discomfort or pain that seems unusual, you need to stop exercising.

Also, before starting any rigorous exercise regimen, it is important to consult a healthcare professional or a doctor to make sure that you are physically fit enough to carry out those exercises; especially if you are in the beginner phase.    

Low Stamina FAQs

Why is my stamina very low?

There are various reasons why you may have low stamina.

And more often than not, low stamina is caused by a combination of these reasons. Just one of the factors is not responsible for low stamina.

Those reasons are poor sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, improper food habits, a lack of regular strength training, not drinking enough water and certain lifestyle habits (heavy smoking, drinking etc.).

Address whichever factor is responsible for your stamina issues and you’ll be able to upgrade your stamina-level.

Cardio workouts for endurance are great if you want to take your stamina and physical strength even further.  

What destroys stamina?

There is a wide range of things that can destroy or decrease your stamina.

Health problems such as heart diseases and asthma, weak bones, weak muscles and certain medications can have a negative effect on the stamina of a person.

Also, certain environmental factors such as high humidity, high temperature and a high elevation level can also decrease a person’s stamina for some time.

How to increase stamina fast?

When you want to build up your stamina fast, you can incorporate HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) into your regular exercise regimen.

HIIT includes sprinting for 30 seconds followed by 60 seconds of jogging, to maximize your heart rate and increase oxygen efficiency.

Also, continuing with your long-duration, lower-intensity workouts ( jogging or brisk walking) would help you in building endurance.

Don’t forget to give yourself time for proper recovery in between your exercise routine.

In case you have been thinking how to increase stamina in 2 days? It is not really possible to see any significant change in stamina in just two days.

However, slowly and surely, you can reach your stamina goals.

How to increase stamina naturally?

Increasing stamina naturally is related to multiple factors that a person needs to pay attention to.

First and foremost, they need to follow a diet that is rich in nutrition. Secondly, they need to exercise regularly (cardiovascular as well as strength training). And last but not least, they absolutely need an adequate amount of rest (7-9 hours of sleep).

In addition to the above-mentioned factors, if they are really serious about improving their stamina, they need to make certain lifestyle changes.

These lifestyle changes include quitting smoking, staying well-hydrated, and managing stress through yoga and meditation.

And how long does it take to increase stamina?

Building a stamina that helps you live the life you want to, takes time.

When you are able to maintain consistency and train regularly, you can start noticing improvements in about 4-6 weeks.

It takes about 2-3 months to see significant changes.

At what age do you lose stamina?

A study was conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

For about 47 years scientists studied the way that a person’s strength, fitness and muscle endurance develop and change during childhood, and in the later years.

It was found that under normal circumstances, a person’s physical ability starts to decline as early as at 35 years old.

But there’s no need to lose hope.

With proper diet, exercise and lifestyle, a person can maintain their desired level of physical fitness.

What are the signs of low stamina?

Muscle weakness, persistent fatigue, low energy, and feeling exhausted after minor physical activity or mental work are the common signs of low stamina.

Many people also experience poor concentration, breathlessness during simple physical tasks and muscle pains when they have low stamina.

These symptoms and low stamina are often caused by lifestyle factors such as a lack of exercise, stress and inadequate sleep.  

What vitamins help boost stamina?

Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 boost your stamina and provide energy.

Vitamin D helps in energy metabolism and fighting off fatigue. Vitamin B12 supports metabolism in red blood and nerve cells.

Why is my stamina weak?

A weak or low stamina is often the result of multiple factors, not just one.

Those factors can be anything from poor-quality/quantiy of sleep and improper diet to a lack of cardio exercises and sedentary lifestyle.

Which food has the highest stamina?

One of the best ways to increase your stamina at home is by following a nutritious diet.

Foods that increase stamina include high-quality proteins, healthy fats and complex carbs which provide a steady flow of energy.

Energy-giving foods include bananas, eggs, oats, sweet potatoes, quinoa, nut butters, fatty fish, and beetroot etc.

In addition to providing energy, these foods also aid in muscle-recovery and keep fatigue at bay.        

Important Note: Please remember that it is necessary to consult a doctor for the assessment of your fitness-level before you start any rigorous exercise regimen.  

Foxes have always been a personal favorite of mine. Arctic Fox, Fennec Fox, Red Fox, Corsac Fox— I love them all. I find them cute and funny.

In fact, I love foxes so much that I named one of our dogs ‘Foxy’.

Foxes are not just cute and funny. They are also incredibly intelligent, resourceful and charming. And these qualities are the reasons why they have survived for centuries.

The physical and mental traits of a fox have often been regarded as “cat-software running on dog-hardware”.

Whether you're a fox enthusiast or simply someone who likes to learn facts about animals, this list is for you.  

Here are nine interesting facts about foxes—

1. Foxes have multi-purpose tails.

A fox has a tail that looks like a ‘brush’. Along with looking gorgeous, their tail serves multiple purposes.

The tail of a fox helps them with their balance when they run and sprint. It acts as a flag while communicating with other foxes.

Also, foxes use their thick tails as a blanket during the winter season.

2. Foxes are super adaptable.

When it comes to foxes, evolution did its job efficiently. Hence, foxes are incredibly adaptable creatures.

And this adaptability has helped them thrive in varied environments such as the Sahara desert and the Arctic; which are completely opposite types of environments.

And not just that, when humans started cutting down forests and built cities, the foxes learnt to coexist with humans.

London is famous for this. Many people report seeing foxes in their backyards, even if their houses are located right in the city.

The foxes explore backyards and garbage cans for food, eating everything from crickets to leftover pizzas. Some even eat dog food that is kept outside for pets.

Many kind people feed the foxes that visit their property. Some foxes even play with their pet dogs, forming bonds transcending the divide between wild and domestic.

3. Foxes are solitary creatures.

One of the most well-known facts of foxes is that they do not run in packs. They prefer to travel, sleep, run and hunt alone.

However, during the mating season and the kit-raising season, foxes tend to forge a strong bond with their mates and younglings.

More often than not, foxes mate for life, raising their kits together, living together as a family unit.

They also share a territory with their mates and defend it together as partners that ‘work and play’ together.

4. Foxes giggle.

A fun fact about foxes for kids is that foxes can giggle, in a way. There are many fun videos of this online that you can look up.

They make a sound that is called ‘gekkering’. And gekkering sounds a lot like laughing.

It is basically a high-pitched noise that foxes make when they are excited. Their teeth chatter while making that noise.

The same vocalisation is made by foxes during aggressive encounters and territorial disputes as well.

5. Foxes can climb trees.

Grey foxes have strong semi-retractable claws and rotating wrists that give them the ability to climb trees efficiently.

Sometimes, while trying to catch a prey or escape a predator, Grey foxes can climb upto a height of over 10 meters.

6. Foxes have vertical pupils.

Most canines have round pupils.

And even though foxes belong to the Canidae family and hence, are canines, they have vertical slits for pupils; just like cats do.

Foxes’ vertical pupils give them great night vision, making them excellent hunters even at nighttime.

It’s one of the reasons why people find foxes’ gaze so piercing and totally feline.

7. Foxes are an important part of folklore.

Kitsune (shapeshifting fox spirits) in Japanese folktales, clever foxes in Aesop’s Fables, Huli Jing in Chinese folktales— foxes have always been an important part of intriguing storytelling.

In addition to these, foxes also feature in European, Russian, African-American and Native American folklore.

Folktales often portray foxes as intelligent beings who use their knowledge and cleverness to ‘trick’ and defeat their adversaries.

An interesting fact about foxes in folktales is that they tend to help the less fortunate and the ones who have a good heart.  

8. The “Vixen” and the “Dog”.

In the animal kingdom, the male and female of a particular species have specific names.

A female fox is called a vixen, while a male fox is called a dog.

9. Foxes use the Earth’s magnetic field to hunt.

It may sound like a line from some mystical story, but some foxes have the ability to see the planet’s magnetic field.

To be precise, Red foxes can see the Earth’s magnetic field. It appears as a ‘ring of shadow’ in their vision.

And when that shadow lines up with the sound of an animal they are preying on, especially when prey is hidden under snow or vegetation, they pounce.

And as they can sense the magnetic north, foxes prefer to attack in that direction. They either jump toward the North or the Northeast to catch their prey.

Fox Facts FAQs

What is a fox's worst enemy?

Coyotes are foxes’ worst enemy. Even though scientifically classified in the same group, they are not friendly at all.

In fact, coyotes and foxes get into a fight whenever they see each other. Coyotes kill foxes in order to reduce competition for food resources in their territory.

So, the clever foxes try their best to avoid coyote territories.

Do foxes have 42 teeth?

Yes. A lot of foxes (Red fox etc.) have 42 teeth throughout their adult life.

What is a fox's biggest fear?

Foxes are scared of loud noises (sudden high-pitched sounds), bright lights (intense headlights in a dark night), and large predators (huge birds of prey, coyote, bears etc.).

Even though a lot of fox species are wary of humans, there are a few fox species that have learnt to coexist with humans.

They get very close to human settlement (homes etc.) when they are very hungry and smell food in people's backyards.

There are many people who feed foxes on a daily basis. Some foxes even come to play with pet dogs in the yard.

Can foxes fall in love?

For all intents and purposes, many fox species display ‘signs of being in love’ with their mates.

Fox couples form a strong bond with their partners during the breeding and rearing season. They work together as a team to ensure the survival of their offspring.

Many of these family-oriented partnerships continue beyond the breeding and rearing season. A lot of foxes mate for life.

Would a fox bite a human?

Under normal circumstances, foxes do not bite humans.

In rare cases, when foxes get rabies, they might attack humans. Sometimes, when a human is trying to capture a fox, the fox might try to bite or scratch that person.      

What's the friendliest fox?

Gray foxes are known to be the friendliest and calmest ones.

Unlike other fox species, they are quite friendly with people; specially the ones that were bred in captivity. However, they can never be fully housebroken.

Please take heed that wild animals are dangerous and should not be approached unless you are officially qualified to do so.

Do foxes cry?

Foxes make a sound that is similar to a human scream. Hence, in a way, foxes do cry.

But they do not scream out of fear. Foxes use their cry as a form of communication over long distances.

Plus, during the mating season, the piercing, high-pitched screams are made by  females (vixen) to attract mates. It is also made by the males to mark their territory.              

Should you touch a fox?

It is best to avoid touching any wild animal, including a fox.  

But if you must touch a fox for rescue efforts and such, you need to wear thick gloves and other protective gear before handling one.

Like most mammals, foxes might carry certain parasites (ticks, ringworms, fleas etc.) and diseases (rabies etc.).

Hence, make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after handling or touching a fox.  

Do foxes have a high IQ?

In the animal kingdom, foxes are known to have a high IQ. It has been found that in general, foxes are more intelligent than dogs.

It has been seen that a dog usually solves a problem using a straightforward way, usually by brute force.

But a fox might try to solve the same problem using a wide range of ideas, not just physical strength.

Foxes’ memory, spatial reasoning and understanding of repeated gestures are above average compared to countless other animals.

So, how smart are foxes? The answer is, very smart.          

Skin is the largest organ in the human body. And yet, we tend to neglect it quite often.

Too tired after a long day, we don’t remove our makeup. Running late for work, we don’t apply sunscreen. The weather gets a bit cool and we end up taking a nice hot shower.

All these things are quite harmful for our skin.

Not just these everyday practices, there are other things we do or don’t do that affect the state of our skin.

If we want healthy and glowing skin, then we need to do everything we can to take care of it; especially in the summer season.

Given below are six skin care tips for the summer season.  

1. Protect your skin from the sun.

One of the best ways to get beautiful skin is by protecting it from the harsh effects of the sun.

Though a little bit of soft sunshine— during the early morning hours— is necessary for good health, too much sunlight can be quite harmful for the skin.

Excessive sunlight can cause your skin to burn, bring about premature ageing (wrinkles) and even lead to skin cancer.

So, once the sun starts to climb the horizon, you need to minimise sun exposure.

As simple as this summer skincare tip is, it is quite an effective one.

If you need to spend a lot of time outdoors, be it for work or play, seek out some shade and make sure to stay in shade as much as possible.

Apply sunscreen regularly. If you are outdoors all day in sunny weather, make sure that you keep reapplying sunscreen every couple of hours.

Or use the kind of sunscreen that does not flow away with your sweat or water, especially if you are having fun at a beach or poolside.

And, if you don’t want to do much else, at the very least, use an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun.          

2. Keep yourself well-hydrated.

When it comes to summer skin care tips, this one should be obvious but it rarely crosses our minds.  

If you want healthy skin, you absolutely need to keep yourself hydrated. It means that you need to drink plenty of water.

If you find it difficult to drink plain water as much as you should, then you can mix it up with fruit juices.

But either way, it is important to keep your body well-hydrated. If your body gets enough hydration, so would your skin.

And a well-hydrated skin is a healthy and beautiful skin.

3. Bathe with cool water.

You may not think twice about the kind of water you use to bathe but it is something that is crucial for healthy skin.

Admittedly, there are not too many people who use hot water to take a shower or bath, in the summer season.

But there are some people who just cannot live without their hot showers or hot baths.

If you are one of those people, then you need to know that hot water can be very harmful for your skin.

So, while following other skincare tips for summer season, don’t forget to follow this one.  

As much as you can, bathe or shower only with cool water. You can use lukewarm water if needed.

But never bathe with hot water; unless you have other health issues that demand the use of hot water while bathing.

Hot water can make your skin dry. And dry skin does not look healthy.

There are other causes of dry skin as well. But bathing with hot water is a major one.    

4. Use the right products for your skin.

The idea of using the right skin products often comes up while discussing summer skin care tips for oily skin or any kind of skin for that matter.

So, what kind of products are right for your skin?

There are countless skin products available for you in the market. So, which ones should you choose? Which ones would suit your skin the best?

These questions can make people confused.    

The easiest way to choose good products for our skin is to choose the ones that help us keep our skin hydrated.

While purchasing moisturisers, choose the ones that are lightweight and gel-based. If possible, find the ones with aloe vera or hyaluronic acid.

It would help you maintain good moisture on your skin without clogging your pores.

While choosing a sunscreen, look for one with SPF 50 or above.

5. Take care of your diet.

Make a healthy diet an important part of your summer skin care routine for dry skin, or any other type of skin you may have.

What you eat and drink affects your skin greatly. But most of us tend to forget that.

If you want gorgeous skin, do not ignore what you consume on a daily basis.

In the summer season, you can eat seasonal fruits such as watermelons, muskmelons, litchis and cucumbers etc.

These fruits will keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Along with fruits, eating vegetables with Vitamin C would help your body fight free radicals. This in turn would keep your skin healthy and beautiful.

Other than the ones already mentioned, there are other best foods for healthy skin that you can include in your diet.      

6. Exfoliate twice a week.

A key factor of a summer skin care routine is exfoliation.

During the summer months, you may sweat more than usual. As a result, the skin on your face produces more oil.

Hence, it is not unusual for your face to look grimy in the summer season. The best way to fight this problem is by exfoliating the skin atleast twice a week.

Exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells that accumulate on the outer layer of your skin over a period of time.

It also helps in removing the dirt and other pollutants that get embedded in the pores of your skin.    

These pollutants usually come from the environment. Especially if you live in the city where there are too many cars, factories and other polluting agents.

When you exfoliate your skin, you get a cleaner, fresher and brighter-looking skin. Removing all the grime from your skin also helps in keeping it healthy and beautiful.            

Summer Skin Care FAQs

What is the 4 2 4 rule in skincare?

The 4-2-4 skincare rule is a Korean beauty deep-cleansing method.

This method denotes that a person needs to engage in 4 minutes of massaging the skin with an oil-based cleanser and 2 minutes with a water-based cleanser.

Then, the person needs to spend 4 minutes rinsing their skin. Two minutes with warm water and another two minutes with cold water.

What are the 7 steps of skincare?

A 7-step skincare routine basically involves double cleansing, toning, applying skin serum, moisturizing, putting on eye cream, and finally, applying sunscreen (during the day) or a richer night cream (at bedtime).

During this skincare routine, it is advisable to use the products from the thinnest (serum, gel etc.) to the thickest (moisturiser, nightcream etc.).

Doing this helps in maximum absorption of the skincare products, which ultimately helps in solving skin issues such as skin dehydration, signs of ageing and skin damage (from sun and pollution).        

How to get skin glow in 7 days?

For you to get a glowing skin in just 7 days, you need to make sure to follow a specific skincare routine.

This routine includes cleansing, exfoliating, deep hydration with skin serums or masks, and regular use of sunscreens.

In addition to this, you would need to drink plenty of water, eat foods (fruits, vegetables, healthy fats) with antioxidants, get enough sleep and reduce your stress in order to make your skin glow.

Though each person’s skin is different and hence, the time taken to make their skin glow would differ; doing these things would eventually give you a glowing skin.  

What skincare to avoid in summer?

Even though it is good for the skin, it is best to minimise the use of skincare products such as exfoliants and peels during the summer season.

You don’t need to avoid its use completely, but keep it to a limit of using them once a week.

Why, you may ask?

You need to do this because during the summer season your skin produces more oil. It is done in order to keep your skin hydrated.

Exfoliating your skin too much in the summer would make it dry. Using peels too frequently would also have the same result.  

How to get 100% clear skin?

While living on a planet where pollution is quite common, achieving a skin that is 100% clear can be quite tough.

However, it can be done with a proper skincare routine of cleansing, moisturising, sun-protection (30+ SPF), adequate hydration, stress management, a balanced diet and enough sleep.            

What are the 5 basics of skin care?

Cleansing, toning, treatment (with serum), moisturising and protection (with sunscreen) are the 5 basic skincare steps.

These skincare steps are essential in keeping your skin clean, hydrated, healthy and protected from damage.        

Gardening is a skill that is disappearing at a fast rate. Mostly because a lot of people live in apartment buildings with not much space to grow plants.

If you are one of those people who get to spend a few hours every week tending to their own garden, taking care of plants, soaking in the serenity of nature, then consider yourself lucky.

And if you have kids, they are even luckier that they get to spend their time connecting with nature.

Some kids may find basic gardening activities somewhat boring.

If you want them to understand the significance of nature and plants in general, you can get them busy with a gardening project every now and then.

Given below are seven gardening projects for kids—  

1. Construct a Bird House or Bird Perch.

One of the many joys of having a garden is that you can enjoy watching all the birds and butterflies that visit the garden everyday.

They look for food in the flowers and the ground of the garden.

You can make them feel welcome by building a birdhouse or a bird-perch where they can sit, eat, take rest and get shelter when it’s raining.

And since building a birdhouse is not that easy of a task, you will have to take the lead here; especially if your child is young.

If you have a teenager who has experience in building wooden objects for school projects, then you can do this project together without too much guidance.

When it comes to building a birdhouse with a child, it is best to ‘go old school’ and use a hammer to fix the nails into the joints of the birdhouse.

Remember one important thing, do not let your child handle any kind of power-tools.  

And if your kid is young, it is best to do the actual constructing part by yourself while letting them watch. Then, involve them in the later stages.

If you want to construct the birdhouse from scratch, you would need about five pieces of wood or plywood.

You can also recycle an old drawer or wine box with a sliding door and turn it into a birdhouse.

If you feel like your kid is too young to work with a hammer and nails, you can simply use super-glue instead of nails for this project.

Though the best material for a birdhouse are wood or plywood, you can also build one with recycled styrofoam or repurposed plastic containers.

Once the house itself is ready, ask the kids to paint it in beautiful colours.

Then comes the part where you need to hang-up the birdhouse.

Make sure that you put it at a place that is easily accessible to the birds and away from direct sunlight.

The birdhouse also needs to be put in a spot where predators (cats, kites etc.) can’t get in easily.

2. Make Rock Seed Markers.

This particular project is especially useful if you plan on taking up a vegetable gardening project for kids.

Once you plant the seeds for your vegetable garden, you would need markers that indicate the location at which specific seeds have been planted or sowed.

The materials you need for this project— quick-drying acrylic paints, paintbrushes and 6-7 pieces of small smooth rocks.

The 1st step is to make sure that the rocks you pick for painting are smooth surfaced and clean.

If they are not, then wash the rocks thoroughly and put them under the sun to dry.

Once they are completely dry, paint the rocks with a coat of white acrylic paint to make the base.

When the coat of paint is completely dry, paint a different vegetable on each of the rocks in correspondence with the vegetables that will be planted in your garden.

Alternatively, you can paint flowers or fruits on the rocks if that is what you are planning to plant in your home garden.

When the painting is done, set the rocks aside and let the paint dry completely.

Once the rocks are ready, you can plant the seeds and place the rocks about 2–3 cm in front of the seeds.

Remember that you must never place the seed markers on top of the spot where you plant the seeds as this may hinder its growth.          

3. Build a Bug Hotel.

With kids’ natural curiosity comes a curiosity for things that are a part of the natural world.

Young kids love to play outside. They love to jump in puddles, climb trees, pluck fruits and flowers from trees when they see one.

Many of you might remember overturning rocks to watch the bugs living underneath them. A lot of kids love bugs.

And that is why building a ‘hotel for bugs’ is one of the most exciting garden activities for 10 year olds and younger kids.

Materials needed for building a bug hotel— a wooden crate, a piece of plywood small enough to fit into the crate, four bricks, a big rock with a smooth surface, one ceramic dish/saucer, a bunch of ‘bug friendly’ material for filling the bug hotel, paint brushes and quick-dry paints.

The first step is to make sure that the crate, piece of plywood and the rock are clean. If they are not, clean these items thoroughly.

Once they are clean, paint these things in bright and beautiful colours. Apply multiple coats and give atleast two hours for each of the coats to paint to dry properly.

Paint the words ‘Bug Hotel’ onto the big smooth rock.

Then, find a quiet and shady spot in your garden to place your bug hotel at. Position the crate in such a way that it is not wobbly.

Put two bricks inside the crate at both sides. Next, stack the remaining two bricks on top of the ones already placed inside.

After that is done, you need to place the piece of plywood on top of the bricks and make another ‘floor’ of the bug hotel.

Then, you need to place the ‘Bug Hotel’ sign on the ground floor. Put the ceramic dish/saucer on top of the bug hotel.

Stuff both the floors of the bug hotel with all the ‘bug friendly’ material you have collected for this project.

These materials can include small pieces of wood, twigs, cardboard pieces, small flower pots and pebbles.

The final step is to fill up the ceramic dish/saucer with fresh water for the bugs to drink from. And your ‘bug hotel’ project is complete.

Leave it alone for a few days. Then check it carefully and you’ll see a variety of bugs taking refuge in the tiny hotel you built together with your child.  

4. Paint a Planter Box.

This is perhaps one of the most simple gardening projects for kids.

Things you will need for this project— paints, paint brushes and an old wooden drawer with some holes at the bottom (for water drainage).

First, you are required to clean the drawer, making sure that it’s ready to be painted on.

Then, apply a coat of fresh paint. Wait for it to dry. When it dries completely, paint another layer of the same colour on the box, and wait for it to dry.

After that, paint small designs (flowers, bugs, rainbows etc.) of your choice. Once again, give it some time to dry.

And voila! Your beautiful planter box is ready for use.

5. Create a Terrarium.

This can be a satisfying gardening activity for adults as well as children. You and your child can create a terrarium together.

Terrariums are tiny gardens housed in transparent (glass) containers. They are somewhat easy to make and maintain.

Hence, they are the perfect project for kids.

Items you will need for creating a terrarium— a clean and clear glass container, moss or charcoal, small pieces of rocks, succulents or other small plants, and potting soil.

Lay down the small pieces of rocks at the bottom of the container. This layer of rocks acts as the terrarium’s drainage system.

Above the rocks, add a layer of moss or charcoal. This layer helps in keeping the terrarium fresh.

After that, put a generous quantity of soil in the container. Then plant the flora species you’ve chosen for your terrarium.

Once that is done, ask your child to decorate the terrarium as she wants to. She can add painted wood pieces, stones or tiny figurines to the terrarium decor.

6. Identify Flowers.

Finding free gardening projects for kids is not really that hard. There are various things kids can do in a garden without spending a penny.

Identifying flowers is one of those projects. It can be a great educational tool that is fun at the same time.

Identifying various flowers is an interesting way to expand your kids’ knowledge about plants and the flora kingdom.

Compared to the other projects mentioned here, this is a fairly simple and easy one.

The first step is to print out photos or pictures of a variety of flowers that is native to the country you are living in.      

Then, go out to your garden or local park and match the real flowers with the ones in the photos.

You can also talk about the features (colour, shape, size etc.) of each of the flowers.

If your child likes art projects, both of you can create a scrapbook together with pictures of the flowers with a little bit of details written below each of the flowers.

7. Plant Some Seeds.

When you search for examples of gardening activities, you would see that this is possibly the easiest one.

Gaining an understanding of seeds and how to nurture them is the foundation of gardening.

And the most basic knowledge about seeds pertains to how to plant them.

Items you would need for this project— a wide range of seeds (flowers, vegetables, herbs etc.), pots, potting soil and water.

Introduce the seeds you choose for the project to your child. Then, explain how those seeds grow.

After that, fill the pots up with soil, or ask your child to do it. Then, plant the seeds carefully, as instructed in the packets of those seeds.

Make sure that you place the pots at a sunny spot. Water the seeds as required. Track the plants’ progress as they sprout and begin to grow.      

Gardening Projects for Kids FAQs

How to choose a gardening project for my child?

While choosing outdoor gardening projects for kids, the first thing you need to consider is your child’s interests.    

If your kid loves building things, then you can build a bird house together. If your kid loves painting, then you can paint a birdhouse, rocks or flowerpots together.

Also, if your child is unusually clumsy and tends to get injured easily, it is best to stick to gardening projects that mostly involve painting objects rather than building them.

Do all kids like gardening?

Just like not all adults enjoy gardening, every kid doesn’t like gardening either.

So, in case you have a child that does not prefer playing in the mud or soil, it is best not to force them to engage in gardening projects with you.

Gardening can be a fun activity for you and your child, but only when you both enjoy doing it.      

Who should avoid gardening?

Kids (and adults) who are allergic to certain types of plants, bugs or soil need to avoid gardening as it may pose a risk to their health and well-being.                        

Also, it is best for people with asthma and other respiratory issues to avoid gardening as it can trigger their condition and make things worse for them.    

Pasta is a versatile dish that can be cooked in multiple ways. Different recipes call for different ingredients including a wide range of herbs and seasonings.

The kind of sauce (Alfredo, Pesto, Carbonara, Bolognese, Arrabiata) you make for your pasta depends on your flavour preferences.

Whichever sauce you decide to make for your pasta, herbs are indispensable to the recipe.

Now the question is, which herbs to put in pasta sauces (for vegetarian and non-vegetarian pasta)?  

Given below are the names of the most commonly used herbs for pasta dishes—      

1. Basil.

Basil is often called the king of herbs. Why? Because basil is a popular herb in various communities and cultures around the world.

Another reason is that along with being an important ingredient in countless recipes (not just pasta), Basil has medicinal as well as aromatic uses.

Basil is the main ingredient in pesto pasta— a mouth-watering pasta dish that makes your tastebuds happy.

Other than pesto, basil is mainly used in pastas and pasta sauces that have tomatoes as the main ingredient.

Basil enhances the natural flavour of tomatoes with its refreshing and somewhat peppery aroma.

Basil is an important part of Italian cuisine.

You can use basil as a dried herb for tomato pasta sauce or add a few fresh leaves towards the end of the cooking process.

Remember that dried basil can be added earlier in the cooking process in order to develop flavour slowly.

In addition to tomatoes, basil works well in pasta dishes containing extra virgin olive oil, garlic  and/or parmesan cheese.

What’s more?

Basil can easily be grown at home in your herb garden. So, you will have a steady supply of fresh basil for your culinary adventures.

2. Oregano.

Oregano provides an earthy and robust flavour to a dish. It is also slightly bitter in taste and hence, perfect to be added to tomato-based pasta sauces.  

Additionally, oregano goes well with sauces that have olive oil, garlic and/or red wine as ingredients.

It is important that you use oregano in moderation. If you put too much oregano in a pasta sauce, it can reduce the influence of other flavours in the dish.

This way, a disharmony in different ingredients and flavours might arise, and completely ruin the dish you are making.

It has already been mentioned that oregano can taste a bit bitter. It happens when oregano is cooked for too long.

So if you don’t want the pasta sauce to taste bitter, you need to add the oregano at the end of the cooking process; either after the heat is turned off or in the last 10-15 minutes of simmering.        

3. Thyme.

Thyme is a flavoursome herb that brings a minty, woodsy and slightly sweet taste to pasta sauces.

Thyme is one of those dried herbs for pasta sauces that enriches the taste of a variety of pastas; be it creamy, tomato-based or garlic-butter sauces.

Though a lot of people use dried thyme to flavour their pasta sauces, you can use fresh thyme leaves to make your pasta sauce extra-delicious.

The best time to add thyme to your dish is while the pasta sauce is simmering. Doing this would allow its flavours to infuse into the sauce.

Thyme can be used together with other herbs such as basil, parsley, oregano and red pepper flakes; without the aroma of each of these herbs clashing with the others’.

Thyme can also be used as a seasoning and garnishing, not just as an ingredient.

4. Rosemary.

Rosemary is an excellent choice when it comes to fresh herbs for pasta sauce. However, some people do use dried rosemary leaves as well.  

You can use rosemary while making pasta sauces with ingredients like mushrooms, tomato, garlic, lemon, butter and cream.

Remember that rosemary has a strong taste. So, leaves from 1-2 sprigs are enough for a full pot of sauce.

Also, always remove the leaves from the woody sprigs before adding them to the pasta sauce.

The best way to incorporate rosemary into a pasta sauce is by cooking the rosemary leaves in butter or oil for 1-2 minutes.

Then, you can add the tomatoes or other ingredients to the pot. This way, the rosemary leaves would release its fragrance smoothly, seeping into the contents of the pot.

5. Parsley.

In a lot of Italian herb pasta recipes, parsley exudes ‘main character energy’. Parsley shows up at the last minute and makes the pasta sauce incredibly yummy.

In other words, you need to add fresh parsley to the pot at the final 60 seconds of cooking or right after removing the pot full of pasta sauce from the stove.

This way, the leaves won’t lose its subtle flavour and would be able to work its magic on the dish.

Parsley goes well with pasta sauce recipes that contain components such as parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, tomatoes and walnuts.

Cooks who use parsley in their pasta sauces on a regular basis prefer to use flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsley) for cooking as its flavour is more luscious and palpable than curly parsley.

6. Tarragon.

A versatile herb with a heavenly aroma— tarragon is used in all sorts of pasta sauces.

It does not matter if the recipe calls for mushrooms, seafood, chicken, cream, lemon, wine or mustard; tarragon pairs well with anything and everything.

This is perhaps the reason why tarragon is one of the major white sauce pasta recipe ingredients in many cuisines around the world.

Cooks usually use fresh tarragon for pasta sauces. However, dried tarragon can also be used if fresh ones are not available.

Just remember that dried tarragon has a much stronger smell and needs to be used sparingly.        

7. Sage.

Sage is a classic pasta sauce herb that can be found in most Italian kitchens. In fact, it is an essential part of Northern Italian cuisine.

It is advisable to use fresh sage leaves for cooking instead of dried ones.

The best way to use sage in a pasta recipe is to sauté it. This process allows the fresh sage leaves to release their flavour slowly and blend nicely with the other ingredients.

Sage is used in pasta sauce recipes that consist of butter, cream, garlic, almond, tomato, pumpkin olive oil and/or chicken broth.    

Pasta Sauce Herbs FAQs

What herbs go well with pasta sauce?

Depending on the type of pasta you are making and the other ingredients being used, there are a number of herbs that go well with pasta sauce.

Those herbs include oregano, basil, parsley, thyme, tarragon and chives.

What herbs do Italians put in pasta?

Italians use a wide range of herbs such as basil, thyme, oregano, bay leaves, sage, parsley, rosemary and marjoram.

Which herb is the king of all herbs?

Basil is known as the king of all herbs. It has an intoxicating scent that enhances the flavour of pasta sauces instantly.

What are the best seasonings for pasta?

Cloves, sumac, black pepper, oregano and crushed chilies are some of the best seasonings for pasta.

What herb is similar to oregano?

There are various substitute herbs you can use depending on the recipe you are using for making the pasta sauce.

Marjoram is deemed to be the best substitute for Mexican oregano. In place of Mediterranean or Greek oregano, you can use parsley, basil or tarragon.    

Which basil is best for pasta?

Sweet basil is thought to be the best type of basil for pasta.  

In many Italian soups and sauces, Genovese basil (a sub-species of sweet basil) is the main ingredient.

Genovese basil is comparatively somewhat easy to grow in a kitchen garden. Hence, you can grow it and have access to plenty of leaves for cooking.

What is the queen of all herbs?

Basil is the queen of all herbs. It is recognised by its refreshing fragrance and beautiful leaves.

It is known as the queen of all herbs due to its healing properties.

Basil is so delicious that it is included in a number of white sauce pasta recipes with cream. Basil instantly increases the savouriness of a pasta dish.          

A good suit can make you look elegant. Wearing a good suit can uplift your mood instantly and make you feel like a million bucks.  

Many workplaces require their employees to wear suits to work everyday.

It is important to choose your suits carefully if you want to make a good impression at your office.

And not just at your work-place, a suit can make you look dapper anywhere you go.

You can use this blog as a suit-fabric guide to upgrade your wardrobe. Choose the ones you like and make your own style statement.

Nine types of fabrics for making suits for men and women—      

1. Wool.

Wool is versatile, refined and chic. So much so that amongst the different types of suit fabrics and weaves, wool is known as the king of fabrics.

Wool is a natural material that can be worn comfortably in various types of weather.

From lightweight tropicals to heavyweight flannels, different types of woollen suit fabrics can be used in different climatic conditions and occasions.

Also, wool’s insulating and moisture-wicking properties make it quite popular amongst people who wear suits frequently.

The most common wool-variants that are used by suit-wearers of the world are flannel, tweed, merino and cashmere.  

What’s more? Wool is wrinkle-resistant to a great extent.

2. Cotton.

Cotton is deemed to be one of the best types of fabrics for making suits. It ranks high in the breathability factor and is incredibly versatile.

Twill, poplin, regular cotton, chino, heavy cotton, corduroy and seersucker— you will have endless options while selecting a cotton suit.

You can choose according to your needs and occasions; and also based on the cotton-variant’s texture, weight and comfortability.  

It is advisable to go for lightweight options for the summer season and heavier options (corduroy etc.) for the cooler months.

The only downside of cotton as a fabric is that it creases. So, you would need to spend some time in the maintenance (pressing) of cotton suits.  

3. Linen.

Linen as a fabric goes hand-in-hand with the summer season. Hence, it is one of the most commonly found unstitched fabrics for suits.

Linen’s natural fibers are lightweight and highly breathable.

It also has moisture-wicking properties making it the perfect fabric for suits to be worn in hot and humid weather.    

If you like to wear suits when you are on vacation, linen suits are perfect as they can be worn comfortably even at tropical destinations.

However, keep in mind that linen is a fabric that gets creased easily. So, you would need to invest some time in its maintenance.      

4. Mohair.

Mohair suits may look somewhat stiff compared to cotton or woollen suits, but it is a breathable fabric. This quality makes it suitable for daily wear.

One of the best things about the mohair fabric is that it is crease-resistant.

This particular attribute makes mohair suits attractive to people looking for low-maintenance suit fabrics.

Mohair also has a beautiful lustre making it the perfect fabric for women’s suits as well as men’s.

100% mohair is stiffer than blended mohair. Hence, it is best to make suits out of blended mohair.

Blended mohair suits are luxurious, breathable and resilient.    

5. Silk.

As a fabric, silk exudes sophistication. Silk suits are luxurious suits that are perfect for formal events as well as boardroom meetings.

This gorgeous fabric is breathable, lightweight, has a subtle sheen and drapes around beautifully.

In fact, silk suits are great for summer as well as the winter season.

Amongst the types of fabrics for making suits in India, silk is one of the favourites.

One thing to keep in mind before choosing silk for your next suit is that silk suits often require more care than suits made out of wool or polyester.

So, if you are looking for suits that are practical but also look and feel elegant, you can choose silk-blend suits.  

6. Velvet.

On a suit fabric names list, velvet is one of those that feels the most luxurious. It is super-soft to touch and eye-catching at the same time.

Even though a suit that is made entirely out of velvet may not be that common, many people wear it to express their own personal style.

If you are someone who shies away from making bold fashion statements but wants to wear velvet anyway, there are ways through which you can do so.

You can wear a velvet blazer or jacket with your suit and glam up your whole look.

Velvet is perfect for formal and semi-formal events like weddings, parties and other events (piano recitals etc.) taking place in the evening.

Velvet suits are not something you ought to wear to the office.

7. Synthetics.

Synthetics (nylon, polyester, viscose etc.) as fabrics are crease-resistant, durable and easy to maintain.

These qualities make synthetics the perfect suit fabrics for ladies and gentlemen.

Also, synthetic suits are lower in price compared to woollen, cashmere and mohair suits.

Hence, if you need to wear suits at work all the time, then synthetic suits are an economical option for you.

In order to make blended-synthetic suits, synthetic fabrics (nylon etc.) are often blended with other materials such as cotton and wool.

This mixing of materials (fabrics) increases the comfortability factor of synthetic suits making it suitable for daily-wear. It also elevates the suits’ breathability.

Though there are pure synthetic suits available in the market, not everyone can carry them well.

For a more subtle look, it is best to avoid pure polyester suits.

8. Corduroy.

Corduroy fabric looks like a piece of ridged velvet. And since velvet is made out of cotton, corduroy is another form of cotton as well.

In the world of fashion, corduroy is thought to be more apt as a fabric for men’s suits and not women’s.

Still, if you are a woman and want to wear a corduroy suit, please do so.

You should feel free to always express your own style and not follow every trend that the fashion industry presents.

So, why choose corduroy?

Corduroy is a soft fabric. Hence, it is very comfortable to wear.

Compared to regular cotton, corduroy is its heavier version. Therefore, corduroy suits are perfect for use during the cooler months of the fall and winter season.

And if you live in a place where the temperatures stay on the lower side all year round, then you absolutely need a few corduroy suits in your wardrobe.

Even though corduroy suits are deemed casual, you can definitely wear them to work without any worry; especially on casual Fridays.

9. Cashmere.

Cashmere is a fabric that all luxury suit fabric brands have in their collection.

Cashmere is a type of wool that is super soft and hence, a member of the ‘luxury fabric club’. It has its own fan-base scattered all across the world.

Along with being extremely soft, cashmere also has a subtle shine that makes it a favorite among suit-wearers.

As beautiful and comfortable as cashmere suits are, they are best for informal and semi-formal occasions.

Cashmere suits are not really appropriate for the work-day.

However, you can still wear a cashmere suit to the office every now and then; especially if you like making subtle style statements at work.

Best Suit Fabrics FAQs

What does thread count mean?

‘Thread count’ refers to the quality of cotton. The higher the thread count, the softer and better the piece of fabric.

Thread count is the number of threads per square inch. When a piece of cotton has a really high tread count, it becomes wrinkle-resistant.

Hence, a high tread count is much sought after when people are choosing fabric for making suits.    

Which type of fabric is best for suits?

The best suit fabrics for men and women depend on the occasion and the weather in which they plan to wear their suits.

However, wool is the most versatile fabric you can use for making a suit.

Wool is rated high on breathability and durability. Hence, it can be worn in all seasons, no matter the temperature.

Woolen suits are perfect for formal occasions as well as casual ones. Textured woolen or lightweight woollen suits are suitable for wearing at casual outings.

Cotton and linen suits are other great options for warm summer days and evenings.

When affordability is a factor, polyester-wool and polyester-cotton are some good alternatives you can look into.

The best thing about polyester-wool and polyester-cotton suits is that they are wrinkle-resistant; hence, easy to maintain.  

What is the 5 suit rule?

The ‘5 suit rule’ is a kind of guideline for people who wear suits frequently.

Under this womenswear and menswear guideline, all a person needs to own are five suits of different colours— black, navy blue, brown, tan and grey.

Then they can simply mix and match the jackets and pants to create different outfits. There are 75 possible combinations for them to explore.

For a person to expand their wardrobe and have more options of creating their desired look, they can own a minimum of 5-7 shirts with a range of colours such as white, cream, powder blue, navy blue and baby pink.  

What is linen?

Linen is a luxury fabric that is made from the fibres of the flax plant.

Linen is used in making a wide range of products such as napkins, tablecloths, aprons, towels and bags.

However, making clothes from linen is perhaps the best use of this beautiful fabric.

What fabric do you need to make a suit?

The absolute champion of suit materials is wool. Wool’s natural texture makes it ideal for tailoring suits that look beautiful and feels super comfortable.

For making suits, along with wool, pure cotton, cotton blends, velvet, silk and linen are also offered by top 10 suit fabric brands.

What is silk?

Silk is a type of fabric that is extracted from the cocoons of the mulberry silkworm larvae.

Mulberry silkworms are bred and reared in captivity for the specific purpose of churning out silk for making fabric.

Silk refracts light at different angles and hence, it has a shimmering appearance that many people find alluring.

What are the 4 types of cotton?

When you explore the best suit fabric brands, you would see that all of them have cotton suits in their collection.

Though there are about 50 different species of cotton, only four are cultivated for commercial purposes.

Those four types of cotton are Egyptian cotton, tree cotton, upland cotton and levant cotton.

For making suits, cotton can be used in its pure form, such as Egyptian cotton.

For making suits according to different seasons, cotton is also used in blended forms such as seersucker, chino, twill, corduroy, brushed cotton and poplin.  

Is 60% cotton 40% polyester good for summer?

In most countries, during the summer season, the temperature can rise pretty high.    

When a suit is made with blended fabric that contains 60% cotton and 40% polyester, it provides cotton’s comfort and quick-drying properties, and polyester’s durability as well as wrinkle-resistant properties.

Which means that it is the perfect wear for the summer season.

What is corduroy?

Corduroy is a form of velvet with a ridged texture. So, it falls under the cotton category of fabrics.

Since corduroy is a thick material, it is best to wear corduroy suits in the fall and winter seasons.

Also, corduroy is suitable for casual occasions rather than formal ones.

What is the best luxury fabric for suits?

Almost all over the world, fabrics like vicuna, cashmere, wool, linen and premium cotton are considered to be luxury suit fabrics.  

Is a 100% cotton suit good?

Obtained from the cotton plant, cotton as a fabric happens to be the most breathable fabric available on the market these days.

So, cotton suits are the most comfortable suits you can wear, especially in warm weather.

And depending on the tailor you hire to make your suits, or the brand you choose to buy them from, you can find countless gorgeous and elegant looking suits for formal as well as casual occasions.

In other words, suits made out of 100% cotton are great; for comfort as well as fashion.          

What are expensive suits made of?

The most expensive suits for men and women are made of fabrics such as vicuna, cashmere, silk and fine wool.

These materials are well-known for offering comfort, durability and a feeling of luxury.

What is in a 7 piece suit?

A 7-piece suit is a suit that includes a dress shirt, tie or bow tie, jacket, trousers, waistcoat, cufflinks and pocket square.      

We can’t ignore the fact that most of us treat our dogs the way we treat our own kids. The same love, the same care and concern.

We want the best for our furbabies. Hence, we take great care of their diet, making sure that all their dietary needs are met.

However, there are times that we may loosen the rules a bit pertaining to their food habits; especially during the holiday season.

After all, who doesn’t like a little treat every now and then? It is okay to give some of the yummy goodies you eat during the holidays.

However there are some foods that you must absolutely not allow your little darling to consume, no matter how much they want to.

Stated below are nine foods your dog should never eat—

1. Chocolate.

Almost all chocolates contain stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine. Dogs do not possess the metabolism to process these compounds efficiently.

And so, if a dog consumes chocolate, it can cause severe reactions such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache and dehydration.

If a small or medium-sized dog ingests a large piece of chocolate, it can cause adverse effects such as internal bleeding, heart attacks, seizures, muscle tremors and even death.

Hence, when it comes to human foods that can be fatal to dogs, chocolate stands at the top of the list.

The severity of the side effects of chocolate depends on the size of the dog and the type and amount of chocolate the dog eats.

Remember, the darker and less sweet the chocolate is, the more toxic it is to your dog.

2. Grapes and raisins.

Unfortunately, not many people know this; grapes and raisins (dried grapes) are extremely toxic to dogs.  

So much so that just a few raisins can potentially harm dogs of any size or breed. So, ingestion of any quantity needs to be taken very seriously.

Within a timeframe of 24-72 hours, the dog who consumes raisins can face total kidney failure and eventually, die.

So, if your dog ingests raisins or grapes accidentally, it is best to rush her to the emergency room at the vet.

Remember that any type of grapes and raisins are harmful foods for dogs; whether it has been consumed raw or as an ingredient (in cakes, cookies and other snacks).

If you suspect that your dog has eaten grapes or raisins by mistake, you can keep an eye out for the following symptoms— fatigue, excessive thirst, vomiting, reduction in urination, diarrhea and depression.

3. Avocado.

In a list of poisonous foods for dogs, avocado is a BIG one. As healthy as it is for you, it is equally bad for your dog.

Avocados contain a toxin called persin which is safe for humans to ingest but extremely poisonous to dogs.

In fact, no matter which part of avocado your dog consumes— the fruit, leaves, seed or bark— each and every part of the avocado plant is poisonous to your dog.

It can lead to such adverse effects in dogs that it could be very hard for you to save them.

If a dog consumes a piece of avocado, fluid may get accumulated in various organs (lungs, chest, abdomen and heart) and ultimately cause her death.

And if a dog swallows an avocado seed accidentally, it can make the dog choke and die.

It can also create a blockage in the digestive system and lead to further health complications.

4. Caffeine.

Caffeine is one of the most dangerous foods for dogs.

Caffeine can be found naturally in tea, coffee, cocoa and guarana. Artificially, it is added to soft drinks, energy drinks and certain medications.

Caffeine is very dangerous to dogs as a dog’s body absorbs caffeine super quickly.

If a dog consumes as little caffeine as 20 mg per kg of her weight, it can lead to mild side effects.

However, if a dog consumes about 60 mg per kg of her weight (or more), it can lead to horrible seizures.

Other severe side effects of caffeine are vomiting, abnormally high heart rate, diarrhea, losing bladder control, excessive thirst and lung failure.

There have been numerous cases where dogs have died after (accidentally) consuming drinks with caffeine in them.

One cup of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine.

Hence, it is no surprise that within a short time (2-4 hrs.) of consuming anything with caffeine, dogs start showing the negative health effects she faces.

But there’s a little hope left.

If you are able to get your dog to a veterinary doctor for immediate medical treatment, then you may be able to save your dog from the adverse effects of caffeine poisoning.            

5. Xylitol.

A lot of people don’t worry much about sweet stuff (candy, baked goods, chewing gum etc.) when it comes to foods that can be poisonous to dogs.

However, sweet foods such as candies, chewing gum, certain cookies and cakes contain a substance called xylitol, which is a natural sugar alcohol.

The foods that claim to be sugar-free or low-calorie are especially dangerous for your dogs; as these are mostly the ones that contain xylitol.

Though food products with xylitol are thought to be safe for humans to consume, it can cause death in dogs.

If a dog consumes any food with xylitol in it, it can lead to a sudden drop in the dog’s blood sugar levels.

In fact, this drop in blood sugar levels can be so extreme that it can cause instant death of the dog, without giving much time to save her.

Xylitol can also cause liver damage which can lead to the dog’s death.

The negative effects of xylitol are so severe that the symptoms start showing as soon as 30 minutes after consumption and cause death soon after.

The symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include weakness, vomiting, depression, seizures, difficulty moving and coma.  

6. Cooked bones.

Cooked bones are number 1 hazardous foods for dogs. But most pet-parents are not aware of this fact.

Cooked bones are brittle. They can break and splinter off into sharp shards when a dog tries to eat them.

These splinters can cause various health complications such as choking and blockages.

The splinters can also cause internal injuries to a dog’s mouth, throat, stomach, esophagus and intestines.

If not treated on time, these injuries and health complications can prove to be deadly.

There have been countless cases where consuming cooked bones have ended in the dogs needing life-saving surgeries.

7. Garlic.

When it comes to foods poisonous to dogs, garlic may not be the most harmful one. But, garlic is still quite toxic to dogs.

Eating a small amount of garlic (raw or cooked) one time might not be that dangerous to your doggo.

However, if that same small amount of garlic is being consumed frequently, over a period of time, it can prove to be toxic to your dog.

Also, if your pet consumes a large quantity of garlic at once, even when consumed just one time, it can be super toxic to her.

Garlic toxicity can cause red blood cell damage and gastrointestinal irritation in your dogs.

8. Alcohol.

Alcohol is one of the most poisonous foods for dogs.

Alcohol is used as raw material for a number of different products such as paint, perfumes, varnish, mouthwash, several cleaning products and various alcoholic beverages.

Even though alcohol is deemed safe for consumption by humans, it is extremely poisonous to dogs.

Dogs cannot tolerate alcohol even in small quantities.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs start appearing as soon as within an hour of consumption.

The symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs include tiredness, difficulty in breathing, depression, vomiting, loss of muscle coordination, diarrhea and abnormally low body temperature.

In instances where a dog had consumed too much alcohol, it had led to seizures, lung failure, coma, and eventually, death.

No responsible pet parent allows their dog to consume alcohol.

Hence, most cases of alcohol poisoning in dogs have been accidental; where the dog consumes an alcoholic beverage without the pet parent’s knowledge or permission.

9.  Onions and leeks.

Onions and leeks are from a group of plants called alliums, which are toxic to dogs and other pet animals. In fact, they fall under the most common toxic foods for dogs.

Alliums contain toxins named thiosulfinates and disulphides. These are known to cause significant damage to red blood cells, which can ultimately lead to anaemia.

In some cases, consumption of onions and leeks has caused the death of dogs.

Symptoms of poisoning caused by onions and leeks include reduced appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Toxic Foods for Dogs FAQs

What is the most toxic fruit to dogs?

Grape is the most toxic fruit to dogs. Grapes and raisins contain tartaric acid. Dogs’ bodies are not able to process tartaric acid.

As a result, exposure to tartaric acid (by consuming grapes) can lead to kidney damage in dogs.

So, make sure that you never let your dog eat any grapes or raisins.

Why can't dogs have cooked carrots?

It is okay for dogs to have cooked carrots in most forms— boiled, steamed and baked. Dogs can also have raw carrots.

However, it is not safe for dogs to eat canned carrots as they may have added salt.

Too much salt is very bad for dogs. It causes salt toxicity. The symptoms of salt toxicity include vomiting, severe dehydration, diarrhea, shivering, seizures and coma.

Salt toxicity can even cause death in some dogs.

Also, don’t give your dog high-sugar and high-fat treats such as carrot cakes and muffins as consuming these can lead to a host of health complications.

Those health complications include diabetes, dental problems, pancreatitis, vomiting and diarrhea.

Additionally, the raisins and spices in carrot cakes can lead to other health issues in dogs such as kidney failure, choking and gastrointestinal upset.      

Why can't dogs eat apples?

Apple cores, especially the seeds contain cyanide. Cyanide is super toxic to dogs (and humans).

If your dog chews or eats a large number of apple seeds, it can kill her or make her severely sick.

If your dog eats a large piece of apple without chewing it properly, it can get stuck in her throat and lead to death by choking.  

Why can't dogs eat blueberries?

Blueberries are usually not bad for dogs. In fact, blueberries are considered to be a healthy treat for dogs when consumed occasionally.

However, if too many blueberries are had too often, blueberries can lead to digestive upset in dogs.

Blueberries are also a choking hazard for some dogs.

What is the healthiest vegetable for a dog?

Spinach is the healthiest vegetable for dogs. Packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium.

Spinach also contains fibre and antioxidants. It provides protection from cancer. It is also good for your dog’s bones, eyes, heart and skin.

What is the #1 cause of death in dogs?

Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs.  

It has been found that as many as 1 out of 3 domestic dogs get cancer; with more than 50% of dogs over the age of 10 yrs developing it.

The most common types of cancers in dogs are melanomas, lymphomas, mast cell tumors, bone cancers (osteosarcoma) and mammary tumors.

What disease kills dogs fast?

The top 5 dangerous dog diseases include distemper, rabies, parvovirus, lyme disease and leptospirosis.

If your dog is vomiting, having diarrhea, sleeping more than usual, having a fever, or behaving differently than usual, you need to take your dog to the vet immediately.

Any or all of these symptoms can be a sign of your dog’s deteriorating health.

What is most poisonous to a dog?

Antifreeze (Ethylene glycol) is very toxic to dogs. It has a sweet taste. Which means that most dogs won’t think twice before drinking it.

All it takes is about 2 ½ teaspoon of antifreeze to kill a medium-sized dog. Also, it is a slow painful death that takes about 2-3 days.

So, if you see your dog consuming any antifreeze, take them to the vet immediately.

As toxic as antifreeze is, timely medical intervention can potentially save your dog.

In most cases, dogs who die from consuming antifreeze is because their owners (read pawrents) did not know that their dog had drunk antifreeze.

What are common household poisons for dogs?

Other than antifreeze, there are many chemicals in households that can be poisonous to dogs; in most cases, even fatal.

Products such as pesticides, fertilisers, nicotine, dryer sheets, essential oils, laundry detergents and human medicines are very toxic for dogs.              

All around the world, most mothers cosleep with their babies. Cosleeping is something that comes naturally to a mother and a child.

Hence, in most communities, it is nothing unusual for babies to cosleep with their mothers until they are weaned.

For many people all across the globe, cosleeping continues well beyond the newborn and toddler stages of a child.

Cosleeping is the norm in most countries in Asia, Central America, South America, Africa and Southern Europe.  

So, what is cosleeping?        

When a baby or a child sleeps together with their primary caretaker— most often the mother— it is known as cosleeping.

The baby or child can cosleep with other members of the family as well; be it the father, the grandparents or someone else who’s responsible for their well-being.

Cosleeping is not just about the convenience of baby care. It has a plethora of benefits for both mother and child.

Stated below are nine benefits of cosleeping with a baby—

1. Cosleeping helps in fulfilling a baby's needs without getting up from the bed.

Almost all newborns need to be fed and have their diapers changed around the clock. Babies also need to be soothed whenever they are fussy or sick.

Hence, a mother (or primary caretaker) needs to tend to a baby’s needs throughout the night.

When the baby is right next to the mother, she can take care of the baby without actually getting out of bed. This helps her in staying in a restful state.

She doesn’t have to go through the hassle of getting out of bed, walking to her baby’s room, picking up the baby, putting her on the changing table to change her diaper and sitting on the feeding chair to feed her.

She can simply sit on the bed, reach for the diapers or feeding bottle next to the bed and do the needful.

If she breastfeeds, she can simply feed her baby without getting up. This way she can rest and feed the baby at the same time.

As the mother attends to the baby’s needs quickly, the baby cries less and doesn’t reach a state of complete alertness.

So even for the baby, it is easier to fall back asleep after a night-time wake up if she’s in the same bed with her mother.

Also, for almost a month after birth, the mother might be experiencing pain and weakness due to the whole process of childbirth and everything that happens thereafter.

Having the baby close to them makes it somewhat easier to tend to their needs; especially in the middle of the night, when mother and baby both need to get rest.

This is perhaps one of the biggest benefits of cosleeping with a baby girl or boy.

2. Cosleeping creates a secure attachment between mother and child.

You might have come across the term ‘secure attachment’.

Secure attachment is the bond between a baby and a mother (or any other primary caregiver) that makes the baby feel safe and cared for.

A secure attachment is formed when the primary caregiver (often the mother) is able to consistently meet the physiological as well as the emotional needs of a baby or a child.    

Cosleeping allows a mother to take care of the baby’s needs quickly. Cosleeping also helps release oxytocin, which is known as the ‘love hormone’.

Cosleeping also means that before bed, your little one gets undivided attention from you, which may not be possible during the day.    

All these elements are important factors in creating a secure attachment between mother and baby.

Having a secure attachment with your child is important for her or his overall development.

Secure attachment is also helpful for a child in developing good cognitive, stress management and social skills.

Forming a secure attachment is a major psychological benefit of cosleeping.

3. Cosleeping helps in creating and maintaining enough milk supply.

For babies, upto the age of six months, milk is the only source of food and nutrition.

So, they drink milk frequently, even at night. Cosleeping allows the mother to breastfeed the baby on demand.

When the frequency of nighttime feedings increase, the total number of breastfeeding sessions increase as well.

The more the mother breastfeeds the baby, the more prolactin (a hormone) gets produced.

Cosleeping also creates an opportunity for a lot of skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby.

The extended skin-to-skin contact that occurs naturally while cosleeping can increase prolactin levels as well.

Having an appropriate level of prolactin helps the mother’s body make a steady supply of milk that is enough to feed her baby.

Another positive side effect is that, when the baby gets breastfed on demand during the night, the mother doesn’t need to face engorgement in the morning; which can be quite painful.    

4. Cosleeping helps the baby remain calmer.

When you see photos or pictures of safe cosleeping, you might have noticed that both the mother and the baby always look happy.

In the cosleeping photos the baby and the mother seem to be sleeping very peacefully. It is because they do.

Staying close to their mama, the baby feels safe. And when they feel safe, babies sleep better.

Also, cosleeping makes the mother attuned to their baby’s needs (hunger, diaper changes etc.).

They can start fulfilling those needs the moment the baby starts to fuss, before they actually start crying.

And after the baby’s needs are met, you can simply lay her down with you to go back to sleep.

Which means that there’s no struggle or stress to try and make them sleep in their own bed or crib.

All of these factors make for a calmer and happier baby. And as a consequence, a calmer and happier mama.                

5. Cosleeping promotes physiological regulation.

There are various physiological benefits of cosleeping that are not talked about enough.

These physiological benefits play a major role in maintaining a baby’s health and happiness.

As cosleeping allows a mother and child to stay physically close throughout the night, it hugely promotes physiological regulation.

Which basically means that cosleeping is helpful in stabilising a baby’s breathing, which consequently, stabilises her heart beat.

It also helps a baby maintain her body temperature at a level that is deemed safe and healthy.

Other physiological regulation factors include reduced stress, healthy cortisol levels and a strong immune system.

Cosleeping also creates a good physiological synchrony between mother and baby.

This is a significant element when it comes to stable and appropriate sleep-wake cycles for the baby.

Newborns often tend to mix up their days and nights. They sleep well during the day and wake up from their sleep frequently during the night.

Cosleeping can teach a baby to sleep long hours during the night.

But remember that it is quite normal for babies to wake up multiple times in the night upto about 18 months of age.    

6. Cosleeping helps in providing more care to the baby.

An obvious benefit of cosleeping with a baby is that it helps in providing more care to the baby.

Research has shown that mothers who cosleep with their baby breastfeed twice as long as mothers who don’t cosleep with their babies.

What’s more?

A baby needs more care than just feeding and diaper changes.

They can’t adjust a blanket on their own. Upto a certain age, they can’t reposition themselves when they roll into an unsafe sleeping-position.

When a mother cosleeps with the baby, they get additional protective care and attention.

The mother is always there to adjust their clothes or blankets. The mother also makes sure that the baby is sleeping in a safe position.

Also, when a baby cosleeps with a mother or a father or any other primary caregiver, they get extra cuddles.

And cuddling is something that is great for a baby and a young child’s psychological growth and well-being.          

7. Cosleeping minimises bedtime struggles.

Anyone who’s ever put a baby to bed knows how hard it can get sometimes.

This tiny battle doesn’t really go away once the baby becomes a toddler; or even older for that matter.

When a baby is sleeping in the same bed or even the same room as their parents, they know that there’s no reason for them to be afraid of bedtime.

They learn that the bed and the bedroom is a safe space for them to lie down, relax and go to sleep.

This is a huge benefit of co-sleeping with 5 year-olds or even babies for that matter.

Because when they get a little bit older and move into their own bedrooms and sleep in their own beds, they would associate that same feeling of security and calmness with their bedrooms and be able to sleep on their own.      

8. Cosleeping can potentially save a baby’s life.

There is no real proof that cosleeping is inherently dangerous.

When done correctly, in accordance with the provided guidelines for cosleeping, it can be a very rewarding and joyful experience.

In fact, cosleeping can potentially save your baby’s life. And it is a big benefit of cosleeping with 1 year old and younger babies.      

Young babies tend to get too hot or too cold during the night, depending on the weather.

When a baby is sleeping alone, the parents may not be aware of the changes in the baby’s body temperature.

If the changes in body temperature are too great, it may prove to be fatal for the baby.

When a baby co-sleeps with a parent, the parent would be aware of the changes in body temperature and take action to do the needful and keep the baby safe.

There have also been various stories where a cosleeping mother had been woken up to the sound and movement of their baby choking on their own vomit.

The mothers were able to take action quickly and stop the baby from choking to death.

This would not have been possible to do if the baby was sleeping alone in their own room.

Some young babies tend to just stop breathing when they are sick, or sometimes without any medical reason, without the parents knowing what’s happening.

This is super dangerous when a baby sleeps alone in a room.

And that is why SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is quite common in places where babies sleep in their own rooms.

However, there have been many cases where the parents co-sleeping with a baby have become aware of the child’s condition and helped them to breathe again.    

9. Cosleeping lets the mother get better sleep and more rest.

It’s not just the babies. Even the mothers’ brains are “wired” for closeness. Their minds are at ease when their little one is close to them, even while sleeping.

The hormonal changes that occur after the baby’s delivery makes a mother super-protective of her baby. She is there to nurture and protect her child.

So, the mother is able to put her mind at ease when her baby is right next to her or atleast in the same room.    

This way, she can see the baby at all times and know that the baby is doing fine.

When her mind’s satisfied about the baby’s safety and well-being, she’s able to sleep better. And get the rest she needs.

Also, when mothers are sleeping next to their babies, they release oxytocin— the love hormone.

Oxytocin is also known to improve the quality of sleep and help in milk-production.

Now that you are familiar with the benefits of cosleeping with a baby, you need to learn how to cosleep safely.

Check out these tips for cosleeping safely with a baby.  

Benefits of Cosleeping FAQs

Do babies benefit from co-sleeping?

Babies benefit greatly from cosleeping. Babies simply sleep better when they are sleeping next to their parents.

When babies sleep well, they grow well. Sleep is crucial for the physical, emotional and physiological development of babies.      

At what age should you stop co-sleeping with your baby?

Though there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, it is often suggested that when a child reaches prepubescent age (ages 9-13) or about to step into teenagehood, it is a good time to stop cosleeping with your child.

As they may want to have some privacy at those age brackets, it is best to provide them with their own room at that age.

However, many kids show signs of wanting more independence at a much younger age. Those kids may be ready to have their own room as well.

In any case, no need to force anything. Do what’s best for your kids and your family.

How long you want to cosleep with your children needs to be your and your kids’ decision, no one else’s.  

Does co-sleeping create a bond?

One of the best benefits of cosleeping with a 3 year old, a younger or an older child is that it helps in creating a deep bond with your child.

Studies have found that the close proximity to their parents or primary caretakers create a sense of security in babies and kids.

This sense of security goes on to create a secure attachment between the parent and child.  

Also, the child knows that their needs will be met by the parent or the caretaker as soon as they arise.

It further strengthens the secure attachment already formed.

Cosleeping also allows a mother or any other primary caretaker to spend more quality time with the child compared to people who don’t cosleep.

You can read a book, sing songs or cuddle till the child falls asleep.

These things can be done with non-cosleeping kids as well, but it's less tiring when you are cosleeping with your little one.      

You actually enjoy bedtime rituals with cosleeping kids.        

Which cultures co-sleep?

A majority of parents and primary caretakers cosleep with their babies and kids, all around the world.

Mostly, people from Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and Central America are known to cosleep with their kids.              

What are the psychological effects of cosleeping?

Psychological effects of a child cosleeping with parents include a sense of security and closeness.

Children who cosleep also feel more calm and comfortable at bedtime.

It leads to emotional fulfillment in the child as well as the parent who is cosleeping.

All of this helps in creating a secure attachment between the child and parents.

Why do babies sleep better in your bed?

Babies feel safe when they are close to you. And when they feel safe, they sleep better.

And even though they may wake up multiple times during the night for various reasons, their needs are met quickly.

Quite often, especially in cases of newborns, those needs are met even before the baby wakes up completely or with full alertness.

As a result, it is easier to put them back to sleep. And since you are right there, they fall asleep quickly.

Hence, they simply sleep better when they are lying next to you.  

Is cosleeping common in India?

Yes. A majority of the population in India cosleeps with their kids.

And not just babies, parents cosleep with kids until they reach teenagehood; sometimes even longer.

Cosleeping is the norm in India.

What is attachment parenting?

Attachment parenting is the type of parenting style or philosophy that encourages the emotional as well as physical attachment of mother and child.

Attachment parenting is carried out by always being responsive to a child’s needs and great empathy. It is also carried out by actual physical closeness.

Which basically means that attachment parenting method includes things like cosleeping, baby-carrying (while doing chores etc.), and staying attuned and responding to the baby’s needs.                          
 

Why do babies sleep longer next to their mom?

One of the biggest benefits of cosleeping with 2 year old or younger babies is that they simply sleep better when they are sleeping next to their mom or a primary caregiver.

The presence of a mother or a nurturing figure at bedtime brings along a sense of warmth, comfort and safety.

All of these elements play an important role when it comes to good sleep in babies.

Also, sleeping next to the mother allows her to take care of the baby’s needs quicker, cutting short any crying that may happen.

Less crying equals more sleep as it is easier to put a calm baby to sleep than an agitated one.

Children’s Museums are a great place for kids to explore, learn and have fun.  

Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Arts, Maths, Geography, Astronomy, Paleontology, Entomology, Anatomy, Technology, History, Engineering— the possibilities of learning at children’s museums are limitless.                           `

Whether you’re on a vacation or looking for a good place to take your kids in your own city, this list of children’s museums will be useful to you.

Given below are the names of top 9 children's museums in the USA—                  

1. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. (Indianapolis, Indiana)

With an area of almost 500,000 sq. ft., spanning over five floors, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is one of the biggest children’s museums in the world.

The exhibits and collections of the museum covers subjects like arts, science, sports, nature, history, culture, paleontology and more.

Founded in 1925, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis is one of the oldest children’s museums in the country.

While visiting this museum, you can discover the story of trains at the All Aboard! exhibit; learn to be an astronaut at Beyond Spaceship Earth exhibit; get intrigued at the Dinosphere exhibit; or delve into the mysteries of China, Egypt and Caribbean at the Treasure of the Earth exhibit.

Other interesting exhibits and sections include, Riley Sports Experience, Stories from 100 Years, Carousel Wishes and Dreams, Take Me There: Peru, Playscape, American POP, Power of Children, Mini Masterpieces, Fireworks of Glass, National Art Museum of Sport, The World of Sport, ScienceWorks, and Lilly Theater.

The museum has a food court that offers a variety of food and coffee options. You’ll find good food and snacks during the regular museum hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note that you will be charged extra for any food or beverage you may have there. It is not included in the admission ticket for the museum.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is one of the best children's museums in the world.        

2. Children’s Museum of Phoenix. (Phoenix, Arizona)

What’s great about the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is that it focuses on early childhood education, and the exhibits are mostly for kids in the age range of 0-5 years.

In order to make things more interesting and engaging, the exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix are highly interactive.

The museum provides a space where children can explore their own potential and discover their own strengths.

They also provide them with the tools and hands-on experiences to learn and grow.

Your kids are bound to have a great time at exhibits like Art Studio, Book Loft, Building Big, The Climber, The Children’s Garden, The Grand Ballroom, Noodle Forest, Move It!, Pit Stop, The Market, DramaRama, Pedal Power, Whoosh!, Texture Cafe, The Park, and Block Mania!

There is even a gallery exclusively for babies and toddlers named, Room for Threes and Younger.

This gallery is filled with age-appropriate exhibits that cater to the specific developmental needs of kids of that age.

Hence, Children’s Museum of Phoenix is one of the best children’s museums for toddlers to visit.    

The museum organises camps during holidays, not just in the Summer, but in the Winter, Fall and Spring seasons as well.

The timings of this children’s museum is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on all days. However, it remains closed on Mondays.  

3. Children’s Museum of Denver.  (Denver, Colorado)

Initially, when the Children’s Museum of Denver was founded (in 1973), it was a travelling museum.  

But as the museum started to grow with more exhibits and experiences being added to it, the administration of the museum felt the need to have a more permanent base.

Hence, in 1984, the museum opened their current location in Downtown Denver.

The museum caters to the needs and interests of children whose ages range from newborns to eight years old.

So, if you have a child within that age range, then Children’s Museum of Denver is one of the best children’s museums for you to visit.

Like a lot of children’s museums, the exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Denver are interactive as well.

Children learn best when they are involved and engaged, rather than just listening to someone talk or looking at pictures quietly.

And that’s exactly what this intriguing museum provides for its young visitors.

Their hands-on exhibits include-

i. Investigate- Energy, Water, Bubbles, Gallery Uno, and Kinetics!      

ii. Imagine- Book Nook, Fire Station No. 1, My Market, and Ready Vet Go .

iii. Explore- Bloom, Joy Park, Box Canyon, Adventure Forest, and Altitude.

iv. Create- The Teaching, Kitchen Assembly Plant, and The Art Studio.

This remarkable children’s museum stays open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you are planning to visit the Children’s Museum of Denver, remember that adults are not allowed in the museum if a child is not accompanying them.

And a child is not allowed to enter the museum if an adult (parent, teacher or guardian) is not with them.

Various workshops and events are organised by the Children’s Museum of Denver for kids and families.

This year (2025), it organised a Halloween event from 24th October to 26th October.

Parents and kids dressed up in their favourite spooky costumes and joined others for some Halloween-themed fun.  

They had a great time playing games at the Monster Carnival, petting cute creatures and making beautiful craft items.

The workshops organised by the museum encompass various categories such as baking, painting, pottery and science.    

The museum also organises low-sensory evenings. This is when families with kids requiring low-sensory environments can visit the museum for free.

Low-sensory evenings are created by limiting footfall and turning down some of the ambient noise inside the Museum.      

   
4. Boston Children’s Museum. (Boston, Massachusetts)

Boston Children’s Museum provides an environment where kids can explore, learn and play at the same time.  

This museum happens to be the second oldest children's museum in the USA.

So, it has expansive experience of meeting the needs and developmental requirements of children.    

The exhibits at this children’s museum spread across three floors that cater to different age brackets.  

Those exhibits include PlaySpace, Big & Little Podcast, Bubbles, Investigate Kid Power, KidStage, New Balance Foundation Climb, The Gallery, Johnny’s Workbench, Raceways, Art Lab, Arthur and Friends, The Common, Countdown to Kindergarten, Fantastic Forts, Peep’s World, Fenway Farms at Boston Children's Museum, Construction Zone, Dinos in Space, Japanese House, Japanese House Gallery, and You, Me, We!

In addition to the regular exhibits, the museum hosts regular workshops and programs that feed the curious minds of kids.  

Many of those programs are based on STEAM-related topics. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.

Kids can learn how to build circuits, program robots, design miniature models (houses, bridges etc.) and interact with live animals.

Kids can also let their creativity run free at workshops that teach art, music, performing arts, crafts and healthy habits (exercise etc.).

Boston Children’s Museum is one of the best children's museums on the East coast.

5. Children’s Museum of Houston. (Houston, Texas)

Children’s Museum of Houston was founded by Sharon Albert Brier in 1980. It was opened in 1984.

And in 2009, the museum completed its expansion work. Currently, the museum spans over a staggering area of  83,000 sq. ft.

This children’s museum is apt for kids aged newborn to 12 years.        

Exhibits at this kids’ museum include Ecostation, Genius Station, Kidtropolis, FlowWorks, Invention Convention, Maker Annex, How Does it Work?, PowerPlay, SECRET Spy Game, Power Science Lab, ToT*Spot, Exploration Zone, Rube Goldberg, Faithful Friends, Rafael López: A Beautiful Process, and Kids’ Hall.

There’s also a humongous 3-story climbing structure called the Power Tower.

Dance Power and Power Pop are other exhibits that your kids can have fun at, dancing and moving about.

Almost all the exhibits are open to the kids and the families who accompany them to the museum.

However, the Power Tower and the Challenge Course are limited to children 5- 15 years old.

And Tot*Spot is limited to children younger than 35 months and their caretakers.

Other than the regular exciting exhibits, the Children’s Museum in Houston also has a Parent Resource Library.  

This resource library is accessible to parents and teachers. This library is well equipped with books, DVDs, ebooks, databases, hot spots and more!

The museum has an auditorium and other spaces that are available on rent as a place for organising events and workshops.  

Remember that no adult is allowed to enter the museum unless a child is with them.

And kids who are younger than 16 need to be accompanied by an adult. If they show up alone at the museum, they won’t be allowed to enter.

6. Exploratorium. (San Francisco, California)

A vast knowledge on different topics pertaining to science, arts, technology, sports and entertainment— that’s what the Exploratorium offers its visitors.    

Founded in 1969 by physicist and educator Frank Oppenheimer, this amazing children’s museum is on the bucket list of most travellers who visit San Francisco.

This marvelous museum has more than 1,000 hands-on exhibits, spread across multiple galleries, based on subject.

It has six main galleries namely- Seeing & Listening, Tinkering, Human Phenomenon, Outdoor Exhibits, Living Systems, and Observing Landscapes.

This magnificent children’s museum has something to offer to everyone who visits. So, it is the perfect museum for families and kids of all ages.

The Exploratorium is deemed to be one of the best children's museums in California.              

7. The Strong. (Rochester, New York)

The founders of The Strong understood that the best way to teach children is through play, fun and hand-on experience.

So, that is exactly what this museum provides.  

This children’s museum is known for its exciting interactive exhibits that provide fun and education at the same place.

This family-friendly place is considered to be one of the largest children’s museums in the country (USA).

Kids can delve into the evolution of video game systems at the Console Central exhibit, be a part of a board game at the 17,000 sq. ft. Hasbro Game Park, have their own little adventure at the Ralph Wilson Skyline Climb, experience the serenity of a rain forest at the Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden.

Kids can also explore different trade-related activities at the Play Lab exhibit; such as construction, electronics, music, crafts, carpentry and more.

At the Play Lab, a new topic is chosen every month.

Along with all the permanent exhibits, the museum hosts temporary exhibits regularly.

Black Doll Designers, Hello Cutie: Our Favorite Kitty, Material Girl, Raceway Arcade and Dollhouse Unveiled are such exhibits.

What’s more?

Various halls, rooms and exhibits at this museum are available for rent if you want to use it as a venue for corporate and private events including birthday parties.

8. Discovery Place. (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Discovery Place is a great place to spend some quality time with your kids while they learn all about science, engineering, technology, nature and maths.

Kids can explore a plethora of interactive exhibits and gather information on their favourite subjects.

Permanent exhibits at the Discovery Place— Cool Stuff, A New Moon Rises, World Alive, Project Build, Fantastic Frogs, KidScience, Think It Up and Being Me.

Temporary exhibits at the Discovery Place— Above and Beyond, Explore More Collections, Boneyard Bash and Fossil Finders.

This awesome museum also has an IMAX theater that plays educational 3-D films to teach and entertain at the same time.  

Discovery Place is one of the best places in the country to quench the thirst of curious minds.    

Hence, it is included in the list of top 10 best children's museums in the USA.

What’s more?

Multiple rental spaces are available in the premises of the museum that can be used for various corporate and personal events.

You can have a birthday party, a wedding, a workshop, showcase a play, organise conferences and even host corporate retreats at the Discovery Place.    

9. Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has been nicknamed as Kidsburgh.

Spanning over an area of about 80,000 sq. ft., the museum has numerous permanent and temporary exhibits that appeal to the interest of young minds.

Most of these exhibits are interactive exhibits that offer a hands-on experience, keeping kids captivated.

Permanent exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh include Makeshops, Backyard, Garage, the Kindness Gallery, Nursery, Art Studio, the Limb Bender, Garden, Waterplay, Art at the Museum.

At the moment, temporary exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh are Tough Art and I Am Wild.

There are after-school art programs for kids (6-8 graders) that can be attended without their guardians.

These programs are a great place for them to explore their creative sparks under the guidance of artists and industry experts.

With so many things to offer, it is no wonder that the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is counted amongst the 10 best children's museums in the country.

What else?

There are multiple spaces in the premises of the museum that are available for hosting various events and occasions, upon paying a fee.

You can choose these well- equipped venues for private as well as corporate events such as workshops, weddings, birthdays and conferences.

Tiny, fragile and completely dependent on you— taking care of a newborn can be very overwhelming, especially if you are a first time mom.      

Sleep deprivation in the initial months after your baby’s birth might make things worse. And this could include your health as well.

Co-sleeping can be an absolute life-saver when it comes to getting some sleep while taking care of a newborn.

After the newborn stage, co-sleeping is still quite beneficial for both the baby and the mother.

And because of those benefits of co-sleeping with a baby, many mothers and caretakers around the globe choose to co-sleep with a baby.

If you want to co-sleep with your baby, there are a few precautions that you need to take in order to make sure that your baby remains safe while sleeping.

Here are a few tips for co-sleeping safely with a baby—      

1. Make sure that you sleep facing your baby.

While co-sleeping with a baby, make sure that you do not turn your back to the baby, even when both of you are asleep.

Whether you are taking a nap together or going to bed at night, you need to sleep with your face to the baby. Especially in the first six months of your baby’s life.

You need to be careful enough not to roll onto the baby in your sleep as that might cause the baby to get suffocated.

For your baby to stay safe while co-sleeping with you, you can practice the C curl sleeping position.

The C curl is a safe co-sleeping position whereby you curve your body into a C-shape and thus, create a protective barrier within which your baby can sleep safely.

So, how to form the C curl?

Lay the baby down on her back in this safe space that you have created with your body.

Then, gently place your lower arm above your baby’s head. Make sure that that same arm is tucked under your own head so that it does not cover her face accidentally.

Next, bend your knees in front of you, forming a C-shape. Putting your body in this position can be useful in preventing yourself from rolling onto your baby.    

2. Use a firm sleeping surface.

When your baby sleeps on the same surface as you, there is a risk of the baby getting suffocated.    

In order to prevent this from happening, what you can do is sleep with your baby on a mattress that is firm and flat.

If there is another mattress next to the one you are sleeping on, make sure that the level of the mattresses match.

Also, always avoid sleeping on soft surfaces such as air mattresses, arm chairs, couches and memory foam mattresses.

These types of materials may create a dent when the baby is laid down on it, and when you lie down next to the baby.

This can be a suffocation hazard.

Remember that the surface you and your baby sleeps on should not indent when you place the baby on it.

In addition to all that, the sleeping surface should not be inclined more than 10 degrees.          

3. Choose a safe sleeping position for the baby.

One of the most important tips for co-sleeping with a baby suggests that you always need to place your baby on her back for sleep.

On her back is considered to be the safest sleeping position for a baby, atleast upto the age of 6 months.

This is a great sleeping position for your baby irrespective of the fact that you are co-sleeping or not.

Keep in mind that you should never put your baby on her stomach when she’s about to take a nap or go to bed for the night.

Also, if your baby is going through some illness or has a health condition and it’s hard for the baby to breathe while lying on her back, you need to consult her pediatrician to learn about the best sleeping position for her.        

4. Keep the baby’s sleeping area clear.

New safe sleep guidelines for babies state that the sleeping space of a baby needs to be free from any unnecessary item as it creates a suffocation risk.

So, before you put your baby down for a nap or at bedtime, make sure that you clear out her sleeping space.

Even soft objects such as soft toys, pillows, blankets, duvet, comforters and bumpers should not be there.

These types of items create the risk of overheating and suffocation.

If you have other kids or pets in the house, do not let them sleep in the same bed as you and your baby as doing this would increase the risk of suffocation.  

5. Make sure that the baby does not overheat.

Reducing extra items (blankets, soft toys etc.) from the bed already reduces the risk of overheating in babies.      

Another factor you need to consider if you want to cut down the chances of overheating is the kind of dress your baby is wearing.

Dress the baby in multiple layers of thin and semi-thin clothes instead of one thick sweater or jacket.

This helps in proper ventilation and prevents overheating, potentially saving the baby’s life.

While co-sleeping with a baby, do not use a swaddle to wrap the baby overnight or even for a short nap.

Swaddling contributes greatly to a baby getting overheated, especially if the baby is sleeping in the same bed with you.

One other element you need to pay attention to while co-sleeping if you want to avoid overheating the baby is the kind of headgear a baby wears.

Make sure that the baby’s face and head is never covered with any kind of cap, bonnet or hood when the baby goes to bed.

Even if the baby needs to wear a cap in the house, make sure that you remove it before bedtime or naptime.          

6. Neutralise the risk of entrapment.

Co-sleeping with an older baby is a bit different than co-sleeping with a newborn baby. So, how to safely co-sleep with a newborn?          

One of the most important elements of co-sleeping with a newborn baby is to neutralise the risk of entrapment of the newborn baby.

Newborns are small in size. They can get stuck between a mattress and a wall or between two mattresses depending on the way that they have been placed.

In order to prevent that from happening, set up the mattress in a way that there is absolutely no gap between the bed and the wall, or between two mattresses.

When there are no gaps in the setup of the baby’s sleeping space, there is no danger of the baby getting stuck in a gap and getting suffocated or injured.

Usually, newborn babies don’t crawl or even roll over, but still, the danger of them getting stuck in a gap between a wall and a mattress is very real.  

7. Cut down the risk of falling.

A negative aspect of co-sleeping with a baby is that the risk of them falling off the bed is very real.

However, simply adhering to a few safety measures can help in making sure that this does not happen.        

So, how to make co-sleeping with a baby safe?

You can push your mattress against the wall, and place the baby between you and the wall in order to keep her safe.

Once she starts crawling, make sure to never leave the baby alone on the bed.

Put her in a playpen if you are alone with her at home and need to use the toilet or take a shower.

What else?

One of the best things you can do to reduce the risk of your baby falling down from the bed is to place your mattress on the floor. And put foam playmats all around it.

This way, even if the baby takes a tumble, she would have a soft place to land on. It is a great way to ensure that she remains unharmed.    

8. Do not swaddle the baby.

Swaddling a newborn baby is a common practice observed by the people of different communities all around the world.

It is ok to swaddle a baby when she is taking a nap alone in a bed; atleast until the time she starts showing signs of rolling over.

But if you want to know how to co-sleep with a baby safely if she’s swaddled? The answer is that you can’t.

Never swaddle your baby if she sleeps in the same bed as yours.

Swaddling a co-sleeping baby creates numerous risks to the baby such as suffocation, entrapment and overheating.

Instead of swaddling a baby, you can use a sleep sack with the arms out. This would help in keeping the baby warm and safe at the same time.

9. Smoking, drinking and drugs.

This is a super-important point when it comes to co-sleeping with a baby. It is even mentioned in the safe sleep 7 guidelines.

Parents who smoke, drink or take (prescription) drugs that make them drowsy or less alert should not be co-sleeping with a baby or young child.

If you are someone who drinks alcohol or smokes occasionally, then you need to avoid co-sleeping with your baby on the nights or days when you have smoked or had a few drinks.

If you need to take medication on a regular basis and it affects your ability to care for your child, then you should not be co-sleeping with the baby.

If you are not the only adult co-sleeping with the baby, then this rule applies to your partner as well.    

Safe Co-sleeping FAQs

How do I avoid suffocation during co-sleeping?

Suffocation is not imminent while co-sleeping. In fact, it is completely avoidable.

In order to keep your baby safe while co-sleeping, you need to make sure that the sleep-surface is firm, not cushiony.

You also need to keep blankets, soft toys, pillows and any type of loose clothes away from the baby as the baby’s face can get covered accidentally and suffocate her while sleeping.

When you see photos of safe co-sleeping, you would notice that the area where the baby sleeps is clear of any objects.            

Even the mother or primary caretaker who co-sleeps with the baby usually sleeps without a pillow or a blanket.

If she takes a blanket, it is drawn upto her waist, not all the way upto her neck.      

What is the best age to stop co-sleeping?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best age to stop co-sleeping depends solely on the needs of an individual family.

Some people choose to stop co-sleeping with a baby once their next pregnancy starts.

Others choose to continue co-sleeping with their first child until the next baby arrives.

Sometimes, a mother or primary caretaker needs to stop co-sleeping with a child due to medical reasons.

Whether those medical issues are faced by the child or the adult, a person might have to end the co-sleeping journey in such cases.

Many people stop co-sleeping when the child reaches the age of 5 as there is less space for them in the parent’s bed.

Some families choose to stop co-sleeping early into their co-sleeping and bedsharing journey because the adult’s snoring keeps the baby awake at night.

There are many people who continue co-sleeping and bedsharing with their child until they want some space and privacy, and start asking for their own room.

So, no two babies are the same. Neither are their sleeping habits, behaviour and emotional needs.

Hence, when it comes to the question, how long to co-sleep and bedshare with a baby? Do what is best for your child and your family.  

       
Do babies who co-sleep sleep longer?

Upto about 18 months of age, most babies tend to wake up frequently during the night. They need to be fed, changed and soothed.  

However, babies who co-sleep with their parents or primary caretakers are known to sleep longer than babies who don’t.    

That is because when a baby is lying next to the mother, they don’t need to wait too long to be fed, changed or soothed.

These things take much less time when the baby is near the mother at night.

Also, once the baby is taken care of, it takes less time to make them sleep again.

Sometimes, they don’t even get fully awake. They take feedings while half asleep and simply drift back to sleep once their belly is full or their diaper is dry.

Babies who don’t co-sleep, get fully awake by the time their mother or primary caretaker reaches their side.

It takes longer to put them back to bed. Hence, less sleep-time.      

Can babies sense their mother's presence while sleeping?

As strange as it may seem, a lot of times, babies can sense their mother’s presence even while they are asleep.

Some babies put their faces close to their mother’s face. They can hear her mother’s breathing and even feel her breath on their face.

So, they know when the mother leaves the bed.

There are many babies who keep physical contact with their mother while sleeping.

They hold some part of their mother (cheek/hand/hair) and wake up the second they can’t feel it in their hands.

This is why it is so hard for some mothers to sneak away from the bed when they need to.

Some babies put their feet up on their mother’s stomach or legs and know instantly when the mother gets up from the bed.

Why does my baby only want to sleep with me?

It is very natural for babies wanting to be close to their mothers or primary caretakers.

At a young age, babies need warmth and comfort. They also need to feel safe in order for them to fall asleep.

In most cases, babies feel the safest when they are with their mother. Hence, they might want to sleep with only the mother and no one else in the family.

Developmentally, young babies can’t fall asleep or stay asleep on their own. They rely on the adults in the family to help them foster good sleeping habits.

Which country has the highest rate of co-sleeping?

Many countries around the world practice co-sleeping.        

Japan, South Korea, other Asian countries, Egypt, Latin America, and African countries rank high when it comes to the number of people who co-sleep with their babies.

In many of these countries, co-sleeping is continued well into childhood, almost till the child reaches teenagehood.    

Why do babies touch mom's face while sleeping?

When babies are falling asleep, and sometimes even in their sleep, they like to keep touching their mother’s face.

They do it because it assures them that their mother is still sleeping next to them. It also makes them feel safe and soothed.      

Do you have a story to tell? But when you get around to writing it, you draw a blank.

Writing a story can be hard. Writing a compelling story, even harder.

You may have the idea in your head. You may even have the starting point, the middle and the end in your mind.

But writing those ideas in a way that the readers or the watchers enjoy your story is something that needs to be learnt and practiced.  

Writing a compelling story does not always come easily.

So, how to create a compelling story? Simply follow the below-mentioned tips and create your own masterpiece.              

1. Get your readers hooked from the first chapter.

The opening of the story matters a great deal. The first few lines you write need to be interesting enough or beautiful enough for the reader to keep reading.

Remember that the opening para sets the tone for everything else that follows. It is the first taste a reader would get of your writing.

It is the first (maybe only) chance you will get to captivate the reader enough for them to keep reading your story.

In order to get the reader or watcher hooked to your story, give them a glimpse of the world you have created.

To give an enthralling start to your story, you can write a simple yet profound statement that the readers can connect with.  

Or you can begin your story with a thought-provoking question. Or an event that just isn’t expected at the beginning of a story.

However you choose to begin your story, the sentences need to be crafted in a way that they are able to get the readers hooked to the story.

This way, they would want to keep reading your story.

2. Create relatable characters.

A vital part of writing a great story is about being able to create compelling characters.

So, how to write a compelling character?

An important part of creating a compelling character is creating characters that are relatable.

Be it the protagonist or other characters in the story, if you make them relatable, the readers or watchers enjoy them more.

When the reader is able to see that the traits, incidents or even physical features of the characters of the story are similar to theirs, they are able to relate to them.

The characters need to have their own interests, strengths, fears and desires which are a part of every real person’s life.

Also, the characters need to go through character development, just like people do.

In real life, people change, for better or worse. They don’t stay the same all their lives. That is how they grow.

The same needs to happen in the lives of the characters of the story. That makes the characters even more relatable.

Even if it happens on a subconscious level, relatable characters are more liked by the consumers of the story. Hence, they continue watching or reading the story.        

3. Set the rhythm or speed at which your story progresses.

In most examples of compelling stories, you would find that each of those stories move forward at different speeds.

Sometimes, the speed of the story-progression depends on the genre of the story.

And not just that, different parts of the same story might progress at varied speeds depending on the specific scene or incident being written.

Usually, short and gripping scenes are written to create excitement in the reader; while slow-moving, long and thought-provoking scenes are written in order to present a philosophical or deep idea.

While setting the progression-speed of a book or a movie, there is one more thing you need to take care of.    

Make sure that it is not too slow as you might end up losing the reader’s attention.

Also, make sure that it is not too fast either. Telling a story too fast might make it lose its emotional depth.

Plus, you might have to leave out important details if you make the story move too fast.  

4. Create a clear setting.

A major factor of creating a compelling story is its setting.

What is the setting of a story?

The setting of a story is basically a sort of backdrop for the story and its characters.

The setting of a story does not denote just the physical location where the story takes place.

It also indicates the social conditions, historical period and whole vibe of the story.

The setting of a story helps in creating an image that makes sense for that particular story.

While creating the setting of a story, make sure that you describe it clearly.

People need to understand the backdrop of the story properly in order to understand the idea and depth of the story that is taking place on the pages or on screen.

Also, the setting of the story should not overshadow the actual story you are creating.

An excellent way to create a great setting is by including elements like smells, sounds and textures, along with sights.

It’s like giving the story an extra dimension.            

5. Write realistic dialogues.

When it comes to the question, what makes a story compelling, one of the easiest answers is, its dialogues.

Dialogues are super important. Dialogues hold the power to make or break a story.

Through dialogues, the characters’ traits can be revealed and the plot moved along further.

Dialogues can bring up the tension in the story and bring it down as well. Dialogues have the power to present deep ideas with few words.

They have the power to evoke those emotions in the reader which the main character of the story is going through.

Writing powerful dialogues is an art that can be mastered with practice. One of the best ways to write powerful dialogues is by writing realistic ones.

And how to write realistic dialogues?

Write in a way in which people usually talk in real life. Keep it simple. Use simple words.

Make it sound realistic. Like something you would say to the people around you in your daily life.

Also, make it sound natural. The flow of the dialogues between characters need to seem natural, not forced.      

If possible, do not make the dialogues heavy with exposition.    

Remember that successful exposition is integrated into the story gently. And not just through dialogues, but through descriptions and action scenes as well.

6. Craft a strong plotline.

When it comes to making a story compelling, this factor plays a major role. Pun intended.    

If you want to make your story interesting, you need to create a strong plotline. And how can you create a strong plotline? Here’s how.

The protagonist needs to have a specific objective. All the actions that are carried out by the protagonist in the story need to be in accordance with that objective.

Also, there needs to be an inciting incident. One that creates a disruption in the regular life of the protagonist.

This disruption can be presented in the form of a problem that the protagonist needs to find a solution for.

Thereby, turning the story more interesting.

Other important elements of a strong plotline include obstacles, conflicts, high stakes, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.

The stronger the plotline, the more gripping it is for the reader or the watcher.        

7. Choose a theme.

Every story needs a theme. A theme is what the story is woven around.

A theme is the main idea, underlying meaning or message that the writer wants to convey through the story.

It is not just about the sequence of events that takes place in a story.    

The theme of the story can come alive through dialogues, background, and the type of events that occur in the story.

The theme of the story can be anything— love, sacrifice, courage, revenge, justice or social issues.    

The theme is very useful in providing depth and purpose to the story.

A powerful idea stays with the readers (or watchers) long after they’ve finished reading the book.

And a story without a theme can turn out to be shallow and boring. And hence, easily forgettable by the reader or the watcher.    

8. Show, don’t tell.

While learning to write a compelling story, one of the first things you’ll be taught is “show, don’t tell”.

“Show, don’t tell” is a technique used in writing.

According to this technique, thoughts, actions, dialogues and sensory details are used to present an idea or information rather than writing it directly as a statement.

For example, rather than writing “Hazel was angry”, you can write “her face flushed, the knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists tightly. She spoke in a voice so low that it sounded like a growl”.

9. Use subtext.

When you look at compelling story examples, you would see that a lot of those stories use subtext.

Subtext is an underlying message or idea that is presented or conveyed without writing about it in a straightforward way.

When a writer uses subtext, the reader is free to figure out what the writer is trying to say or the idea that is being presented in the story.

Subtext is very useful in creating tension in the story. It is also a great way to add depth, express irony and reveal motives in the story.

Subtext can be presented by using tools and techniques such as “show, don’t tell”, metaphors and foreshadowing.

Using subtext while writing a story gives the reader a chance to read between the lines and understand the idea being presented.

Compelling Story FAQs

What are the 5 C's of storytelling?

The five C’s of storytelling is a kind of guideline that can be used to construct a compelling plotline or narrative.

Most commonly the 5 C’s of writing a book denote Characters, Context, Change, Conflict and Conclusion.

These five C’s are vital elements of a story and are very helpful in building a proper structure; one that appeals to the readers or watchers.      

What are the 5 parts of the plotline?

The plot of a book or a movie is basically the sequence in which the main events in the story take place.

These events usually have a specific order in which they occur.

It provides structure and helps the reader or the audience make sense of the scenes that they are watching, or the incidents that they are reading about.

The structure of a plotline can be divided into five different elements— exposition (description of an idea), rising action or tension, climax, falling action and the resolution.

What are the 4 P's of storytelling?

The four P’s of storytelling are also known as the four pillars of storytelling. They include People, Place, Purpose and Plot.

People are the characters we create in our stories.

Once you figure out how to utilise the 4 P’s of storytelling, you win half the battle of creating an interesting story that can keep people captivated till the end.

What are the 5 W's in story writing?

In order to make a story more interesting, you can follow the five W’s of story writing.

The five W’s stand for Who, What, Where, When and Why.

The 5 W’s is a tried and tested guideline of writing stories that has created some amazing ones.                

What is the triangle method of storytelling?

The triangle method of storytelling follows a guideline under which the three important elements of a story are balanced properly.

Those three elements are Characters, Setting and Plot.

While writing a story, if you are using the triangle method, then these three elements need to be balanced.

They need to be used in a way that they work together effectively.        

What are the three rules of storytelling?

The three rules of storytelling are- make it real, make it compelling and make it actionable.

What are the 8 elements of story telling?

If you have been thinking about how to create a compelling plotline, remember the eight elements of story telling.      

The eight elements of story telling are characters, theme, plot, setting, conflict, tone, style and point-of-view.              

Good sleep is important for the overall health and well-being of a person. But in today’s stressful and fast-paced world, a lot of people suffer from some sort of sleep disorder.  

Statistics show that about one-third of all adults in the world experience symptoms of insomnia.

Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder wherein an individual finds it hard to fall asleep and hard to stay asleep.

And due to the lack of quality sleep, they get tired easily during the day. Insomnia also causes the person to get irritated frequently and lowers their ability to concentrate on things.

Chronic insomnia can also lead to a host of other physical and mental health issues.

If you are going through the same problem, do not worry. Natural remedies for deep sleep are available which are rooted in Ayurveda.

Named below are nine best herbs for sleep—                

1. Ashwagandha.

Though ashwagandha (Indian Ginseng) is known for providing energy and improving a person’s stamina, it also acts as a sleep aid.

How, you may ask?

Its adaptogenic properties help in creating a balance of energy during the day as well as bring about sleep at night.

Ashwagandha is not only useful in inducing sleep, it also boosts sleep quality, lengthens sleep duration and refines sleep efficiency.

This wonderful deep sleep herb reduces the time that is taken for a person to fall asleep.

What’s more?    

It enhances mental alertness after waking up.

The best time to consume ashwagandha depends on an individual as human body chemistry differs from person to person.

If one person needs to consume ashwagandha in small doses in the morning and the afternoon, another person might need to consume a large dose before bed.

It is best to consult a healthcare provider who practices ayurveda before consuming this herb on a daily basis.

2. Chamomile.

Second on the list of herbs that make you sleep instantly is Chamomile.

However, it may take a few minutes to work. You don’t literally fall asleep the moment you consume camomile, be it in the form of a capsule or tea.

There have been many studies to determine the potency of chamomile as a sleep aid. Those studies have found that chamomile very well may have a sedative effect on individuals.

Consuming chamomile before bed can also lead to relaxation and high-quality sleep. More research is needed to discover the intricacies of its effectiveness.

So far, researchers have seen that the flavonoid apigenin in chamomile flowers assists with sleep-related benefits.

3. Tulsi (Holy Basil).

Tulsi is one of the best herbs for sleep tea-making. It can easily be found all across India. Tulsi is used as a key ingredient in many Ayurvedic herbal medicines for sleep.  

Basil is native to Asia and Africa. However, these days, for its various uses, Basil is grown worldwide in warm and temperate regions.

The leaves of the tulsi plant have the ability to reduce stress. And by doing so, it can bring about a good night’s sleep.

Due to its calming effects, tulsi has been nicknamed as ‘liquid yoga’.

For good sleep, tulsi can be consumed in the form of tea. You can add a little bit of honey and ginger for flavour and added health benefits.

Fresh tulsi leaves can also be chewed without adding anything to it, for getting relief from sleep issues.      

4. Amla (Indian Gooseberry).

When it comes to natural sleep aids, Indian gooseberry (amla) is not something that comes immediately to your mind.

But in truth, amla is a good herbal remedy for sleep. Traditionally, amla has been used for the treatment of a wide range of health issues.

Be it boosting the immune system, supporting hair & skin health, curing indigestion, improving cellular function or maintaining cardiovascular health; amla is a super useful herb that can do it all.

Sleep is another aspect of a person’s health that amla helps in managing.

Various studies have shown that amla has the ability to reduce stress, make you feel calm and as a result, help you fall asleep.

5. Brahmi (Gotu Kola).

According to  ayurveda, brahmi is a wonder herb that has a host of benefits.

When used correctly and under guidance, the health benefits of brahmi can support the overall health of a person.

In fact, brahmi is so useful that in ayurveda, it has been called a ‘herb of longevity’ and also ‘a pharmacy in one herb’.

When it comes to sleep-related issues, brahmi helps by regularising the production of nitric oxide, a compound that is crucial for protecting the brain while it is sleep deprived.

Brahmi also aids in the production of GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in controlling a person’s stress levels, mood and sleep patterns.

In short, brahmi helps a person to achieve proper sleep.

6. Lemon Balm.

Lemon Balm is another natural remedy for sleep. It can be found in most places in North America. It is a plant that belongs to the mint family.

Like the name suggests, lemon balm has a lemony flavour. So, when you make tea out of this herb, it tastes pretty good. It can also be consumed in the form of a capsule.

Lemon balm is a nervine and a nootropic that can support brain function and help it unwind.

And it is much easier for a relaxed brain to make you fall asleep than a stressed one.    

7. Passionflower.

Passionflower is a beautiful purple-coloured flower that blooms on passion vines. This traditional herb can be found all across Eastern USA.

Passionflower has long been used for making herbal tea for sleep and relaxation.

Studies have shown that people who consume passionflower tea are able to get a good night’s sleep.

Passionflower is available as a single-herb tea as well as combined with other herbs such as lavender, lemon balm and chamomile.  

8. Lavender.

Lavender is considered to be a magic herb that has a multitude of uses.

It is so therapeutic that it is handy even in treating minor wounds, skin issues and hair loss problems.

Lavender is one of the most commonly used herbs for sleep and anxiety. When it comes to treating sleep disorders, lavender is available in various forms.

You can use it as an essential oil, a mist, a tea, a capsule or a sachet (dried-up flowers & leaves).

If you use the sachet, you would need to crush its contents or add a drop of essential oil to the sachet to release more fragrance as dried-up lavender loses some of its effectiveness over time.

Then you can place the sachet under your pillow or hang it near your pillow.

If you decide to use lavender essential oil, you can practice aroma therapy and put the oil on a diffuser.

You can also mix lavender oil with a carrier oil (almond oil or coconut oil) and apply it on your neck, forehead and wrists.

Using lavender in any form helps in achieving a calm state of mind that is ready for sleep.              

9. Valerian.

In a list of best herbs for sleep, we’ve saved the best for last. So, what is the best herbal medicine for insomnia?

Valerian is one of the herbs that is used most widely for relieving sleep-related issues.

In fact, it is so effective for sleep and anxiety disorders that it has been nicknamed as ‘nature’s valium’.

Researchers have found that valerenol and valerenic acid in valerian has the capability to increase the quantity of GABA in the nervous system.

When there is more GABA in the nervous system, it affects the body the same way as having sedatives in the body would.

In other words, it would make a person feel sleepy and allow that person to get some sleep.

GABA is a compound that acts like a chemical messenger and helps in regulating the nerve impulses in an individual’s nervous system.

The valepotriates in valerian have been found to relieve anxiety as well as depression in people.

Though most of the herbs mentioned in this blog are safe for consumption when done in moderate quantities, self-medication should not be practiced.      

It is best to visit a health care provider or consult a doctor before you choose which herbs to try for better sleep.          

Herbs for Sleep FAQs

What is the most powerful herb for sleep?

Valerian and Ashwagandha are considered to be the two most powerful herbs for sleep.

They help in bringing a good night’s sleep by influencing the neurotransmitters and reducing stress.

Chamomile, Skullcap, Magnolia Bark, California Poppy and Lemon Balm are three other herbs that are deemed to be the best sedative herbs for sleep.

Which herb is the strongest sedative?

Valerian root is thought to be the strongest natural sleep aid. In fact, Valerian plants are so potent that cats get attracted to them just like they get attracted to catnip.    

What is the strongest natural sleep remedy?

Time and again, Valerian root has proved to be the strongest natural sleep remedy.

Studies have shown that consuming about 300-600 mg of Valerian can help a person fall asleep and also, improve the quality of sleep.

It works best when the herb is taken about an hour before bed, be it in the form of a capsule or prepared as a tea.

It is advisable to consult a physician before you start consuming valerian root in any form. Self-medication is not recommended.      

Is ashwagandha good for sleep?

Yes, ashwagandha can be very good for sleep. It is known to improve sleep quality and duration, and also the time needed to fall asleep.

This potent herb has the ability to lower stress levels and alleviate anxiety— two factors that are responsible for sleep issues.

What herbs cure insomnia?

Valerian, Lavender, Ashwagandha and Chamomile are some of the best herbs for insomnia.

Keep in mind that the effectiveness of these herbs can vary depending on the health condition of an individual.

It is best to take advice from a doctor before deciding to consume any of these herbs on a daily basis; especially if you already have a physical health or mental health issue.

Which plant brings sleep?

It has been found that jasmine plants bring sleep. They give off a sweet smell. Jasmine essential oil helps a person’s mind relax and get ready for sleep.

Putting jasmine plants in the bedroom is a good way to get some quality sleep.    

How to increase deep sleep?

Herbs are just one of the elements that lead to a good night’s sleep.

Other elements that need to be paid attention to in order to achieve proper uninterrupted sleep include a high-fibre diet, regular exercise, avoiding alcohol or caffeine before bed, and pre-bedtime rituals (warm bath, combing your hair, reading etc.).

You would also need to create a cool, dark and quiet sleeping space, and a strict sleep schedule for the best sleep possible.  

Manifestation is the process of turning your dreams into reality. It can be done through well-focused thoughts, positive affirmations, relevant actions and a strong faith in the process.

There are various methods that can be used to manifest your goals and desires. Water manifestation is one of those methods.

Water manifestation method uses water as a channel through which a person’s aims and objectives can be achieved.

Those aims and objectives can include a better job, harmony in relationships, good health, general happiness in life, or anything else for that matter.

Remember that consistency and an unshakable belief in the process is very important for water manifestation techniques to actually work.

Now, the question is, how to use water for manifestation?

Simply use the following steps for a powerful water manifestation—      

1. Carefully choose a glass or bottle of water.

Choose a clean glass or water bottle for the process of water manifestation. See if any particular glass or bottle seems ‘just right’ for the task. Use that.

You can also purchase a new glass or bottle if you want.

While using water for manifestation, make sure that the water you use is filtered and clean.

Filtered water is clean compared to non-filtered water. Hence, it would work better when you infuse the water with positive energy and good intentions.

2. Set your specific intentions clearly.

It is important for you to define your goals clearly. Be specific while thinking about or speaking out your goals during a water manifestation session.  

Keep your focus on the desired outcome rather than on what you are missing.

Which basically means that frame your sentences for the manifestation in present tense, as if the goal has already been achieved.

Keep the verbiage you use completely positive, without even a shadow of doubt.  

3. Write down your goals.

Though this step is optional, it carries a lot of significance.

When you listen to water manifestation success stories, you’ll find that most of those stories include following this step properly.

What you need to do is to write down affirmations for water manifestation.

Write your goals and objectives on a piece of paper. Then place the glass (or bottle) of water on top of that piece of paper.

Doing this would transfer the paper’s positive energy into the water, potentially charging the water with positive energy and thoughts.        

4. Hold the glass in your hands.

In this next step, you would need to hold the glass of water (or bottle of water) in your hands.

Try to feel the energy of your intention seeping into the water.

If you are practising water manifestation for beginners, then this step might take some extra practice. Focus takes time. And that is okay.

Keep your thoughts positive and your determination strong.      

5. Speak your goals with confidence.

Verbalise what you want, be it silently or out loud. And talk of it as if it has already happened.

Frame your sentences in a way that expresses your happiness upon the fulfilment of your desires.  

6. Visualize clearly and confidently.

Close your eyes. Then visualize your desires and wants as clearly as you can. Imagine the actions you would need to take in order to fulfill those desires.

Imagine how you would feel once those goals and desires come true.    

It doesn’t matter if you are practicing water manifestation for love or for some other purpose, this is a major step to follow.      

7. Drink the water slowly.

When you drink the water that has been ‘charged’ with positive thoughts, and with your goals and objectives, do it slowly.      

While sipping the water, imagine that it is nourishing your body thoroughly and is in harmony with your intentions perfectly.

When water is imbibed with positive thoughts and intentions, it is believed that the person doing it has the power to influence their own lives.

It is also believed that through the water manifestation technique, people can achieve their goals and dreams.

Water manifestation method is based on the idea that water has the ability to absorb and transmit energy.

And this ability can be utilised to manifest an individual’s goals and dreams.

8. Feel gratitude with all your heart.

While carrying out the whole process of water manifestation, you need to keep an attitude of gratitude.

But after you drink the positive energy infused water, you need to express your gratitude whole-heartedly.

Be thankful as if your dreams and goals have already come true.      

9. Repeat on a regular basis.

When it comes to using water for manifestation, repetition is the key.

Make sure that you repeat the previous steps regularly. How often you do it is up to you.

Usually, it is done on a daily or a weekly basis. Be consistent and firm while practicing water manifestation.              

Water Manifestation FAQs

How many days to do water manifestation?

The practice of water manifestation works best when carried out for 7, 21 or 43 days. How long you practice it for depends on your thought process and focus.

Many practitioners of water manifestation have found that executing water manifestation for just seven days has been fruitful; while for others, it took longer to achieve the desired result.            

Does water manifestation really work?

For water manifestation to really work, you need to have faith in the process. You need to believe that it would work, only then would it work for you.

The idea that our thoughts can influence our reality has been floating around for a while.

Though the topic is somewhat complex, more and more people are warming up to the idea that we may hold our destiny in our own hands.

A few curious minds have done research on the topic and found that when a person believes in their ability to achieve certain goals, they work harder to achieve those goals.

Carrying out manifestation practices and working hard to achieve your goals go hand in hand.

Hence, water manifestation can give you the required focus, energy and inspire you to take action in order to reach your goals.

Be it water manifestation or any other type of manifestation, manifestations cannot work by themselves. You have to trust that it works.

What is the most powerful manifestation technique?

A manifestation technique is not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of thing. What works for one individual might not work for another.

It all comes down to what you put your faith in. To be precise, whichever technique you feel might work for you, should work for you.

Whatever manifestation technique you may choose, it needs to be combined with clear visualization and affirmations.

Some powerful manifestation techniques include water manifestation, vision boards, gratitude journaling and 369 method.      

Now that the winter holiday season is approaching, you must be thinking about all the gifts you need to buy for your kids, significant others, friends, relatives and associates.

Choosing the right gift for a particular person can be a herculean task. What if they don’t like the gift?

What if the gift turns out to be completely useless and just sits at the corner of a wardrobe.

In order to give a gift that the recipient would love, you need to pick out the gift based on their personality.

At the same time, you need to keep it within your budget so that you have enough funds to purchase gifts for everyone on your list.

Depending on how much you can spend and the person’s likes & dislikes, you can choose anything from useful electronic items to nice experiences.

Given below are seven gift ideas for the holiday season—

1. Custom Ornament.

Ornaments are an important part of celebrating Christmas.

No Christmas is complete unless a Christmas tree is adorned with pretty and meaningful ornaments.

So, gifting a custom ornament to a person you care about is a great choice.

You can customise the ornament with a print of their own photograph or a photo of a (movie, cartoon, book) character they love.

Ornaments are somewhat fragile. So, be careful while wrapping them up with a gift packing paper.

2. Personalised Mug.

One of the best Christmas gift ideas is also one of the most simple ones. You can gift your near and dear ones with a personalised coffee mug.  

Put a print of their own photo on the mug, or put a photo of their family. If you are gifting it to a friend, you can personalise the mug with a photo of you two.

You can also customise the coffee mug with their favourite quote or poem; or you can print a greeting (New Year/Christmas) on the coffee mug with the year mentioned.      

3. Experiences.

If you are looking for unique Christmas gifts for adults, then you can consider choosing an experience as a gift for them.

Find out what their hobbies are. Find out if there is something they always wanted to do but have not been able to do it due to lack of time or funds.

Then, make the arrangements for them to indulge in that activity.

Make sure to keep an open invitation so that they are not bound by time constraints as most people are busy during the holiday season.

These experiences can include anything from bungee jumping and sky diving to French cooking classes and glass blowing.

4. Personalised Photo Frame.

A personalised photo frame is a great Christmas gift idea for friends and family. It is a sweet way for you and your loved one to display the essence of your relationship.

The recipient of this gift would always smile looking at the cherished memories portrayed within a personalised photo frame.        

5. Subscription Pack.

This kind of gift may not be that common but it is a good one. You can offer a subscription pack as a gift for someone close to you.

It can be a part of a New Year or Christmas Gift Box, or you can give it as an individual gift.

The subscription pack can be for absolutely anything— coffee, magazines, beauty products or snacks.  

6. Gadgets.

Gadgets are something that everyone needs. But sometimes, certain gadgets can be unaffordable for some people.

Or, they may delay buying a particular gadget because they are waiting for a specific model/version to get launched.

In any case, if you know that a near and dear one is waiting to buy a particular gadget, then you can buy it for them.

Wireless Earbuds, Smart Phones, Smart Home Assistant, Portable Power Bank, Speakers— these are all great Christmas gifts.  

7. A Gift Card.

To some people, a gift card may seem impersonal and cold. However, in some situations, a gift card is the most thoughtful gift you can give.

By using a gift card, a person can buy anything that they may want, depending on the type of gift card chosen by you.

The recipient of the gift card gets a chance to buy a scarf, books, jewellery, grooming/beauty products, a holiday, a spa day or pretty much anything according to their preferences rather than yours.

This is much better than the recipient of the gift being stuck with something that they won’t be able to return or exchange.        

Holiday Gift Ideas FAQs

What is the most common holiday gift?

In the USA, the most common gift given to people in the holiday season is a gift card.

As many as 48% of people who are looking for Christmas gifts or New Year gifts for their near and dear ones plan to buy gift cards for them.

Especially in the holiday season, there’s a staggering 80% increase in the purchase of eGift cards.

That is a LOT of gift cards being gifted to loved ones and associates.

What to get someone who loves holidays?

Finding the perfect gift for someone who truly loves the holiday season can be hard. So, how do you not disappoint them while giving them their gift?

While going through gift ideas for the holiday season, adults might sometimes forget the most important aspect— the type of holiday that the gift is being given on.

So, if you are trying to choose the perfect New Year gift or the perfect Christmas gift, you can make it so that that particular holiday remains memorable for the person who receives that gift.

You can give them a personalised coffee mug or decoration item (bauble, figurine, photo frame etc.) mentioning the type of holiday it is for, and also the year (2025, etc.) on which it is being gifted.    

What is the five gift rule?

The five gift rule is a type of guideline to help you decide what kind of gift you can give to a person.

According to the rules of gifting, the first four gifts need to be something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.

The fifth gift rule calls for a good surprise. This is when you need to give the person something that even they didn’t know they wanted.      

What is a gift-giving holiday?

Christmas is a gift-giving holiday, so is New Year's Day.

In general, giving gifts is something that has been followed as a part of tradition for various occasions and celebrations throughout history.

Eventually, it got incorporated into the Christian festival of Christmas.  

It has been speculated that in ancient times, the people of Rome gave gifts to their loved ones and associates during the winter solstice; while celebrating festivals like Saturnalia and the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Birthday of the Invincible Sun).

How do I choose a good gift?

Choosing a good gift can be quite tough. What if they don’t like the gift? What if they think it is too cheap. What if they like the gift item but not its colour?

These are questions that arise in the mind of people who go to buy gifts for their near and dear ones.

Well, before buying a gift for someone, you can simply ask yourself, how well do you know that person? Do you know what their hobbies are?

Do you know what her favourite colour is or what kind of clothes/gadgets/decoration items she likes?

If you are not sure about these things, you can simply ask that person. If that is not feasible, you can ask someone close to them for input.

Most people like personalised gifts. So, you can keep that as an option while choosing a gift.

Personalised gifts include coffee mugs or water bottles with a photograph or a nice message printed on it; a t-shirt, cushion or bedsheets modified the same way.    

What is a thoughtful gift?

A thoughtful gift can be anything that a person puts a lot of thought into before purchasing it or making it for the person that they want to gift it to.

While deciding what kind of gift to give to a person on an occasion, the gifter thinks about that person’s needs, interests, likes and dislikes.

When a person gets a gift that they like, it shows that the one who gives the gift truly knows and understands that person.

And hence, it strengthens the bond they share.

It is not about the monetary value of the gift but the time and thought taken to come up with that particular gift.  

What are some free gift ideas?

Giving someone a gift they would really love is not about the price of the gift. It is about the type of gift you give.    

Your gift needs to convey the idea that you know that person, understand that person and truly care about him or her.      

So, here are a few free gift ideas- handwritten letter, a home-cooked meal, helpful acts of service (running errands, babysitting etc.), a picnic, and movie night etc.