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Sleep is important – particularly during the newborn stage when you’re establishing good sleep habits and desperate for some shut-eye! Take a peek at my favorite newborn baby sleep essentials to help our little one rest easy.
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With our youngest, Charlie, we are using the Halo Bassinest Swivel Sleeper. Now, this is definitely not necessary to ensure good sleep. Truth be told, I had a Chicco pack-n-play pushed up against my bed with my older three. I used it with Charlie for the first month or so before it totally collapsed! It lasted almost twelve years and I’d still recommend it. I think it just got old and worn from a decade’s worth of use.
The best parts of the Bassinest are that you can adjust it to the height of your bed and it swivels. Not necessities, but very convenient. It also keeps your little one awfully snug and cozy when paired with an insert.
It does have a few downsides. First of all, for something that you’re only going to use during early infancy before you baby can roll and stand, it’s a little pricey. It also has a decent sized footprint, meaning that it takes up quite a bit of floorspace next to your bed. Additionally, it’s not easy to move, as the base is heavy in order to off-set bassinest and the weight of the baby. Admittedly, had my sister not let me borrow hers, I would’ve just invested in another pack-n-play.
My sister also lent me her Snuggle Me Organic Baby Lounger. Though it is not made to fit inside the Bassinest, it fits almost perfectly. (Please do your research on this before deciding whether or not you want to use it.)
Charlie sleeps great in this insert, and is always under close monitoring while asleep within. My sister gave me the sheets that are made for it, though I opted to cover it with a swaddle blanket instead.
I felt like the sheets didn’t fully allow the insert to expand. The swaddles are large enough to tuck underneath it so that they’re taught but not restrictive. They’re also so soft and breathable. The Snuggle Me Organic is similar and WAY less expensive than a Doc-a-Tot, by the way!
So, this might be my FAVORITE baby sleep trick. I didn’t use a swaddle sleepsack with any of my other children, but it’s been wonderful for Charlie. I didn’t swaddle them at all (and it probably would’ve made those first few months so much easier).
Initially, I used it to prevent the startle reflex from waking him up. As he’s gotten older, though, it’s been great for keeping him from pulling his paci out and chewing on his hands when he should be sleeping! Ha!
Basically, we turn him into a baby burrito in his little sleep sack. I tuck his arms down to his sides and wrap and tuck one side of the swaddle underneath him. Then, I snugly pull the other side across his body and velcro it. You can also strap it with arms out as they grow, and potentially start to roll over.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t had the best luck with baby monitors. I think this is our third video monitor set that we’ve owned since our daughter was born in 2013. However, this one has been around for almost three years and still going strong. It can be mounted to the wall, but I just situate it on the edge of the Bassinest for the time being. It monitors temperature in the room, too, which is a nice feature.
We use a noisemaker with all of our little ones because it’s so soothing and helps lull them to sleep. With three older (LOUD) siblings, it’s a MUST for Charlie. The Red Rooster is inexpensive and unassuming. We sit it on a dresser, out of the way, and don’t ever turn it off. It drowns out the noise and has six different settings, a volume button, and a timer. It’s perfect.
Growing up, my youngest sister fell in love with ‘softies’ – which are really just flour sack clothes used as burp cloths! My mom still keeps these cloths on hand at her house and my kids have “adopted” several over the years. We’ve accumulated quite a stash!
They’ll seem a little rough when you first unpackage them, but they turn soft after the very first wash and softer still with every subsequent wash. Charlie loves to have them up against his face while he eats and sleeps. They’re great little blankies because they are super thin and can be easily washed when one gets dirty.
Seriously, sleep is so important. For everyone. These newborn baby sleep essentials have been helpful for us and will hopefully serve you well, too! You can see all of my baby favorites listed on Amazon HERE.
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Abby is a former kindergarten and first grade teacher who channels her passion for education into creating engaging activities and resources for the kindergarten and first grade classroom. When not dreaming up or working on her next project, you’ll find her enjoying her family – most likely in her minivan on the way to a soccer field.
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