Baby sleep is a sensitive topic for many. The first few months of a baby’s life can be restless for parents. Many things can affect a baby’s sleep, from colic to day-to-night confusion to teething, and the list goes on. The least we parents can do is be prepared with the proper baby sleep essentials and sleep aids to help our babies get the best sleep possible. Sleep is essential for a baby’s development and growth. Babies who don’t sleep properly will most likely be harder to feed and calm and likely develop slower due to their lack of sleep. Throughout this baby sleep essentials article, we’ll discuss some props that parents can buy to help improve babies’ sleep.
Window Blackout Curtains
Think practical; as adults prefer to sleep in dark rooms, so too kids and babies. A room with light can wake the baby early from their nap and can easily distract the baby. The Window Blockout is the perfect solution to block out light creeping in from outside. The curtains provide total darkness, allowing babies to sleep peacefully. The curtain is white on both sides, blending into any nursery design and format. The curtain’s side, directed to the room, aims to block out the light while the outward-facing light will reflect light away from the window. This also regulated the temperature of the room, leading to a more comfortable sleep space.
Drift Away Portable White Noise Machine
Many babies are sensitive to noise and will wake from the slightest noises, whether it be birds chirping outside or a door being shut in the house. A sound machine blocks outside noise and helps babies get the sleep they need. The Drift Away White Noise Machine is designed with seven different sounds to promote deep, restorative sleep.
The sound machine’s lightweight design makes it easy to travel with on holidays or to grandma’s house. Its battery life is 48 hours, and the built-in LED light has three settings, along with an adjustable volume button, catering to various users’ needs.
Room Thermometer
Although new parents may not think about a room thermometer, it can be a great help. Making sure the temperature in the baby’s room is not cold and not too hot is essential. Having your baby sleep at the proper temperature is very important. A room thermometer can tell you exactly what temperature the room is, and according to that, you’ll know how to dress your baby. A baby who is too hot or cold can be woken and irritated.
Rocking Chair
Although a rocking chair may be more helpful to the parents, it is a big win. Calm parents lead to calmer babies. A rocking chair such as the Obaby rocking chair is a great place for nighttime feeds or sleepless nights when teething keeps your baby up. Invest in a rocking chair that is comfortable for you as parents, and buy a colour that’ll never go out of style if you change the colours of your baby’s nursery. Either way, a rocking chair is a must-have for new parents.
Swaddle Sleeping Bags
A swaddle is a lifesaver for colicky babies. A baby with a stomach ache can wake up several times throughout the night, twisting and turning from a gassy stomach. A swaddle can help hold their hands and stomach down and help relieve their stomach pains and help baby sleep through the night. Many parents use swaddles for every nap and have been introducing them as a sleep aid since day one. A swaddle sleep bag also doubles as a blanket that keeps your baby warm throughout the night.
Spare Binkies
Although this is a given, ensure extra binkies are on hand. One is most definitely not enough. One binky will often get thrown behind the crib, one is lost in the stroller, and the spare is in the diaper bag. Make sure you have backup binkies sterilized and on hand so you don’t have to squirm around to find the last binky with tired eyes and a crying baby in the middle of the night.
Nightlight
For kids who don’t like complete darkness, a nightlight is a great help. Many kids fear the dark, and a nightlight helps them overcome their fear. There are many fun kid friendly nightlights on the market which will even motivate your toddler shut the lights and use the nightlight as their only source of light.
Spare Crib Sheets
Having spare sheets on hand is a must. Overnight, babies will spit up or have a leaking nappy, so spare sheets are a saviour.
Baby Monitor
If you’re a parent of more than one kid, a baby monitor is a great help. The baby monitor will help you see the baby from the kitchen or your bedroom and make sure that through all the chaos, the baby is still sleeping tight. It can be hard to keep track of all the kids and also make sure that the baby is not crying in their room without you hearing. A baby monitor helps parents keep an eye on the baby from afar.
A Mobile
Often, your baby will wake up and babble instead of cry. While they babble and wait for you to come get them, they will be distracted with the mobile above their head, giving you a few more minutes of quiet. Even the simplest mobile will keep your baby entertained; just make sure it’s set up high enough so they can’t pull it down.
Zip Up Pyjamas
Those overnight nappy changes can be a real drag with button-down pyjamas. Invest in a few good zip-up pyjamas, which will help speed up nighttime changes and let you get back to your beauty sleep.
Conclusion – Baby Sleep Essentials
This article discussed some baby sleep essentials to help your baby get the needed sleep. We discussed necessities like a baby monitor, a rocking chair, a nightlight, and more. Many of these accessories are made to help ease your baby’s sleep process and, most importantly, keep them sleeping. Our goal throughout this article is to help you provide your baby with the safe sleep environment that they need to develop and grow as necessary.
