Set your baby up for a good night’s sleep with these helpful tips for establishing a bedtime routine you’ll both enjoy.
If baby ain’t sleeping, ain’t nobody sleeping. To set the whole family up for a better night’s rest, implement a bedtime routine. A consistent routine is soothing and helps your child understand what’s coming next. Read on for tips on how to create a calming daily ritual that will send baby to bed without all the fuss(iness).
A consistent bedtime routine signals to your baby’s brain that it’s time to go to sleep. The predictable pattern and timing can ease your baby into a calm state that allows them to fall asleep more easily. It’s great bonding time and may even help with the sleep regressions that are a normal part of baby development. Once you’ve established a routine, it can also help other people put baby down when you won’t be there for bedtime.
What Age to Start
A good age to start is once your baby begins to show a pattern of sleeping and wakefulness. This can occur as early as 6 to 8 weeks old and as late as 4 months of age. Before 6 weeks, it’s not likely that your newborn will have any kind of established sleep schedule for a set bedtime. If you’ve missed these windows, it’s beneficial for a baby of any age to have a bedtime routine, so get started now.
The first thing you want to consider when picking a bedtime is baby’s schedule. Look for signs of sleepiness, like fussiness, yawning and sucking on fingers or a pacifier. Notice what time these signs appear and figure on beginning your routine 30 to 60 minutes before that so baby doesn’t get overtired during the routine. You’ll also want to consider your family’s schedule, taking into account when everyone is home from work or school and when you typically eat dinner. Generally, that means starting between 6 and 8 p.m.
Consistency Is Key
The best bedtime routines are short, simple and most of all consistent, lasting from between 20 minutes to an hour at the most. The most important thing is to make it a true routine, so that it’s the same every night and occurs at the same time. Ideally, it’ll happen in the same location as well, like in the room with baby’s crib. If you expect to have differences in sleep locations, make sure whatever you include in the routine can travel with you.
What to Include
Keep it simple and relaxing. You can include a bath if baby gets one every night. Next, a massage with lotion—like Burt’s Bees Baby Nourishing Lotion—and then a fresh diaper, pajamas, and a swaddle or wearable blanket. Cuddle your little one while you sing a quiet song or look at a short book. Dim the lights to continue the calming vibe. Nursing or bottle feeding is helpful for lasting fullness before bed. Any quiet activity that gets baby ready for bed and relaxes them works, as long as it doesn’t put them fully to sleep.
You’ll want to put your child to bed drowsy but not asleep. That will give them the chance to learn how to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own. Ambient noise can help with this as well as drown out any other household noises while they settle down. Try the Sleep Sheep from Cloud B that attaches directly to the crib. You can give them a gentle rub before quietly slipping out of the room.
You may need to tweak your timing and activities until you get into a good groove, but avoid big changes at first to let your little one get used to the routine. It’s also likely that adjustments will need to be made as your infant grows and develops. Any change in the daytime or non-bedtime night activities, like eliminating a nap or dropping a feeding, may call for a change in the bedtime routine. If baby seems fussy, it may signal that it’s time to move bedtime earlier. A true routine takes time to work, but with consistency and little persistence, it should pay off with better sleep for baby and you.
From cozy swaddles you can use from day one to baby sleep sacks and wearable blankets kids can snooze in even as a toddler, here is the best baby sleepwear from brands including Dreamland Baby, MORI, Little Sleepies, Nested Bean, HALO, Snuggy Buddy, Woolino and more.
Made from eco-friendly, biodegradable bamboo viscose fabric, these wearable blankets are available in two styles: winter weight (for sleep temperatures of 61-67 degrees Fahrenheit) and seasonless (for sleep temperatures of 68-74 degrees). A longer length and adjustable shoulder snaps mean this sleep sack will grow with your child, and double zippers make diaper changes easier. We love the sweet prints and soft colors, and that Little Sleepies sends a portion of every sale to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, which funds research to help cure childhood cancer.
Known for their dreamy muslin swaddles, aden + anais added two more must-haves to their collection to help baby sleep in style and comfort: the easy swaddle wrap and easy swaddle snug.
The swaddle wrap comes in three coveted prints: dino-rama, fairytale flowers and toile and is designed to feel like a cozy womb and prevent baby's natural startle reflux. With a two-way zipper bottom for easy diaper changes, the easy swaddle wrap comes in two sizes: 0-3 months (7-14 pounds) and 4-6 months (14-18 pounds). Simply wrap baby up in mere seconds and let her drift off to dreamland.
Their snug swaddle, the second product offered in their new easy swaddle collection, is designed for arms in or arms out, which helps baby find her natural arms-up sleep position. This swaddle is recommended for babies 0-3 months (5-12 pounds) and comes in three prints: twinkling stars in pink and blue and savanna spots.
The Love to Dream SWADDLE UP is for babies who bust out of their swaddle to get at their hands. The innovative arms-up design allows newborns to use their hands to self-soothe while also keeping them snug in a no-wrap swaddle. It comes in soft pastel colors and sweet prints. You can also honor rainbow babies with the Rainbow SWADDLE UP (pictured above). Love to Dream donates $5 from each purchase of this swaddle to the charity First Candle, which works to end SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths, as well as provides support to families experiencing miscarriage and infant loss.
If your child has trouble self-soothing without holding a lovey or stuffed animal, try this sleep sack equipped with an attached lovey. A weighted butterfly at chest level simulates the feeling of a soothing touch with the soft cuddliness of a lovey. The butterfly's wings are loose so your child can hold on to the flaps while dozing off. This sleep sack is made of triple-layer muslin fabric and designed for year-round use.
Made with eco-friendly bamboo viscose, which offers UV protection and temperature regulation, these swaddles stretch to make them easier to wrap and are snug and super-soft against baby's skin. This print comes with a matching headband; other prints come with hats. Prints range from classic flowers to cute bananas, sharks, lemons, rainbows and more. The company donates a portion of every sale goes to pediatric cancer foundation Alex's Lemonade Stand.
With its removable sleeves, the Sleëp sack adapts to your baby's sleeping preferences. With the sleeves attached, your newborn can self-soothe with their hands without scratching themselves. Remove them and zip up the hole for a true swaddle, or leave them unzipped for arms-out sleeping. There's ample room for hips and kicky feet in the sleeping-bag portion, and a three-way zipper for diaper changes and passing through straps to your car seat or other gear.
This muslin sleep sack keeps baby cozy all night long. There's a two-way zipper for easy off/on and diaper changes, and the fabric is machine-washable. The sleeveless design and breathable fabric make this a great option for warmer days, but a long-sleeve onesie or PJs underneath keep baby warm as the weather cools off. It comes in seven colorful, whimsical prints, from beautiful florals to animals. Comes in two sizes: 3-12 months & 12-24 months.
Keep newborns snug and ready for sleep in the Zippy Swaddle from Sleeping Baby. The triple-reinforced swaddle wraps around baby's belly, and there's a zippered opening at the bottom for easier diaper changes. This swaddle comes in two sizes and is designed for babies 7-18 pounds who can't yet roll over. Once your child outgrows the swaddle, check out this brand's Zipadee-Zip, which helps babies transition out of the swaddle into other sleepwear.
The Sleep Nest Lite (pictured) is a lightweight cotton jersey sleep sack for infants and toddlers. It's as soft as a t-shirt and comes in three sizes and a number of colors and patterns. It can be used year-round in air-conditioning and warm nurseries. Outdoorsy families should also check out the Sleep Nest Travel, which keeps baby cozy in tents and on snoozes around town on chilly days. You'll find the full range of cotton, fleece and quilted options on the Baby Deedee website.
Available at babydeedee.com; Sleep Nest Lite starts at $34, and Sleep Nest Travel starts at $42.50.
HALO SleepSack Swaddle
There’s a reason why the HALO brand of baby sleepwear has been around for over 20 years. They pretty much invented the modern sleep sack and continue to innovate. The HALO SleepSack Swaddle adjusts so newborns can have both arms, one arm, or no arms tucked in. It comes in a choice of cotton for warmer weather or micro-fleece for when it gets cold. A bottom zipper allows baby to stay swaddled throughout all those middle of the night diaper changes.
Snug around the top but wide enough at the bottom to allow for hip-healthy leg positioning (and lots of cute kicks). The Grosnug swaddle zips open from the bottom, for easier diaper changes. Baby can wear the cozy swaddle with arms tucked in or out, so this swaddle suits a larger number of babies and grows with them.
If you’re worried about visitors—big and small—holding your child, consider the Kepi Support Swaddle. In addition to being easy to wrap, it includes the Kepi Support Spoon, a plastic backboard that can be inserted into the swaddle’s back pocket for proper head, neck and spine support. So when big sister asks to hold baby, you can say yes!
Developed with optimal neuro-development in mind, The Ollie Swaddle reduces the Moro reflex—which can jerk baby awake—and keeps baby comfortable with patented moisture-wicking fabric. It comes in one size that uses Velcro and an easy open bottom to grow with baby so you don’t have to buy a new one every growth spurt.
Dubbed the 5-second swaddle, this 2018 new release from Dr. Harvey Karp (he's the brains behind the SNOO, Happiest Baby on the Block and the 5's) will prevent even the wiggliest babies from escaping. Here's the skinny: the organic cotton Sleepea boasts a breathable mesh, two-way zipper and inner bands that will keep your baby's arms in a safe and comfortable sleep position. Read more about the Sleepea in our full review here. Available for $19.56 at happiestbaby.com.
For babes transitioning out of the swaddle, but looking to self-soothe, the new SwaddleDesigns Transitional Swaddle Sack is a life-saver. The arms-up sack allows your baby to self-soothe with the fold-over mitten cuff design, which you can wear open or closed depending on if you want babe to have access to her hands. The hip-healthy design allows baby to sleep with enough room for her knees and hips to flex. Combine all of these great features with a two-way zipper (hello easy diaper changes!) and oh-so-soft breathable cotton, and this new transitional sleepsack is a winner. Available at swaddledesigns.com for $22.
BundleBee Baby Wrap
Known as the 10-second swaddle, BundleBee says if you can wrap a burrito, you can swaddle a baby with their luxurious wrap. The removable cushion supports baby even when he’s not in a crib or cradle, making it great for visits to friends and relatives. The adorable bow literally wraps your bundle up like a gift.
Touch is an important sense for a baby’s comfort and security. The Zen Swaddle from Nested Bean mimics your embrace with gentle pressure from lightly weighted pads on the chest and sides. Swaddle with the arms in or out or opt for the sleeveless Zen Sack for older babies.
Available at nestedbean.com, $29.99.
Soft doesn't even begin to describe MORI sleeping bags. Each is crafted with MORI's signature organic cotton and bamboo fabric, which is both breathable, thermoregulating and ultra comfortable for baby. Their 2.5 Tog sleepsack (which we're huge fans of) is perfect for year-round use, and each sleeping bag even comes with a handy guide to show how you should dress baby at what temp. You'll also love the double-direction zipper, side shoulder clasps for easy in/out access and what's more: the sleepsack is suitable for newborn (8-9 pounds) all the way up to two years. New parents know that when it comes to sleep, we can use all the help we can get and this ultra comfortable and safe sleepsack will get baby one step closer to snoozing through the night.
Once baby reaches a more active age, a sleep sack or bag is a great step up from a swaddle. Made from breathable merino wool, the Woolino regulates baby’s temperature in all climates. It's pricy, but the universal size (with underarm snaps) fits babies from 2 months up to 2 years, so no need to transition your toddler to different sleepwear for a good, long while.
If you're looking for a sleep sack as unique as your babe, turn to Bumbershoots by Nana. Each sleep sack is hand-crafted by Nana in her Maryland studio. Nana hand-cuts and sews each Bumber by hand using patterns she has made and refined over time. Get kiddo in and out with easy snaps at the shoulders and a side zipper (good to know: The zipper stops around baby's hip). Beyond the bespoke quality, we love that each sleep sack is reverse-lined and made with heavier fabrics (heavier as in weightier, not hotter), which we think are perfect for colder months. The boutique sleep sacks are all machine-washable and hold up even after dozens of cycles. Prices start at $80.
Loose blankets and stuffed animals aren’t safe for sleep, but the BittaSack has a solution for babies that crave a sensory experience in the crib. This cotton wearable blanket has two lovies attached to it, right within easy reach for baby’s little arms. The shoulder straps and diagonal zipper make it easy to put on, take off, or change a diaper.
Who knew bamboo-fiber material is ideal for baby’s sensitive skin? Well, the brains behind the Gunapod Bamboo Duvet Sack did. It breathes better than cotton and is silky soft, environmentally friendly, and hypoallergenic. Stuffed with a premium fill, it will make baby feels like she’s sleeping under a down comforter. The stitched channels provide light pressure points to hug your little one all night long.
Santa hats, stuffies, Christmas decor, and visits from big red himself!
Everybody looks forward to Christmas card photos with cute babies. You don’t need to be a seasoned photographer or Pinterest pro to take them; you just need one great photo idea. And we have nine ideas for your baby’s first Christmas card that’ll put them front and center in that holiday photo.
Snowbaby
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A white swaddling blanket or long t-shirt, a colorful scarf, and a hat are all it takes to turn your baby into a wintery snowman, I mean, snow baby. Pose a stuffed snowman alongside for an added touch and everyone who sees the photos will want to give your child warm hugs.
Plan a pre-holiday visit from Santa to get some memorable photos for your baby's first Christmas card. A beloved grandparent, friend, or even dad can play the role of the big guy to create moments they'll both treasure.
A Favorite Stuffed Animal
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A favorite stuffie is a great way to keep your child from howling their way through holiday card photos. Baby will love on their stuffie like they always do, leading to adorable photos. Re-create the photo with the same stuffed animal every year to show how much your child has grown.
Baby Santa
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Sometimes the simplest setup turns into the most incredible photos. A Santa hat is all you need to convey the Christmas spirit and capture some snaps of your child touching it, holding it, pulling it off, or falling asleep with it on.
Santa’s Legs as a Backdrop
If your baby is still learning to sit, leaning back against Santa’s legs will help you get the shot. This photo idea from Precious Moments Photography gives you a fun new way to incorporate Santa as a backdrop. Black boots, white fuzzy fabric, and red fabric positioned to look like pants are all you need for the Santa stand-in. Bonus: That person can also help keep your little one entertained and looking picture-perfect during the shoot.
Baby in a Gift Box
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What better way to convey that babies are a gift? To create your gift box, cut off the flaps on one side and cover the box with holiday wrapping paper. Add a big bow—to both the box and your baby—and pop your little one inside. Babies and toddlers usually enjoy being in boxes, so the smiles and cute expressions should come naturally. If they don't, add small toys that stay out of sight.
Take advantage of the beach for your child's holiday card debut. Take a cue from Danielle May Photography and build a sandman that will give friends and family warm fuzzies this winter.
An assortment of colorful ornaments in deep jewel tones, classic red and green, or gold and white helps you re-create this card idea from Shanna Simpson Photography. Mix in glittery, matte, and traditional balls for extra dimension, and let your beautiful baby shine in the center.
With white holiday lights, leg warmers, and a fluffy mat, you can re-create this cozy holiday photo from Red Lotus Photography for your baby's first Christmas card. Vary the shot by swapping the leg warmers for other cute holiday gear.
with additional reporting by Eva Ingvarson Cerise
Make sure to capture all the memories—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.
Ah, sleep, one of the first things we come to terms with losing as we begin our journey into parenthood. For many moms-to-be, this often starts well before birth as pregnancy makes plenty of everyday tasks, including sleep, increasingly uncomfortable. Add a pandemic to the mix and you have the perfect recipe for sleepless nights.
I could have never imagined that I’d be pregnant amid a worldwide health crisis, but here we were equal parts over-the-moon and scared to bits. My husband and I are a pretty tech-savvy (and sleep-loving) pair, so a smart bassinet was something we were interested in early on. It just so happened that in the middle of my pregnancy, Happiest Baby (the company behind SNOO) had been in touch with an offer to try out their SNOO rental program and the rest (pun absolutely intended) is history!
SNOO was created by Dr. Harvey Karp, the renowned pediatrician who authored Happiest Baby on the Block & Happiest Toddler on the Block. In certain circles, he is referred to as “The Baby Whisperer” so we knew that the SNOO was something we wanted to try out.
We put our little bundle in the SNOO starting the first night we were home with her. I will say, seeing her jiggling in there was pretty funny, but before I knew it, she was out like a light. So I’ll go ahead and assume her favorite thing about it is the motion since she’s been quite the mover and shaker since her days in the womb. Here’s what I loved about the experience (for both my child and myself):
The rental aspect. This is a huge win in my opinion. These tiny humans already require so much stuff it’s ironic. For the amount of time they sleep in a bassinet vs how much space a bassinet takes up in your house, being able to use it for however long you need and not have yet another item to store, sell or hand down to someone else seems ideal. It’s one less thing to have to sort out and let’s face it, most people simply don’t have oodles of storage space. Another edge case, given that all babies are different, is if it doesn’t work for your baby it can be sent back early. Most other baby products you’re just going to have to take the L on if your little doesn’t like it or you end up not using it as much as you anticipated.
The rental includes a mattress, sheet and swaddles that are specifically designed to hook into the SNOO. You’ll likely want to purchase an extra sheet and swaddles because spit (and a host of other messes) happens.
The clip-in swaddles. Anyone who remembers the very beginning of their parenting journey likely recalls checking on their baby approximately a million times per night. Now, this won’t exactly eliminate all of your urges to check on the baby (who can resist stealing a few minutes to watch those sweet little faces sleep?), but it definitely does reduce the urges that are based on safety concerns in our experience. Safe sleep is a top priority for every parent, so the fact that the swaddles clip into the base giving your baby no way to accidentally roll over to an unsafe position that they can’t get out of gave us huge peace of mind. Our child has been extremely wiggly since day one, so this would have been a major concern of mine if not for the SNOO. Plus, in the early days, minimizing that startle reflex is key which is part and parcel of swaddling them.
The app. We liked that the SNOO app makes it easy to customize the motions & sounds to your child’s preferences as well as give you a visual of your baby’s sleep journey. Each day can be viewed with markers for time the SNOO is on and time the SNOO is on and actively calming the baby. The SNOO is responsive to cries and will cycle through 4 levels of both sound and motion, however, if it is on the top level for 2-3 minutes and the baby is still upset, it will turn off signaling that the baby needs your care.
I really liked the fact that I could visually see how well the baby had slept, for how long and how long feedings took in the middle of the night before putting her back to bed. It is frankly one less thing you have to be responsible for remembering or recording . . . so you can get back to bed, too!
The bassinet makes a noise similar to in the womb but you just might find that you start relying on the white noise also. In which case, you might be tempted to get our bonus favorite thing for your baby AND yourself…
The BFF: SNOOBear is a wonderful companion product that was introduced last year and is meant to help your baby transition from the SNOO into their crib. We found it especially useful for naps on the go. It plays the sounds your baby is used to from the bassinet so even if they’re not movin’ and groovin’ as they would be in the SNOO, the familiar sounds are comforting and help them drift off. Plus, they’re adorable which is just an added bonus. We’d use ours for impromptu naps while out and about or on walks—it happened to fit perfectly in the compartment below the stroller bassinet so the baby would still be alone (because some rules are definitely not meant to be broken)!
Overall, we’ve had a very positive experience with the SNOO. At about 3 months old, she’s largely sleeping for about 8-hour stretches each night (sometimes more). If she does start fussing sooner than that, we just let the bassinet do its thing and 9 times out of 10, she drifts back off to sleep. It’s made for a happy baby and possibly, even happier new parents. I can say without a doubt that if more babies come along for us, we will be renting a SNOO for them.
To learn more about the rental option, or to purchase a SNOO, head to HappiestBaby.com
—Jen Watro
Special thanks to Happiest Baby for sharing a SNOOBear & loaning us a SNOO bassinet to try out! All opinions expressed here are my own.
As a first-time mom, I was clueless about what to get for my baby girl before she arrived. I read through countless blogs trying to figure out the best products to register for but began to feel overwhelmed with all the new gadgets on the market. I wanted to make sure that we had some of the best products to hopefully help aid in getting our baby to sleep better, eat better and ultimately be as comfortable as possible. Did my baby really need a $1,200 bassinet or some device that she wore at night to register her vitals? Again, feeling so clueless, I decided to do some major research to find the best products so I could feel reassured bringing her home the first night.
After trying out tons of different baby products first hand, which I am hoping may help at least one new mama (or maybe even a second or third-time mama!), I am rounding up the top five products that were the holy grail of our household, and that I would suggest everyone with a newborn has in stock before bringing the baby home. These products succeeded in helping us feel like we knew what we were doing, even when we had no idea.
ChiccoDUO Bottles
While these bottles weren’t around (yet) when my baby was born, I sure wish they would have been! It took me a long time to find a bottle that both my baby loved, and that I felt good about giving to her and the ChiccoDuo bottles check both of those boxes. These bottles are the first-ever hybrid baby bottle that combines the purity of glass and the convenience of plastic. This means that the milk never touches the plastic, but the bottle can still be thrown in the dishwasher and won’t break or crack if dropped. The nipples also have a 9/10 acceptance rate and breast-like flow!
We used ours so much. And when I say so much, I mean pretty much every day. I really loved the Solly baby wrap over other ones because it’s really just a soft piece of fabric that ties around your body and holds the baby in place. Some of the other wraps I tried were so bulky and uncomfortable. My baby seemed to love this one best as well, as she’d always fall asleep when being carried in it.
Getting the baby to sleep and stay asleep can be a daunting (and exhausting!) task, so having a good swaddle is a must. This one is slightly weighted and rests against the baby’s chest, so they feel nice and secure, just like they did in the womb. They also can be used for baby’s up to 30” tall, meaning you can use them for a generous amount of time without having to invest in any other type of swaddle.
These bamboo pajamas are so incredibly soft and feel like butter on your skin. They’re especially perfect for babies who tend to get overheated or have sensitive skin, as they are hypoallergenic and actually good for the environment! It’s a win-win knowing that your baby is wearing something that’s not only good for their skin but good for the future of the planet as well! (P.S. They come in adult and toddler sizes too!)
After having one of these in our bedroom when our baby was sleeping in the same room as us, we went out and bought the adult version because we couldn’t sleep without it! This machine is perfect for providing the baby (and adults!) with white noise (and blocking our other distractions such as dogs barking, traffic, etc.) for sleeping. We noticed our baby slept way longer and way better when we had the rain sound on.
When it comes to labor and delivery, there’s not much you need besides, well, you. It’s only after baby has arrived that you’ll love having your gear bedside (hello, favorite pillow!). Remember, there’s no way to tell how long you’ll be checked in, so our ultimate hospital bag checklist for expecting moms has a little something for everyone. From important paperwork to your coziest pajamas, keep reading for our guide to the things new moms should consider packing in a hospital bag.
1. Hospital paperwork, ID and insurance info and your birth plan (if you have one). This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s a good idea to have all your important documents organized and together for easy access, especially if you’re already in labor and don’t feel like searching through your bags.
2. Robe, cheap slippers and wool socks: Walking around and squatting truly eases the pain of contractions, so make sure you have something warm and full coverage to wear. Even in summer months, the hospital might be chilly.
3. Comfy sleep gear: Hospital gowns, with their open fronts, work beautifully for the baby-pushing situation, but having your own sleep gear helps you feel more at home after Baby arrives. Choose one that opens in the front, pack nursing bras if you plan on nursing, and don’t worry about bottoms.
4. Snacks: Even if the thought of eating during labor seems silly to you, your partner might not feel the same way. There’s no telling what type of vending machine options your hospital offers, so be sure to pack a bunch of your favorite snack foods. Don’t rule out fresh veggies or prune juice, either, because once you have your appetite back, you’ll want to up your fiber intake to get your body moving at a normal pace.
5. Lots of liquids: Labor is hard work, and you’ll want to stay hydrated. If plain H2O doesn’t sound appealing, consider an electrolyte supplement or pack sports drinks like Gatorade.
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6. Clothes to wear home: Don't panic! You will be smaller than when you arrived at the hospital, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to feel like wearing your skinny jeans. It takes time for your belly to return to its previous size and shape. Maternity leggings and a comfy top are the best bet.
7. A car seat: The majority of hospitals will not allow you to leave without a proper car seat for your newborn. Be prepared, and have it installed in advance. To make getting baby in and out of the car easier, we love the Maxi-Cosi® Coral™ XP—the first-ever integrated car seat and carrier nesting system. The Coral™ XP has a lightweight carrier inside the car seat and is removed with the touch of a button, so you're less likely to wake a sleeping baby. And, when you get home, the Coral™ XP fits seamlessly with the Tayla™ XP Travel System by Maxi-Cosi.
8. "Going Home" outfit: Dress baby to impress for his ride home, but make sure it’s comfy enough for that first car seat attempt.
9. An extra bag: Use it to carry home the gifts and freebies you’ll receive while you’re in the hospital. If you can’t carry home your bouquets, give them to the nurses as a thank you.
10. A mini bottle of champagne: You just brought a baby into this world! Take a moment to celebrate the accomplishment with your partner.
11. A bottle for baby: Packing a bottle for the hospital can help you get ahead of the game when it comes to choosing the right one for your family, plus it allows your partner and/or siblings a chance to bond during feeding time. Some bottles are designed specifically for newborns, with a slow-flow feeding system, an "easy-latch" and a valve that eliminates extra air in the nipple so baby can learn to feed with ease.
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12. Camera, smartphone and chargers: You will absolutely cherish these images and videos when you come back from the sleep-deprived zombie world of early parenthood, so make sure you don't run out of battery power.
13. Relaxing music or noise-canceling headphones: Staying relaxed really does make labor easier, so bring these helpful items knowing you might not have the chance to use them. If you can, turn off the lights in your room. Low lighting also helps you relax.
14. Toiletries and makeup: Keep it simple, but definitely bring toothbrushes and toothpaste, moisturizer, deodorant, shampoo, your brush and hair ties. Also, it’s totally ok to want to look good in your baby's first pics, so go ahead and bring that eyelash curler and lip gloss.
15. Pre-made email/phone number list: All those people who’ve been your support system (and sounding board about backaches and swollen ankles) for the last nine months? Thank them by including them on your first birth announcement sent from your (or your partner’s) phone. They’re waiting to hear the good news, and they can't wait to see that first picture of you holding your new baby.
16. Granny panties: These work to hold ice packs and huge maxi pads in place—the hospital will provide disposable ones, but after a day or so, you'll want the real thing. Something else to consider is bringing your own maxi pads (choose the heavy flow kind), as the hospital-provided version comes in a triple-extra large size.
17. Nipple cream: If you intend to nurse your newborn, this stuff is a godsend, and it doubles as a lipgloss.
Also, speaking of nursing, don’t lose the lactation consultant’s number. You might need it once you get back home.
18. Your own baby blankets: You'll want photos of your newborn in the hospital's blankets, of course—there's something so charming about seeing all babies wrapped in the same swaddle—but for a prettier and more professional looking picture, bring a cute swaddle that makes other parents say, "Why didn't I think of that?"
19. Your own pillow: You're going to want to try to get sleep in the hospital while you can, and having your own pillow can make a big difference in the hospital bed's comfort level.
20. Prenatal pills: Doctors advise to continue taking them after delivery. Also helpful, if you’re into it, is Fenugreek for milk production.
21. Newborn pacifiers: Whether it's mom's arms or a tight swaddle, babies liked to be soothed from the very beginning. If you decide to use a pacifier, bring your own to the hospital.
Expectant parents get a LOT of advice on what they need and don’t need. Postpartum Nurses share the gear you’ll really need for the first 6 months.
1. Co-sleeper – Instead of a crib, which might as well be a football field to baby, get a co-sleeper or a Pack n Play that stays right next to your bed and can be easily moved if needed.
Here’s why: Baby will be feeding a LOT those first weeks because their tummies are only the size of a cherry and eventually a small peach. Co-sleepers are the ideal place for baby to be because whether breast of bottle feeding, it will be easy to feed baby being so close to you.
The AAP recommends room sharing, but no co-sleeping, for the first year with baby. This is to promote safety, easy response to baby’s needs and of course bonding. So, little sleeper right next to you is the perfect answer to this recommendation.
2. A Wipe Warmer: Everyone will say the wipe warmer is not a necessity – we say YES!
Here’s why: With all of the elaborate and expensive baby items we’re told to buy, many people tell parents not to “waste” money on a wipe warmer. We feel it’s money well spent when stocking your nursery because a wipe warmer can help keep baby asleep or calmer during nighttime diaper changes! How can anyone say that’s not worth $15?!
3. A Baby Carrier: Sling, Bjorn, K’Tan, Ergo, Moby, TwinGo…doesn’t matter, just get one.
Here’s why:
Babywearing means comfort for baby, with up to 43% less crying Parents get to see baby’s cues up close. Learning how your baby acts when s/he’s hungry, sleepy or in need of a change of scenery or positon means that you’ll respond quicker to all these things. This makes everyone happier and healthier! 2 free hands! Wearing baby means you can tend to older children, do household tasks or get yourself something to eat.
You CANNOT spoil your baby by holding him or her too much. This should be common sense but here’s just one of the studies supporting babywearing if you need it.
4. Onesies and zip-up sleepers: Everyone asks how to tell if baby is too hot or too cold. The rule of thumb is whatever you would be comfortable in + 1 layer, so a 1 piece sleeper plus a swaddle is usually ideal.
Here’s Why: One thing we know about SIDS is that overheating can be a contributor, so ensuring baby is properly dressed allows him to be comfortable and safe. Do yourself a favor and just get some good zippered sleepers and onesies for peace of mind and ease of use.
Bringing home baby is full of personal and exciting decisions and there are so many right answers about what to do. There are lots of experts out there but you’re the expert on your baby so we hope this list helps!
With twin girls and a boy born 17 months apart, I'm the owner of the world's most ironically named business, Let Mommy Sleep. Let Mommy Sleep provides nurturing postpartum care to newborns and evidence based education to parents by Registered Nurses and Newborn Care Providers.
I learned a lot about baby sleep after my first was born. Lucky for us, he was an amazing sleeper! We got into a great sleep routine very quickly and not long after a girlfriend of mine welcomed a sweet new baby into the world too! Except her baby wasn’t sleeping. She asked me what she could do to help her baby self soothe?
I thought long and hard about all the different tactics we tried. All the ways we had prepared his sleep environment to help him sleep through the night. That’s when I realized, there were three solid steps we took to help your baby self-soothe for better sleep, here’s what they are:
1. We always put our baby to bed drowsy, but awake. This can be confusing, but it’s a crucial step toward allowing your baby the chance to fall asleep independently without any sleep associations tied in. What I mean by sleep association is, for example, let’s say you put your baby to sleep with their pacifier. Eventually, the pacifier falls out. Many babies then wake once their comfort item is taken away from them. Since they need that comfort item to go to sleep, they will struggle to put themselves back to sleep and cry until it’s returned to them. The pacifier is only one example of a sleep association.
Other common examples include:
Rocking baby to sleep
Feeding baby to sleep
Falling asleep in a baby carrier
It might be challenging at first and don’t worry if your baby doesn’t get the hang of it right away, but give your baby 2-3 minutes to try and put themselves to sleep.
This can be done by feeding the baby their bottle or nursing the baby while they’re awake. Proceed to burp your baby and gently rock until they are calm and look sleepy. Once your baby is calm and quiet, place them down in their sleep spot on their back.
Quietly walk out of the room and give them time to try and fall asleep.
If your baby doesn’t succeed right away, that’s ok. Simply repeat the process until they do.
Plus, we can all agree that us sleep-deprived moms need sleep. Feeding baby to sleep or letting them sleep in their carrier while running errands won’t make or break your progress from time to time either.
2. Set up a safe sleeping environment for your baby. The other big thing we did was we made sure our son’s sleep space was 100% safe and calm. This looked like keeping the room completely dark, using a white noise machine to mimic what life was like in the womb, placing him down on his back while sleeping, keeping him in a baby sleep sack, and making sure there were no loose toys or items surrounding him in his crib or sleeping space.
Let’s break these down a little more to understand their benefits.
Keeping the room completely dark: The biggest reason for darkening a baby’s room is to help them learn the difference between day and nighttime sleep. As newborns, babies aren’t able to consolidate their sleep routine until they reach that 4-5 month mark. That’s why it’s important when they’re younger to build that healthy foundation to help them start to learn the difference between daylight (getting outside when the sun is out) vs. nighttime (keeping the rooms dark to promote sleep).
Using a white noise machine: Using a white noise machine (or turning a bedroom fan on) is nice because it can help drown out outside noises that may startle your baby awake and it can help mimic those slushing and swashing sounds they heard in utero.
Placing your baby down on back: You’ve seen the term “back is best”. Prior to learning how to roll, if you place baby on their stomachs and they end up getting short of breath or shoving their face into their mattress, they have a significantly higher risk of suffocating because they aren’t strong enough to move themselves out of that position.
Using a sleep sack or swaddle: Using a swaddle or sleep sack can simply help your baby feel warm and secure. Imagine that snug little amniotic sac they’ve been living in for so long and now it’s just gone. It may be a trick to find the right one for your baby, but when you do, it’ll be glorious!
Removing toys and loose objects in their sleep area: Because young babies aren’t strong enough to move themself out of harm’s way, it’s always best to eliminate any risk of choking or suffocation.
3. Pay attention to baby’s sleepy cues and start a sleep routine. One of the hardest things to do in the early days is to know exactly when your baby needs to sleep. It seems like one minute they’re sleeping and the next they’re ready to eat. As your baby gets older, you can start to pick up on their sleep cues which will help you get them down to sleep before they become overstimulated and unable to self soothe at all.
For my son, he would always start rubbing his eyes and looking around the room. That was his first sleepy cue I began to notice.
When I’d miss his cues, he’d start to become fussy, agitated, would bring his hands to his face, and ONLY want to nurse—he would refuse a bottle each time he got too overstimulated.
Other baby sleep cues might also look like:
Yawning
Rubbing face
Rubbing their eyes
Crying
Grunting/Whining
Pulling ears, hair, or face
Now that you know my three steps to help baby self soothe themselves to sleep, I hope you can be well on your way to a much needed night’s rest!
Karissa is a mom to two young boys and a blogger of Mom After Baby. Karissa believes ALL moms are capable of life beyond motherhood and is passionate about providing informative & educational content to new, expecting, and postpartum moms.
Star Wars fans are anxiously awaiting the Season 2 premiere of The Mandalorian. It’s hard not to smile at the sight of The Child (aka Baby Yoda). Now Pottery Barn is bringing the loveable character to life through Pottery Barn x Star Wars The Mandalorian.
Launching today, the collection will feature The Child pillow, cotton pajamas, soft blankets, quits, sheet sets, towels and a variety of swaddles to keep baby cozy and warm.
Plenty of evidence shows that swaddling, when used correctly, can be a tremendous way to promote safe sleeping. The Safe Sleep Guidelines from the American Association of Pediatrics are clear: swaddling helps to keep babies on their back, which is the ideal sleep position to assist in preventing SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Since the guidelines also recommend that there be no blankets, pillows or bumper pads in the crib, your baby needs to be swaddled in a correct and optimal manner. Properly done, the swaddle will stay in place, keeping baby safe and comfortable.
Some of the other benefits of swaddling?
Improved sleep for baby and for parents Decreases the Moro startle reflex, in turn increasing REM sleep, which is vital for brain development. Reduces colic and fussiness: a happy baby is a calm baby. Prevents over-stimulation and helps your little one feel comforted by mimicking the comforts of the womb.
With these things in mind, here are some of the specifics on swaddling and what you should look for in an ideal swaddle.
Temperature-regulating fabric
Fabrics that retain too much heat will only be uncomfortable at best and dangerous for baby, at worst. A baby’s body isn’t yet set up to regulate their own temperature perfectly and their small size means that they can quickly become overheated. Look for a moisture wicking fabric—as you would find in some sportswear—that will keep baby warm and dry without overheating.
Moisture wicking fabrics pull perspiration away from the skin and through the fabric so it can evaporate, rather than remaining on the skin. This is important because if not wicked away, during cooler winter nights, sweat that cools on the skin can cause baby’s body temperature to drop. And in the heat of summer, if sweat is simply trapped, baby can quickly overheat. A good fabric will keep baby comfortable all year around. Please remember it is also important to confer with your pediatrician to determine the ideal temperature for the room where your little one will be sleeping.
Flexible fabric
While some people worry that swaddling can interfere with proper hip development, among other joints, what you need to look for is a swaddle with fabric that has enough give to allow the hip joints to move freely without interfering with the comfort and safety benefits of the swaddle.
Avoid swaddles that restrict hip movement, as they can result in your baby developing hip dysplasia. Your baby needs free range of motion in their hips and legs to keep their joint development on track. The swaddle needs to be tight at the torso, but not below. It can still be perfectly safe, if bands are used below baby’s feet.
Don’t forget to band
Banding the swaddle below the feet is absolutely necessary, even as your baby grows, to ensure a snug and secure fit. What you don’t want is the fabric rising during sleep, potentially covering your baby’s face and creating a suffocation risk. Banding the excess fabric below baby’s feet ensures this won’t happen.
BONUS! Banding the bottom of the swaddle makes midnight diaper changes a breeze! No need to unswaddle and disturb baby completely, with hands flailing: just take off the band and do a quick change, ninja style.
Swaddle sizing
A swaddle should fit so that your baby can have their shoulder above the top edge of the fabric when placed on the swaddle. This may seem a little counter-intuitive, as you might think that keeping the shoulder below the fabric line will keep baby more snuggly wrapped but this actually poses the risk of suffocation if the fabric ends up in your baby’s face. Keeping the swaddle below the shoulders also ensures that no constraint is put on the shoulder joints.
Ideally, you’re looking for one with a flexible fit that will grow with your baby, though remember that once your baby is rolling over from back to stomach—typically around four to five months old—it’s time to consider using a transition swaddle (with one or both arms out) or stop swaddling altogether.
Keep it tight
Loose swaddles can actually pose a danger in that it could come undone with baby’s movement, the result being that the child gets tangled up in it. From the point of view of the Safe Sleep Guidelines, a loosened swaddle is basically a blanket and therefore a no-no in the crib.
How tight is tight enough? You should still be able to slide your hand flat between your baby’s chest and the swaddle, but not more than that.
There is no doubt that swaddling is a perfect way to help your baby master sleeping comfortably and safely. Finding a swaddle that works for your baby is the key!
Hindi Zeidman is a former infant mental health clinician and the founder of Ollie Swaddle—The Smarter Swaddle that’s made better, feels better, and helps your baby sleep longer and better. The award-winning Ollie also help baby self-calm, reduces colic/fussiness, and prevents overheating through its special patented moisture wicking fabric.
