DreamCap helps make peaceful dreams a reality
Camarillo man's invention provided free to military families
By Andrea L. Minium Special to the Acorn

SWEET DREAMS- Jocelyn Bello, a 5-year-old Camarillo resident, wears the DreamCap, an invention created by Camarillo father of four James Ramey to help children sleep better at night.

Philip Rauscher is an Army specialist stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. The father of five will leave the day after Christmas for his second tour in Iraq, which means he and his wife, Ana, have been busy the past month getting prepared for his departure.

During his last tour, 2005-06, Rauscher said his children, ages 3 to 7, experienced bad dreams, worrying about their father serving overseas.

But those nightmares have been fading for the Rauscher children ever since they received a gift in the mail a month ago sent by James Ramey, a Camarillo inventor.

Ramey sent the Rauscher family his creation- the DreamCap, which he said has helped keep the dreams of a growing number of children free of monsters and other adolescent nightmares.

The DreamCap is a unique and drug-free approach to making dreams peaceful for restless little sleepers.

The package includes the DreamCap, a colorful fabric sleeping cap, and a CD complete with a lullaby and a story. Children wear the cap while they sleep. It helps reduce stress and anxiety for children, giving them a chance to manage their emotions without medication, Ramey said.

Rauscher said that since receiving the caps a month ago, his youngsters have slept more soundly.

"We're hoping it'll help them sleep while I'm gone," Rauscher said.

A father of four and cofounder of the company Cherished Minds, Ramey developed DreamCap 13 years ago to help his youngest son sleep better.

Ramey said he came up with the invention after a number of restless nights for his 5-year-old. He wanted to "block" his son's bad dreams, and the idea for his invention was born.

"The success of the DreamCap is solely based upon the parent taking the time to sincerely explain the abilities of this wonderful system." Ramey said.

DreamCap's popularity continues to grow, he said.

"We want to add to the product line by more variations in sizes and colors," Ramey said.

The DreamCap system is especially helpful for little ones worried about parents who are serving overseas in the military or are frequently away from home on business trips.

Ramey retired as a chief after serving in the Navy for 23 years, and he knows firsthand how hard it can be for young children to deal with parents serving overseas or working in a dangerous profession.

He provides the DreamCap free to military families. "We want to take care of them as much as possible," Ramey said.

For more information, call (888) 411-5437.