Part of getting more sleep is having a solid bedtime routine for your little crew and having the right tools to help them drift off to dream! I’ve rounded up my favorite baby sleep essentials (and some that I’ve heard SO many good things about).
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Bedtime Routine
Step one is definitely having a bedtime routine. This will look different depending on baby’s age and what their needs are! Experts say you can start a simple routine around 6 weeks old to start prepping baby for blissful sleep. Some ideas to get you started:
1. Bathtime with gentle baby soap (lavender is our favorite for relaxing!)
2. Night time diaper and lotion or baby oil
3. Soft jammies
4. Bedtime feeding (if they’re still nursing or taking a bottle)
5. Turn down lighting and read a short story. Goodnight Moon is our go-to
6. Lullaby and rocking
7. Swaddle’em up!
8. Pray over them
9. Gently put them in bed while they’re sleepy but awake
Swaddle vs. Sleep Sack
According to my pediatric sleep consultant friend, babies are recommended to be swaddled no longer than 12 weeks from birth. She even recommends transitioning them to a sleep sack around 10 weeks to make it easier on everyone! Monica says not all swaddles are created equally because each baby is different and will have different preferences.
If you’re in a pinch, I recommend finding some gently used swaddles to give each a test run! Here are the best ones she recommends:
Swaddles:
Love to Dream zip up swaddle is perfect for babies who seem to wiggle their arms out of any swaddle
Ollie Swaddles are size adjustable and great for taller babies
SwaddleMe velcro swaddles are what we used with both boys and they worked great for them
Sleep Sacks:
Halo Sleep Sack
Nested Bean weighted sleep sack was what we used with Jep, (our second baby). It gives them the feeling of your hand resting on them and helped him so much!
Burts Bees sleep sack- this brand has always been a favorite because they use organic fabric for everything
Halo Big Kids Wearable Blanket is great for toddlers- this also helps prevent them from crawling out of their crib!
Bedside Sleepers
The AAP recommends that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for a minimum of six months, and they’d prefer them to be in there for a year. Having a bedside sleeper makes night time feeding so much easier for you and baby!
Halo Swivel Sleeper is hugely recommended by so many mama friends!
The Lullago Bassinet was our absolute favorite. It comes apart and folds down for easy travel, (huge win!)
Sound Machine
White noise helps tiny babies sleep so well because they’re used to SO much noise inside your belly. Having some background noise will help them drift off to sleep in no time.
We love the Hatch sound machine. It transitions perfectly for a toddler room, too!
This one is another great option.
Calming Bathtime
I cannot stress this enough- a gentle & relaxing bath time right before snoozy time always helps my kiddos sleep easier!
We love Tubby Todd for their gentle bath products, (their sunscreen is amazing for chubby little faces, too!)
Our favorites are:
Hair & Body Wash– the lavender & rosemary is so dreamy! I use it for myself, too. Don’t tell the kids lol
Body Lotion– so smooth and yep, I use this for myself too!
You can also bundle them together and choose any natural scent you want! If you want to try out a little of everything, this is the bundle you want.
Have you used any of these sleep essentials with your little one? What other sleep essentials for babies or toddlers would you recommend?
If you’re looking for tips on sleep training for newborns and infants, you can check out this post for advice from my friend, Monica- an expert pediatric sleep consultant!
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