We don’t just make and sell beloved sleep products here at Yogasleep, many of us have families and are parents to babies and children who – given our best efforts – don't always sleep at night. While lack of sleep is never fun, we all know how hard those early days with baby can be when you're sleep deprived, changing a million diapers, and adjusting to your “new normal.” We rounded up a list of the most essential sleep products for baby that are time-tested, expert-approved, and have personally helped us weather the sleepless nights of early parenthood.
1. Sound Machine
It may seem counterintuitive, but absolute silence is odd to your baby who has recently spent nine months in a noisy womb! Bizarre as it sounds, your babies “first home” where she grew, slept, and ate was not quiet at all, and studies have shown that the noise levels in the womb range from 30 dB all the way up to 96 dB, which is comparable to the sound of a subway train! Most babies sleep best with white noise in the background because it mimics the sounds of the womb. Not only that, sound machines can help block distracting sounds (loud siblings, barking dogs) that wake them from sleep. We may be biased, but we think white noise machines are a no-brainer when it comes to baby sleep!
2. Smart Bassinet
Truth be told, your baby will sleep in most any crib or bassinet. But the SNOO is the only bassinet that claims to add 1-2 hours of extra sleep a night, swaddles and rocks your baby to sleep, and actively responds to your babies fussing and crying. This app-enabled “Smart Sleeper” is truly the Cadillac of bassinets and has won over hundreds of sleep-deprived parents since its launch. It comes with a hefty price tag so it may not be in everyone's budget, but they also have a more affordable rental program where you can rent a SNOO without buying one outright. 4moms has also recently released a similar bassinet at a lower price point. (While we haven't tried this one specifically, it does have great reviews.)
3. Magic Merlin Sleepsuit
The Magic Merlin Sleepsuit has the added benefit that your baby will look REALLY cute in it and may even inspire a laugh or two. All giggling aside, this Michelin Man-like sleep suit really IS magic and is a go-to in dealing with the dreaded four-month-sleep regression. The patented Magic Sleepsuit was created by a mother of four and is intended to help your baby transition from the swaddle to sleeping on their own. The soft and cozy sleep suit is like a wearable blanket and feels like a hug to your baby so they can drift off to dreamland. It can be used up until nine months old or when your baby starts rolling in the crib, whichever comes first. It’s also made of cotton, so you don’t have to worry about your baby overheating.
4. Blackout Curtains
You have the white noise running, the crib is ready to go, and baby is swaddled or snug as a bug in their Magic Sleepsuit. Don’t forget about a dark room! Sometimes even just a tiny sliver of light can disrupt your child’s sleeping cycle and wake them. Most curtains are too transparent to truly make a room dark enough. Luckily blackout shades are an affordable solution that take just minutes to install in your baby's nursery or child's room. They even make portable blackout shades so you don’t have to worry about a bright room waking your baby when you’re traveling or staying in a hotel.