Impervious sleep is a dream for some, especially after long stressful days at work, during holidays at the in-laws, or even after routine traveling for business. Luckily, with the invention of the iPod, an influx of app-type sleep aids has become available.
Check out some of these iPhone apps of the night for a sounder sleep. Note that most of these apps work best with high-quality headphones or speakers, and when used in conjunction with a charger.
iPhone apps to listen to the sounds of the night
The Sleep Machine app ($1.99) allows you to pick up to three sounds to play simultaneously for a time period you select. An alarm, which sounds like a soothing series of gong hits, goes off at the end of the time period, making it the perfect choice for nap time. Or for a bonus trick, play the vacuum sounds so your neat freak housemate thinks you are cleaning! Sounds include everything from an air conditioner and fireplace roars, to lawn mowers and space ships. Download the free Sleep Machine Lite app to test drive.
If you have specific nature sounds you love for sleeping, the Sleepmaker apps ($2.99) allow you to pick from rain, storm, waves, wildlife and stream sounds. I picked the Sleepmaker Waves Pro for the ultimate relaxation of hearing the waves wash up on the beach. You can download the free version of all the apps before committing to the $2.99 Pro version of your favorite.
The Aqueous app (99 cents) comes with pre-programmed themes, complete with ambient noises and background graphics such as water flowing over rocks. You can even create your own mix by picking your background, main music and ambient noises. Try Aqueous Lite for a free sample.
The eRelax Sleep iSmooth Wave free app, my favorite of the sleeping soundly free apps, allows you to incorporate music from your iTunes library with the ambient noises. You can also pick a noise, like a clock ticking, and set a time for it to expire.
Light up the night with these iPhone apps
If color therapy is more your thing, check out the Mood Glow app (99 cents). Turn off the lights and watch as the app subtly flows from color to color — much better than counting sheep.
Still can’t sleep without a night light? Check out the more grown-up version for your iPod called My Night Light app (99 cents). This app can be downloaded in orange, red, yellow, pink, green, white or blue. Or if you are a Mac addict, check out the Sleep Light app (99 cents), which mimics the soft white glow of the Mac computers almost strobe-like sleep light.
The tried and true: iPhone apps for Bedtime stories
If the classic bedtime story is still your thing, check out the Wonderful Stories Collection app ($1.99). This app is a classic collection of Grimm Fairy Tales, The Tales of Mother Goose and more, which come complete with vintage illustrations.
And with the holidays coming up, a must-have app is A Classic Christmas (99 cents) containing all the classic tales with an option to read, or be read to while listening to classic Christmas songs. Want to wake up on Christmas morning to the sounds of the sugarplum fairy or mischievous elves? Not a problem with the included holiday themed alarm clock.
Last resort for relaxation with these iPhone apps
If you still aren’t sleeping through the night, try Relax with Andrew Johnson deep relaxation-sleep app ($2.99), which helps guide you into a deep relaxation. You can also try it for free by downloading Relax with Andrew Johnson Lite.
Sweet dreams!
