We Tested Them!: Gadgets That Can Help You Sleep

How it Works
You breathe in and out in sync with a pulsating soft-blue light projected on your ceiling. The pattern the device makes can keep your attention from drifting while you breathe and help lull you to sleep.

Test-Snooze
"Some nights I have trouble falling asleep, but staring at the light gave me something to focus on; it's strangely hypnotic. It was only a few minutes before I felt relaxed and just wanted to close my eyes. The device can shut itself off after seven minutes, but often by then I was already asleep." —Val Monroe, Beauty Director

$50, NightWave.com

How it Works
A tiny sensor placed under your sheet tracks your nighttime habits and sends data to an app that reports how well you slept and offers advice and tips from experts.

Test-Snooze
"I have to wake up at 3:30 a.m., but I go to bed late, so I average only three hours of rest. The app lets you set a sleep goal. I set mine for six hours. I was surprised to learn I typically fell asleep in less than eight minutes but woke three to four times during the night. I like being aware of my habits and knowing where I can improve." —Gayle King, Editor at Large and CBS This Morning cohost

$149, Beddit.com

How it Works
The light gradually brightens over a 30-minute period to simulate the sunrise, rousing you more naturally than the racket of an alarm clock.

Test-Snooze
"My bedroom curtains are great at blocking sunlight, but that means it's easier for me to oversleep. And it doesn't help that I usually hit the snooze button at least three times every morning. The warm light made waking up much more pleasant, and I didn't feel the need to roll over and keep sleeping." — Jihan Thompson, Health Editor

$100, USA.Philips.com


Next: Sleep Gadgets So Weird They Might Just Work