Stories

It’s no surprise that exercise routines top New Year’s resolutions lists every year—and for good reason. But there’s one important habit that often gets overlooked: a healthy sleep routine. Many people underestimate how crucial sleep is for overall well-being, influencing everything from stress and mental health to physical fitness and weight management. Without quality sleep, even the most dedicated workout plans or diets fall short. Despite its importance, many people struggle to prioritise sleep—a surprising reality considering that nearly one-third of adults’ grapple with insufficient rest, and 22.6% of children report significant sleep-related difficulties. These challenges are especially evident within families, where establishing consistent sleep routines can feel like an uphill battle. Why Sleep Routines Matter for Families Think about ‘jungle hour’—kids stalling bedtime or begging for another story. And when it’s time for adults to wind down, many of us end up scrolling through social media right up until we turn off the lights. Many people don’t realise how much this habit disrupts bedtime routines by exposing us to blue light from screens, which interferes with the production of melatonin—the hormone that regulates sleep. Blue Light exposure before bedtime can make it harder for kids to fall asleep. But by making the simple change of eliminating screens an hour before bed and replacing them with calming activities—like reading or listening to guided meditations—you will see a significant improvement in sleep quality.   The Science of Better Sleep Quality sleep doesn’t just happen—it’s the result of a deliberate routine that calms the mind and body. Stress hormones like cortisol can keep us wired at night, making relaxation a challenge. That’s why creating a smooth transition from the day’s activities into a state of calm is so important. Guided meditations and soothing sounds can play a vital role in this process, helping to ease the mind and signal the body that it’s time to rest. Research shows that meditation can lower stress, reduce heart rate, and prepare the brain for deeper sleep. Similarly, consistent exposure to calming bedtime rituals can help kids fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Sleep routines, supported by tools like Morphée, make it easier to reap these benefits. This is where Morphée makes a difference—a simple, effective solution that transforms bedtime routines into enjoyable, stress-free moments. Whether you’re a busy parent aiming to create a calming bedtime atmosphere for your little Sprouts or someone seeking relief from sleep struggles, Morphée offers something for everyone. FAQs About Morphée and Sleep Routines Q: What is Morphée?A: Morphée is a sleep aid device to help adults fall asleep quicker and easier. Q: How does Morphée work?A: Morphée uses pre-recorded, screen-free meditations and calming sounds to guide users into relaxation, helping to lower stress levels and prepare the body for deep, restorative sleep. Q: Is Morphée suitable for kids?A: Yes! The Little Morphée is designed for children ages 3 and up, offering tailored meditations and stories to help them unwind and build healthy sleep habits. Practical Tips for Using Morphée EffectivelyReady to integrate Morphée into your family’s bedtime routine? Here’s how: Set a consistent schedule: Aim to go to bed and wake up at a similar time each day. Create a relaxing environment: Dim the lights, reduce noise, and eliminate screens at least an hour before bed (reducing screen time before bed really does help and is supported by research). Incorporate Morphée into the routine: Let kids pick a meditation or story from the Little Morphée to wind down. For adults, use Morphée’s guided meditations to de-stress and quiet the mind. Be patient: Like any habit, a good sleep routine takes time to develop. Stick with it, and you’ll soon see the results. A Healthier New Year Begins with Better Sleep This year, make your well-being the priority it deserves. Transform your nights with the Little Morphée for kids and Morphée for adults—specially designed to help your family drift into peaceful, rejuvenating sleep. Visit the Morphée page to discover how better sleep can improve your life. Written by Jacqui Mills.  

Bianca Klein knows a thing or two (or three) about work-life balance. For Women’s Day this year, we spoke to the 24-year-old mom of two about juggling parenting, work, and her passion for lifestyle blogging, what it means to be a woman in South Africa today, and, of course, her and her son’s favourite Sprout product – the Difrax S-Bottle.

Over the period of Mother's Day we, at Difrax SA, got to collaborate with local brands that were created by talented #Momtrepreneurs who shared their stories about running their own businesses while raising and running after their little humans.     Momtrepreneur Hannah - Skin Creamery Hannah is the owner of @skincreamery, here’s how she juggles being a mom while running her own business:⁠⁠I have two children, Adam 10 and Emily 7. I always knew I wanted to be a mom and the process has taught me a lot about myself. It is a constant learning journey that brings me joy and challenges every day.I wanted to start my own business so that I could work at my own pace. I started Skin Creamery when both my kids were very small and it grew as my children grew, so it has been a beautiful journey to witness. ⁠It’s been great having control over my schedule so I have time for my children when they’ve needed me. It's important that I do the school pick-ups and hear about their day and that I am there for them in the afternoons.The challenges have been juggling all the responsibilities of being a mom and a small business owner. Sometimes it feels like there isn’t enough of me to go around and at times it is extremely overwhelming, however it’s something I’ve had to learn to deal with and there is much more balance now than there was in the early years. I have the right support structures in place in the business and I make sure to support myself emotionally and by keeping healthy.⁠  Momtrepreneur Michele - Karoo Baba Michele is the owner of @karoo_baba who we collaborated with and she what triggered her focus onto making Karoo Baba the success it is.⁠I am a mom of two boys, 8 and 16 years old, and ever since I had children I vowed to not have a full time career that keeps me away from my kids. I always endeavoured to have a job that would allow me to be able to avoid sending my kids to aftercare and always be available and work from home. I am so proud to say that even though this has not been easy, I have stuck to my guns and have managed to raise amazing kids as well as build a beautiful local brand and business through it. ⁠⁠Karoo Baba started in 2017 when I was still working as an independent travel agent, but since Covid I have been so grateful for the time to focus on this amazing brand, as it has grown from strength to strength. Through it all, managing a small local business as a mom of two as well as having to motivate myself every day has not been an easy task, but has been worth it in every way.⁠⁠The joys are that I don't have to work according to anyone else's schedule. The challenges are that you have no one to call when things go wrong, however knowing why I do it makes it worthwhile and I would not have it any other way. It also proves how resilient and strong us moms can be when we are working for the right cause - absolutely unstoppable! Momtrepreneur Amanda - Amanda Jane Candles Our last featured Momtrepreneur is Amanda-Jayne Cumming, the owner of @amandajaynecandles.⁠First and foremost I am a mom to two beautiful boys, 8 years and 3 years old. Life is super busy, but at the same time extremely rewarding. Juggling has become something I have had to master over the past few years - with a growing business and family to nurture I have learnt to make every moment count. ⁠⁠I started Amanda-Jayne back in 2014 when I had my firstborn. My plan was to have a small business aligned with my passion and love for scents, that I could run from home and still be around for my boys. After my second child was born Amanda-Jayne rapidly expanded, we moved into a factory, and I now have a lovely team of ladies who support and assist me. ⁠⁠The hardest part of it all has been finding that balance, time for work, time for my family and time for me. Each day has new hurdles, but with my strong team and incredible family supporting me it has been an amazing journey, and I feel truly blessed. ⁠⁠  

Difrax had the privilege of chatting to Roxanne Atkinson, occupational therapist and author of the informative and humorous book, The Unicorn Baby, in which she debunks 10 myths of modern parenting. DIFRAX: Tell us a bit about yourself. ROXANNE: Hi! I am Roxanne Atkinson. Most people call me Roxi. I am a South African OT working out of Cape Town. I am a proud mom of a pigeon pair who have transformed how I see myself, my life and my work. I have always been passionate about babies, but I only really became passionate about families a decade ago when I became a mom myself. Prior to this, I was rather judgy as many of us can be prior to making and raising actual human beings.   I am one of those weirdos who always knew what I wanted to do and went after it. I love travelling and have gotten to do OT in countries like Ghana, America, Malawi and Madagascar. Currently, I get to work with incredible families in private practice. I usually see about 25 patients a week and get to serve as a researcher, cheerleader, counsellor and advocate. I also love words and sharing knowledge so you may spot me writing a column for Your Pregnancy Magazine or chatting about development on the Pippa Hudson show.    DIFRAX: What inspired you to write The Unicorn Baby? ROXANNE: The field of neuroscience has exploded over the last 15 years and we now know so much more about babies and their brains. However, most of this information is not accessible to the people who really need it - parents of real babies! I got tired of repeating the same information over and over to anxious parents who had bought into these modern parenting myths. I wrote this book to go to war against these myths and to help empower families with evidence. I decided to swim against the tide and make the science and the journals accessible to parents in an honest and humorous way, so that they could feel confident in making the best parenting decisions for their families. DIFRAX: Which myths baffled you the most when you had your little ones? ROXANNE:  Some people are ugly drunks, I am ugly tired. I really need and appreciate good sleep and so I struggled most with the pervasive sleep myths I encountered. You know, "you must get your baby to sleep through the night"... "if your baby wakes it is because they are hungry".... "Don't feed your baby to sleep"... "don't hold your baby"... "your baby must sleep alone in their cot" etc. Whilst I had my first baby a decade ago, these sleep myths still seem to be hanging around and terrorising babies and their parents. This blows my mind as we know babies are biologically programmed to wake and that the more direct care babies get, the better the long-term outcome. Both my babies woke regularly, but with my first I fought this reality and tried all the bad advice for months. It was exhausting. With our second, although he woke just as much, I was less tired as I wasn't constantly trying to fix a 'problem' by enforcing an unrealistic sleep schedule as I had more knowledge of what normal and healthy baby sleep actually looks like.   DIFRAX: Pick a paragraph from your book to share with us. ROXANNE:  When I say you need to consider your baby’s biology, I am referring to the cells of your child’s brain and body. These cells are constantly growing and changing to allow your baby to develop. So, when I say a baby has a biological need, you should try to imagine this on a cellular level. A baby’s biology creates a drive towards meeting that need, whether it is for energy, love, warmth, or play. Development is a dance between biology and experience. Some babies will require more experience to learn than others. The golden rule is to respectfully introduce your baby to a wider variety of sensorimotor experiences, watching and waiting as their development unfolds. Almost all babies will have an area of development that is tricky for them, be it sleep, feeding, talking or teething. Oh except the Unicorn Baby of course. The Unicorn baby develops without exposure. The Unicorn Baby never fails. In fact, the Unicorn Baby does not rely on biology! My hope is that as you unpack each myth and replace it with the corresponding biological and developmental realities, you will feel more prepared. You will gain insight into and appreciation for your baby and your role as a parent. You will celebrate your baby’s uniqueness, whether they have been born a Unicorn or not. There has never been, and never will be, another baby just like yours. For further myth busting you can get a copy of The Unicorn Baby at Loot, Amazon, Takealot, Exclusive Books, Readers Warehouse and Bargain Books.