10 Effective Baby Sleep Products to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer

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Most parents will tell you that the hardest part of raising a newborn is the lack of sleep. Newborn babies typically wake up every 2-3 hours, making it difficult to get a good stretch through the night.

While babies are biologically programmed to wake up frequently to feed, there are some helpful baby sleep products and gadgets you can use to soothe them to sleep faster and (hopefully) for longer stretches of time.

Both my daughter and my son used to wake up every two hours for the first few weeks after birth. Naturally, my husband and I were zombies and desperate to try anything that would help us get a few extra Zzzzs. We used a combination of sleep aids, some of which we still use for our toddler, that thankfully did just that.

I’m going to share with you the top sleep aids for your baby that I’ve used and that are highly recommended by new parents.

What to Look for in a Sleep Aid

A sleep aid is anything that helps soothe or lull your baby to sleep, generally without your presence. There are a variety of sleep aids out there that you can try and see what works for your child.

The one thing you want to ensure is that whatever baby sleep product or solution you use, it meets safety recommendations by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

According to the AAP, babies should sleep in a crib, bassinet, or portable playyard with a firm, flat mattress. These items should be avoided in the crib or while your child sleeps:

• Loose blankets
• Pillows
• Stuffed animals and toys
• Bumpers
• Swings (for sleep)
• Car seats (if not riding in car)

Baby Sleep Products that Will Help Your Baby Sleep Better At Night

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Here are some amazing baby sleep products you can use to help your baby sleep for longer stretches through the night:

1. Sound Machine or White Noise

A white noise machine is my number 1 go-to baby sleep product for helping my children sleep through the night. I even use one for myself! The reason a white noise machine works so well is because it blocks out noises and it mimics the sounds your baby heard in the womb. This helps calm your baby and promotes more restful sleep.

Although some use their Google Home or Alexa to play white noise, the benefit of having a separate white noise machine is that they usually come with extra features such as night lights, timers, and different soothing sounds and some of them are portable.

Parents love the Hatch Baby Rest (5 stars on Amazon with over 21,000 ratings) which includes a nightlight and a sound machine in one and allows you to customize the colors and sounds. You can also control it from your phone so you don’t even have to disturb your sleeping baby! Once your baby becomes a toddler, the “time-to-rise” program will be especially useful, as it lets your toddler know when it’s time to get out of bed.

For a portable option, check out the Yogasleep Hush Portable White Noise Machine. It provides simple white noises to block out sounds for your little one while on the go, is incredibly small and compact, and has impressive battery life- over 6 hours on a single charge!

2. Swaddles

Swaddles, especially for newborns, are recommended by almost every baby sleep expert out there. That’s because swaddles, like white noise machines, mimic babies’ environment in the womb. It makes them feel like they are being snuggled tight and soothes them. It also keeps them from waking up from their natural startle reflex.

While you could use a swaddle blanket to swaddle your baby, my husband and I found it much easier and foolproof to use swaddles with velcros. This also prevented our baby from un-swaddling herself.

I loved the SwaddleMe swaddles and used them for both my children. They come in cute colors and designs and you can buy them in a 2- or 3-pack. The velcro is secure and it includes an EasyChange zipper at the bottom of the swaddle, ideal for nighttime diaper changes.

Once a baby starts rolling over, you should discontinue the use of a swaddle. However, you could transition to a sleep sack or wearable blanket.

The HALO Sleepsack is a favorite among new parents. It offers 3-way adjustment: arms-in to reduce startle reflex, one-arm-out for self-soothing, and two-arms-out for easy transition from swaddling. Also, the zipper opens from the bottom, making middle-of-the-night diaper changes seamless.

3. Black-Out Shades

One of the most effective ways to get your newborn to sleep longer stretches at night is to start distinguishing day from night as soon as possible. One way to do that is to keep the blinds open and the sun shining through during the daytime. At night, keep all light out of their room with black-out curtains. This tip is also helpful for keeping older infants and toddlers from waking up at the crack of dawn.

Parents rave about these black-out shades by PrinceDeco for being really effective at blocking out sunlight. They are eco-friendly and come in a cute starry design in different colors.

For a portable option, check out Tommy Tippee’s Portable Travel Blinds, which you can set up on any window using suction cups and adjust the size. It’s also machine-washable and comes in a handy travel bag.

4. Lavender-Scented Bath Products and Lotions

Lavender has long been known to help people relax and promote sleep, and babies are no different.

Dropping a few drops of lavender essential oil into your baby’s bath or giving your baby a bedtime massage with lavender lotion can do just the trick to ease your baby into sleep.

Thankfully, there are tons of baby products now that are lavender-scented. For example, Zarbees, one of my favorite brands for natural baby remedies, has a Baby Calming Bedtime Spray with Lavender and Chamomile. Simply spray the baby’s room at bedtime to relax your baby and settle them easier to bed. Zarbees also makes a wonderful lavender massaging oil.

I’m also a big fan of Aveeno’s Calming Comfort bath and lotion set (great for baby registries), as it’s gentle on sensitive skin and has scents of lavender.

5. Breathable Mattress

Keeping your baby cool and comfortable at night with a breathable mattress can also help improve sleep quality. Breathable mattresses are designed to allow air to get through, and claim to reduce suffocation and overheating.

One of the most popular breathable mattresses is from Newton Baby. It claims to be 100% breathable- meaning that babies can breathe right through it. Parents love that this mattress is comfortable, keeps babies cool, and is completely washable. It’s also hypoallergenic and GREENGUARD GOLD certified. This crib mattress has held up for years with both my kiddos so I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a mattress that is durable and high quality.

6. Lovey Blankets

Haven’t heard of a lovey? A lovey is a term that refers to any item your baby develops an attachment to for comfort and security. Some examples are baby blankets and stuffed animals.

The AAP advises against the use of any soft objects in the crib until after 12 months of age, including loveys.

But once it’s safe to give a lovey to your baby, you’ll find that loveys can make your child feel more calm and safe during bedtime.

My daughter enjoyed loveys that look like soft mini blankets with a stuffed-animal head.

7. Pacifiers

It’s no secret that pacifiers can help your baby fall asleep faster and for longer periods of time. I always noticed a difference in sleep length if my daughter slept with vs. without her pacifier.

While not all newborns will take pacifiers (my son refused them after about a week!), you can try offering one during naptime and bedtime to soothe your baby to sleep.

I am a big fan of MAM Night Pacifiers because they glow in the dark and are easy to find quickly at night.

8. Humidifiers

While humidifiers may not have been an obvious baby sleep product, they are certainly a necessary one, especially during cold season. A congested baby is uncomfortable, leading them to wake up more frequently through the night.

A humidifier can help add moisture into the air, lubricate air passages, and ease congestion. This will allow your baby to breathe easier, helping them get better sleep.

I’ve used Crane cool-mist humidifiers with my kids and I think they’re the best. They’re quiet, have adjustable speeds, and are easy to clean. They also come in adorable animal shapes that are perfect for your baby’s nursery room.

9. “Smart” Bassinets

Technology never ceases to amaze me, especially when it comes to innovative baby sleep products. “Smart” bassinets are the latest trend in baby sleep, allowing you to use an app to rock your baby to sleep, turn on white noise, and otherwise soothe your baby back to sleep without you having to leave your bed.

The Snoo Smart Sleeper Bassinet is by far one of the smartest because it responds to your baby’s cries with gradually stronger white noise and motion to help calm baby. The rocking feature mimics the natural movements baby felt inside the womb. It also keeps your baby safely on their back with the SNOO Sack attachment. The SNOO promises an extra 1-2 hours of sleep per night but many parents say their babies are sleeping 5-7 hours straight within just a few weeks! That’s worth every penny!

For a less expensive option, check out Fisher Price’s Baby Bedside Sleeper which has a host of smart features, including sound detection that responds to your baby’s cries with relaxing music, sounds, and vibrations, and an automatic nightlight.

10. Baby Monitors

So baby monitors have less to do with helping your baby sleep, but may give you as the parent more peace of mind and help you sleep better. I’m definitely one of those parents that sleep better with my Nest app open next to me, knowing I’m able to hear if my baby is in distress in the middle of the night.

If you’re like me, then you’ll love the Nest Camera. I have a few in and around my house and I love that I can view and control all of them inside one app from anywhere. You can also connect the thermostat and control it from the same app! Some bonus features include night vision and motion and sound alerts.

Another monitor that has been gaining a lot of traction with parents is the Owlet Dream Sock. This smart monitor tracks your baby’s health while they’re sleeping, including their oxygen levels and heart rate. The smart sock will immediately notify you if your baby needs your attention. New parents love that this product offers them peace of mind knowing they don’t have to keep waking up to check on the baby.

Conclusion

While there is no miracle baby sleep product that will guarantee your baby sleeps through the night (but we can all dream), the products I listed here can help stretch your baby’s sleep a little longer. These products, especially when used in combination, can help soothe your baby and help them sleep more soundly, so you too can get some much-needed rest.

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