“Always kiss your children good night—even if they’re already asleep.”
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Luckily for the sleepless parent and baby, there are a number of products designed to break that wakeful cycle and get baby to sleep. Here are some that experienced parents have tried and found effective.
Slip your baby into a baby sleeping bag—half sleeper, half bag—to keep her from kicking off the covers and getting cold in the night.
(My favorites: www.babyinabag.com, www.sleephuggers.com)
Buy a small, super-soft blanket with stuffed-animal head attached for baby to use as a self-comforter in the night.
(My favorite: www.baby-blankets.us)
Provide a stuffed bear that plays lullabies, heartbeat sounds, even digestion noises, reminding baby of the womb.
(My favorites: Slumber Bear at www.dreamtimebaby.com and the Original Slumber Bear at www.drugstore.com)
Try a preformed swaddling blanket to wrap up your baby and calm him down.
(My favorites: Baby Swaddler at www.thebabyswaddler.com and Easy Wrap Swaddler at www.babythisbabythat.com)
Turn on a white-noise machine that helps mask other sounds. It will relax your baby and soothe her to sleep.
(My favorites: Sleep Sheep at www.sleepwellbaby.com and Baby’s First White Noise CD at www.purewhitenoise.com)
Some parents of especially fussy babies swear by motion beds and bassinets that gently rock babies to sleep.
(My favorite: Amby Baby Motion Bed at www.ambybaby.com)
These specially designed wedges and forms help keep baby from turning over and waking up.
(My favorite: Baby Be Safe Sleep Wedge at www.gallerybcentral.com)
Sometimes extra-cozy crib sheets can comfort baby to sleep. Warmer to begin with, they prevent baby from startling awake at the touch of cold sheets when you put him in bed.
(My favorites: www.fleecebaby.com and www.dreamsoftbedware.com)
Make massaging your baby more fun by using kits that come with oils and massage techniques. Or make your own, by combining two tablespoons of safflower oil and five drops of lavender-essence oil.
(My favorite: www.mamaandme.com)
If you prefer to have your baby in bed with you, buy a sleep nest that keeps your baby safe from being smothered by your body during the night.
(My favorite: Snuggle Nest at www.mommysthinkin.com)
Some babies prefer a night-light to sleep with. Try one that lights up the ceiling with gentle shining stars.
(My favorite: Twilight Turtle Night Light at www.babybasket.com)
Choose from a variety of CDs that are designed to help baby get to sleep.
My favorites:
Baby Sleep Sweet by Verne Langdon
Classical Lullabies by Big Blue Dog
Lullabies: A Songbook Companion by Essay
Soothing Sounds for Sleep by Hush Little Baby
Magical Lullabies by Big Blue Dog
Sleep My Baby Sleep by Harmonic Convergence
Dreamscape: Lullabies from around the World by Jonathan Elliott, et al.
Sing-A-Long Lullabies by SRT Music
Sleep Baby Sleep by Nicolette Larson
Baby Sleep by Thomas Hampson, et al.
The Planet Sleeps by Sony
If your baby has a stuffy nose, it may be keeping her awake at night. Use a nasal aspirator to clear the nasal passages and help baby breathe better.
(My favorite: Nasal Aspirator at www.baby-wise.com)
These specially created pads attach to the bottom of your baby’s crib and rock him to sleep.
(My favorite: Lullabubs at www.boingboing.net)
Turn on a room fan to help the air circulate and to make white noise to lull the baby to sleep. Even better, buy one that fits in with your baby’s room decor or theme and is interesting to look at.
(My favorite: www.noblewinds.com)
Since Baby attaches to her mother’s scent, you might want to invest in a doll that absorbs your smell while you hold it, then gives off your scent when you offer it to baby. You can create your own by holding the doll close to you for a while.
(My favorite: the Waldorf Towel Doll at www.thebabylane.com)
If your baby falls asleep in the car seat but looks uncomfortable, buy a car-seat pillow that provides support for his head.
(My favorites: www.kidalog.net and www.babyage.com)