When I got pregnant with Steele I had no idea what the best products were and what I really needed and didn’t. You start researching and become bombarded with all different kinds of information. Especially when it comes to sleep, there are many different views on the topic. I literally remember thinking “well where will he sleep for the first few months and what will he sleep in?” Once you start asking around you will get everyone’s opinions and what they think is best – I got all kinds of advice and people had some very strong opinions. In the end, you need to do what you feel is best for your baby and your family. Hear everyone’s opinions and take what you want from each.
We all know every baby is different and you will most likely try tons of products before finding what your baby likes best. Here are the top 5 baby sleep products that worked best for Steele. *We kept Steele in our room until he was about 4.5 months old before transitioning him to the crib in his room.
This is the bassinet that we used and loved. We put it right up against my side of the bed. Here’s why we loved it: the side is collapsible so when you reach over to grab the baby you don’t have to reach over, the side just folds down. This bassinet is great if you’re nursing. It swivels which is awesome when getting in and out of bed. There is a newborn insert that you can buy as well (we didn’t use that).
Dock-A-Tot or the Snuggle Me
I happened to get both the Dock-A-Tot and Snuggle Me at my shower and decided to keep both because I didn’t know which one he’d prefer. There are pros to each of these baby loungers. Let’s start with The Snuggle Me. It is great because it really “snuggles” the baby. It’s very comfy and the cover options are much better than the Dock-A-Tot. The one con to this is that Steele grew out of it pretty fast, you get use out of it for the first two months or so and then they are too long.
We LOVED the Dock-A-Tot and so did Steele! The Dock-A-Tot had to be featured in my top 5 baby sleep products list. He fit in this much longer than the Snuggle Me. It didn’t “snuggle” him as much but it does have the rounded sides which help to “hug” him. Instead of buying the newborn insert for the Halo bassinet, we set the Dock-A-Tot inside (I am not telling you to do this or recommending it – do what you feel is safe). Then once we transitioned him to his crib we used the Dock-A-Tot inside the crib and slowly transitioned him out of it. One major issue we had with the Dock-A-Tot is that Steele was OBSESSED with it like couldn’t sleep without it. Transitioning him out of it was bbbbrrruuuutttaaallll. I’ve heard some babies transition of it just fine though, so again it depends on the baby.
At first I did not want to spend $59 on a sound machine (good item for your registry) but after getting one I totally understood the hype. Here’s why I love this sound machine: it connects to an app which is amazing, it’s perfect for nighttime feedings (I would just tap the top and it would turn on a red light which was just enough light to see, but not alert him). You can program it to turn on at a certain time each night and preset to the correct volume. This is a product that Steele will use as he grows as well – nightlight as he gets older and white noise for naps and nighttime.
Nested Bean Swaddles + Sleep Sacks
When we brought Steele home from the hospital we tried so many different swaddles, you name it we tried it. We did like the Halo sleep sack because it was so soft and easy to velcro. But then we tried the Nested Bean swaddle and loved it, and Steele loved it right away. The Nested Bean swaddles and sleep sacks are so amazing because they have these lightly weight pads that mimic your palm being on their chest. Steele now sleeps in the sleep sacks and we are still loving them!
We’ve been using essential oils in our home since 2018 and it was the best thing we’ve ever done. We use essential oils, household cleaning products, vitamins, and supplements from Young Living. Since Steele was born we’ve always included essential oils as a part of his nighttime routine. Each night I spray his room, crib, and rocking chair with a spray I made that has lavender, cedarwood, gentle baby (blend from YL), witch hazel, and a splash of water. Then I put gentle baby or sleepyize (both blends from YL) in his diffuser. Incorporating essential oils into his nighttime route definitely sets the tone for sleep and calms him down. Highly recommend using Young Living essential oils. You can join here and I will help guide you every step of the way.
What are your top five baby products for sleep? Have you tried any of these? Leave a comment below!