Some of the biggest things parents plan for when they have a baby on the way is their sleep environment. It is so important to have all the essentials to set your little one up for success in sleep. There are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming to decide on which one to choose. I’ve found the ones that work for me and my daughter and am sharing them with you!
All of these products are linked here! Just click on the picture
*Disclaimer! Every home, family, and baby is different. These worked for us but there is a chance they might not work for your family. I am listing my reasons for why I use each item and there are definitely different options that can work similarly. Find the right fit for you!
Halo Sleep Swaddle
As a newborn we used the Halo swaddle for bedtime and her naps as she became more scheduled. She enjoyed being swaddled until she was about 3 months old. *It is important to note that once your child starts to show signs of rolling, they should no longer be swaddled during sleep. This swaddle was nice because it allowed for easy transition into the next set of a sleep sack. (more on this next)
The hospital where I gave birth used these sleep swaddles and they were the ones that worked best for us. I did try another brand of swaddles, but they just did not work as well or as easily as this one. The Halo has a zipper down the middle and then Velco fasteners for the wrap part. The zipper makes for easy diaper changes, especially in the middle of the night!
Most babies enjoy being swaddled. It keeps them warm and tight like being back in the womb. It helps with combating baby’s startle reflex. This happens usually in response to a loud noise or a change in their environment in which they move arms, lefts, head, or all at the same time. This can often wake babies from their sleep. With a swaddle it lessens the movement and helps them stay asleep longer.
When we transitioned out of the swaddle, we did it slowly. First with one arm out of the wrap, then two, and then did a week or two with the swaddle just wrapped around her torso with both arms out. After this we moved to the regular Halo Sleep Sack
Halo Sleep Sack
There are so many benefits to a sleep sack for babies and toddlers. My daughter still sleeps in a Halo Sleep Sack to this day!
Children under 12 months should not have anything but themselves in the crib. There should be no blankets, pillows, bumpers, loveys or stuffed animals, etc.
A sleep sack is also referred to as a wearable blanket. It offers some additional comfort in a safe way. It can be a cue to baby that it is time for sleep. When they get on their sack, they know sleep is coming.
When it comes to wearable blankets there are endless options. Find what works best for you kiddo, this is just one option!
Hatch Sound Machine
A sound machine is another essential my family must have to get great sleep! My husband and I even use one now after getting used to it when we still had our daughter room sharing.
This is another item that has hundreds of options out there. Find the one that works best for your family.
A sound machine helps babies to stay asleep longer. Babies have shorter sleep cycles then adults which means that they wake between cycles more often. A sound machine helps to block out all other noises going on around them.
The Hatch also many additional features that you can change from an app. There are different sound settings, light settlings, and you can save different combinations of light and sound to make switch easier. I’m pretty sure there are tons of other settings that I don’t even know about!
Just to note! For babies and toddlers a night light is not necessary and might even decrease your child’s sleep. Any tiny amount of light can effect melatonin production, the sleep hormone. I think the light setting is more useful as children get older and might start to have fears or try and negotiate during sleep routines.
We also have a few different portable sound machines for when we are out and about. My daughter took a nap on a whale watch last summer and as we explore Disney World this past November! I truly believe that she wouldn’t have if we did not have the white noise to drown out everything else around her.
There is a safe decibel level the machine should be at. You can easily download a decibel reader app to make sure the machine is not too loud. This is typically around 55 decibels.
Room darkening curtains
One more time, this can be any brand or type that works for you! These are the ones we have. I like the shorter ones so there is less of a chance of pulling on them, at least until your baby grows a bit!
As I mentioned before, any small amount of light can affect a baby’s sleep. Having the room as dark as possible is super important to falling and staying asleep.
Vava baby monitor
Monitors can be so hard to make a choice! We like this one for several reasons.
It is not WIFI connected but has an incredible range. We’ve used this while outside in the backyard and had no problems with the connection.
It has a wide video range. We can scan around her whole room if we wanted to!
It has easy settings for changing the brightness and the volume. You can zoom in to get a closer look at things as well.
This is also capable of having multiple cameras on one monitor, which is great for those with multiple children.
I watch my little one fall asleep each night and check on her each morning easily without needing to disturb her in her room.
These are my favorites! I find it helpful to know what others are using. Hopefully this can help at least one family get started or make a change for their little one’s sleep environment.
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