ear plugs, slim pillow, and any sized second pillow to rest my top arm/shoulder on (side sleeper). subtract any of the above and I am not a happy camper.

So, I have this pillow that I've had since I was 3 that I still use. It's all marbly and knotty and foldable, but if I'm at home and in bed, I can't sleep on any other pillow.

My cat.

doxylamine succinate

A good pillow and a good mattress. Also some form of white noise if it is at all noisy outside (I live near college students so it is often noisy outside).

I can sleep pretty well under a lot of adverse conditions, but in order to wake up well, I need the room to have natural light.

White nose. I'm developing a bad habit of using linen spray in lavender now too.

I have a heavy duty white noise machine. The type used in medical offices. We lived near an interstate when I was a kid, and my mom put a fan in the room to drown out the traffic noise. I've needed white noise ever since. After years of using fans, my parents gave me the real deal for Christmas.

I also have to have my feet covered. I can sleep completely exposed in 90+ degree heat, as long as my feet are covered.

For me its more the absence of things, specifically annoying electronic standby lights or bright clocks, etc. The number of electronics that live in my bedroom = zero for exactly this reason.

I didn't think there really was any one thing, until you said "as long as I have a great pillow." I definitely fall into this category, and often prefer to have two great pillows, though I'll settle for the arm of a chair, the arm of a couch, my puppy, a friend...

I hate to admit it, but I'm almost 30 and still sleep with my childhood blankie... It's thread-bare and most of the stuffing has migrated to the corners, but I still love to cuddle up with it at night.

a pillow for my head and a pillow to hug or lean on. Sometimes, I can substitute a person to hug or lean on...

A cool temperature and early bedtime.

a good pillow, a glass of water and chapstick. nothing worse than waking up with chapped lips and dry mouth.

My ex once had a roommate that had to put on the movie Knights Tale every night to fall asleep. That always cracked me up. Me? I just need a fan and a cozy spot.

I had really back problems with my neck, to the point I was in physical therapy. Then I replaced my pillow with one I got a JC Penney. It's some kind of down alternative. It helped so much. I also need at least a thin sheet over me. I can't sleep uncovered. I'll stick my feet out the bottom if it's warm, but I won't sleep without something over me.

I sleep best on one side with my upper arm curled around something. When I was a kid it was whatever stuffed animal was the favorite at the time, but when I went off to college it became a small red pillow my mom made for me that has my childhood blanket in it. I always sleep better with it.

*bad problems. Stupid inability to edit comments.

A blanket (no matter how hot), my dog and my fiance. The only thing that would make that better would be a king size bed.

A comfortable mattress and blanket and my dog to keep my feet warm. I feel most refreshed when I wake up to natural light.

I need a fan, even in the winter. I also can't sleep without some type of a sheet or blanket at least covering a bit of me. My feet always have to be out. On occasion I sleep with a stuffed dog I got for my 7th birthday (I'm 28!) I can sleep without these things, but a truly good sleep has all of it!

Funny, I won that exact cow stuffed animal out of a claw machine last year. haha

My husband! When he's out of town or traveling, I can't sleep to save my life. I've now learned to stop trying to sleep and just get up and be productive (and obsessively check his flight status to make sure his plane landed) :0 I know I'm a little neurotic.

I must keep my room clean (dusted, vaccumed) and free of any clutter at all times to sleep well. Window cracked open, dark and quite room, glass of water.

I hate sleeping in complete darkness. I usually use a flameless candle with a timer to fall asleep comfortably.

a freshly made bed. for this reason i make my bed every morning.

I'm torn between a fan for the white noise and sleeping pills.

I think I could eventually fall asleep without the fan, but I wouldn't sleep at all without pills.

Our dogs. They both snore really, really loud but when we visit the inlaws and the dogs sleep downstairs instead of in the room with us, I cannot stay asleep. Ditto with everytime we go on vacation.

Sleep mask. I NEED my sleep mask. And multiple pillows and heavy blankets. I'm seriously considering buying a weighted blanket.

the constant whir of a fan set to 'low'...even in the middle of winter....i'm a white-noise addict

A fan. Can't sleep without white noise, I even bring with when I travel.

Definately something covering me. I prefer something weighted but in desperation even just a sheet will do. And because of this tic I of course need the bedroom a little chilly
My husband needs a fan on. Even in the winter time. Something about the white noise and a bit of breeze on his face.

Bare feet are a necessity. Complete darkness and silence are nice.

Multiple pillows, I end up making a nest of sorts. Moving air, either from open windows or ceiling on low. A light in the winter or it seems too cold, no lights in the summer as it seems too hot. Cannot sleep with my head at an exterior wall. Sometimes my smaller dog, Zoe.

My grounding sheet.......to be connected to the earth is very healing and calming.

I never thought I'd say it, but: my husband.

After decades of sleeping best when I slept alone, I met and married The Fella. He tosses and turns and sometimes snores... and when he's out of town or I am, I can't sleep at all.

My childhood pillow (which now must be 50 years old), my dog, and blankets. I take the pillow with me when I travel. If I forget to bring it, I am very unhappy.

I need a blankie of some kind. I tend to feel cold on my arms and shoulders so I use a blanket all year round, fleece for cold weather and cotton for warmer weather. I also need windows that let in a good amount of natural light and can be left open to allow for breezes in the summer.

Socks! It might be 95 degrees in the summertime, but I always, always have to sleep with my socks on. I also used to queue up an episode of "Walker Texas Ranger" on DVD (seriously) during bouts of insomnia, and it was so familiar and comforting, I could fall asleep in no time.

Can I also just say that I love hearing from people who admit they still sleep with their childhood stuffed animal or blanket and don't give a s--- about what anyone thinks? I'm nearly 30 and still sleep with my Winnie-the-Pooh (and as a bonus -- my husband's cool with it).

@Kiana1002... I am exactly the same. I can't sleep without him and if he's out of town I'm a nervous wreck even though I hate admitting it.

I also have really become accustomed to falling asleep to the sound of the filters on my two aquariums in my bedroom. The sound has the same effect that a white noise machine would and keeps me from waking up to every little noise during the night (I'm a very light sleeper).

We also got a tempurpedic mattress a few months back and I was wondering if I would have trouble sleeping the next time we slept in a hotel since our mattress is so comfortable. Well we traveled for the first time 2 weeks ago, and I slept like a baby the whole trip :) So I guess I will say a comfortable mattress is a necessity, regardless of what kind it is.

@AHA1983, I used to be the same way. However, for whatever reason, I very suddenly stopped needing it. I do not know why?

As for me, I need pants/shorts/underwear. I do not sleep well in the buff. I think it is because I like to tuck my hand into the side to hold it there.

@crosberg: sooooo sweet your mom! yes, the fan noise.

Now that I think of it I might be a little high maintenance... I need at least a fuzzy blanket preferably with a comforter, My memory foam pillow.. Can't sleep with out it. The fan needs to be on right between medium & high. No lights or noises unless it's the AC noise which actually helps. I almost forgot the other pillow I put in between my legs. I think that's it...

Sleep mask and no socks

I can't sleep unless something, even a thin top sheet is covering me. In addition to that I need white noise, complete darkness, my dog and a blankie to bunch up and put under my head for extra support.

60 to 65 degrees, fresh air, 3-4 pillows, earplugs, and 5-htp and magnesium supplement. Also, must read escapist fiction in order to switch into relaxation mode.

Hulu.

- Always be covered even with a sheet during summer. And I always have to tuck the covers under my feet.
- Have some kind of dim lighting. Nothing too bright, just something to break the dark.
- A pillow thick enough and quite soft to keep my head & neck comfortable and large enough to be able to hug it partially.
- Little to no noise. I sleep light so any noise may wake me up and sometimes it's not easy to fall back to sleep again.

Husband. After 8 years, I can't fall asleep to anything other than the sound of his breath.

Socks, a cover, my nature sounds and a stuffed bulldog. My husband and kitties are optional.

Darkness is helpful, and a heavy quilt is extremely comforting, but neither are necessary. If I'm tired enough, I will sleep. (if I'm overtired, a benadryl will kick me into sleep mode)

I need a fan for the moving air and something to cover me.

Also, comfy cotton PJ pants, always. I have never been able to sleep in shorts or a nightshirt. I sleep on my side, and hate the feeling of my bare legs against each other (especially if they are even the slightest bit prickly) For a while, I even slept topless, but never without PJ pants.

I'd like to say I need my dogs and my guy in the bed, but quite frankly, if I go to bed first I can usually fall asleep pretty quickly without the three of them snoring ,haha, but I have to know they are home and 'there' even if that means they are in another room.

@crossberg I am the same way - I definitely sleep best on my left side with my arms curled up. When I was little (and...not so little) I slept with my stuffed bear. Being covered up is a must. I also like having the door closed. Clearly my boyfriend lucked out with having such an easy guy to sleep next to ;)

I'm 29 and I still sleep with my stuffed animal...partly because I've been using it as a pillow for so long that I can't sleep comfortably with an actual pillow!

My boyfriend! I know it sounds sappy, but I seriously have a hard time sleeping when he and I are out of town without the other one. He's the same way. Good thing we live together!

Also, NyQuil. I'm an insomniac.

I must have my crisp cotton percale top sheet. I even have a travel sheet. With it, any bed is my bed. I am not even too embarrassed about needing my "blankie."

as close to complete darkness as possible, and some form of air movement (window, ceiling fan, etc) and as few clothes as possible (i hate getting twisted up in t-shirts and pj pants)

Definitely a fan; I just can't sleep without one. I also need a smallish pillow to put between my knees if I am laying on my side. A glass of water on my side table too. And my husband :>

I don't sleep well unless the room is as dark as possible and noise free. Earplugs will eliminate the noise if necessary; and as far as darkness, even the digital display from the clock radio is annoying to me so I cover it with a washcloth. Unfortunately, due to having a small apartment, my computer is in my bedroom, meaning the modem is as well and it has blinking lights that I cover with a hand towel.

I used room darkening drapes that help a lot!

I cannot sleep with anyone...give me the freedom of the bed all to myself!

Sleeping mask and ear plugs.

Being diagnosed with a sleep disorder means I live with, travel with, and cannot sleep without an APAP (adjustable positive airway pressure) device. I have obstructive sleep apnea. It's a hassle to haul around, and a bummer to use, but it sure beats the 10 years of chronic exhaustion I - and my family - suffered through, and the increased risk of both heart attack & stroke I was facing.

If you or your bed partner snores, awakes unexplainedly at night, is chronically exhausted, or wakes frequently with a headache, please get a sleep study! It may very well save your life.

PS-for those who sleep with a fan... I do too (originally to mask our obnoxious cats mewling outside the door), and just downloaded an app on my iPad that has 4 dozen various noise files. The air conditioner is the perfect fan noise, so I no longer travel with a fan.

It's called TMSoft White Noise Pro. Awesome.

I have to sleep with my back to my futon back, I don't sleep well with my back exposed. I have to have my TV on and my water bottle nearby. Oh, and if it's a real crazy night, I have to fall asleep to movies such as: "And Then There Was None" or "The Red House" or "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple Starring Margaret Rutherford" ;>D Crazy, huh?