When it comes to babies and toddlers, a good night’s sleep makes all the difference. Quality sleep is crucial for little ones and closely linked with brain development. (Not to mention, as a parent, sleeping through the night makes a huge difference as well!) So how can we ensure that our kids get the best sleep possible?
Both sleep training and having a consistent bedtime routine are game-changers for helping our kids sleep better, but there are also several other ways to improve sleep quality. Today, I’m covering the best nighttime sleep aids for babies and toddlers. I’ll discuss tools that can help bedtime feel easier as well as discussing how to know what’s safe for your little one. Let’s dive in!
Best Nighttime Sleep Aids for Babies and Toddlers
A nighttime sleep aid is anything that can help your little one sleep more soundly for naps or bedtime. From white noise machines to nightlights to swaddles, these products can help your child fall asleep more easily. When their environment is set up for optimal sleep, it will be easier for them to learn to self-soothe and hopefully fall back asleep if they wake up. But first, let’s cover safety when it comes to sleep aids!
Sleep Aids for A Well-Rested Baby: How to Protect Your Little One
Parenthood comes with a laundry list of questions. It can be so confusing to weed through information and figure out what’s actually okay for your little one. There are many safety hazards to consider when setting up your child for sleep.
Until your baby moves into a toddler or twin bed (usually around 18 months of age), it’s important to remember the ABCs of safe sleep. This acronym outlines safe sleep conditions to protect your baby:
Alone– Babies should be alone on their sleep surface. Bed-sharing increases the risk of SUIDS and other sleep-related deaths. If you need tips on how to stop co-sleeping, check out my blog post on how to transition your baby from co-sleeping to crib.
Back – Make sure your baby is on their back while sleeping.
Crib – Ensure that your baby’s crib is completely empty. Ditch any pillows, blankets, loveys or stuffed animals, bumper pads, or anything extra that could put them in harm’s way. Bare is best!
For more information on sleep safety, check out Safe Sleep Practices for Newborns: How to Protect Your Baby. Now that we’ve covered safety topics, let’s get into some of the best nighttime sleep aids for babies and toddlers!
Best Nighttime Sleep Aids for Babies and Toddlers
From white noise to blackout shades, these nighttime sleep aids for babies and toddlers are amazing tools to help improve sleep quality!
Estimber Under Door Draft Stopper
If you have a sensitive sleeper, this is a great solution to help prevent them from being woken up by a draft!
Yogasleep Hushh Portable White Noise Sound Machine
This white noise machine is the G.O.A.T. I use it at home and I even take an extra one with me for on-the-go. It’s the best!
Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears
This is a great solution if you have a toddler who struggles with bedtime fears. There are tons of books just like this one that can help your little one overcome their nighttime anxiety and feel reassured and safe!
SlumberPod
Traveling anytime soon? The SlumberPod is a GREAT way to help your little one sleep soundly on the go. It’s a portable blackout canopy that can fit over a pack-n-play, mini crib, toddler cot, or inflatable toddler mattress. Use code sleep.shore for 5% off your purchase!
RUseeN Portable Blackout Shades
Lighting makes all the difference when it comes to quality sleep! These portable blackout shades help create a completely dark sleeping environment and are great for on-the-go.
KYTE BABY Unisex Rayon Sleeping Bag for Babies and Toddlers, 1.0 Tog
This sleep sack is a great way to transition out of the swaddle for sound sleep. It’s extremely soft and easy to use. A win-win!
GroHush Baby Calmer
This little nighttime sleep aid is super easy to slip onto your hand and help soothe your baby back to sleep! (This is a lifesaver for middle-of-the-night wakeups!)
Zarbee’s Baby Calming Bedtime Spray with Lavender and Chamomile
This bedtime spray smells amazing and can help babies get better sleep. This is a great step for relaxation to incorporate into your bedtime routine and help your little one settle down!
Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine
This sound machine not only plays white noise to soothe your little one, but also plays music and stories and includes a time-to-rise alarm clock. The light feature on the time-to-rise setting gradually increases to mimic sunlight- this is a great feature if you use blackout curtains!
MissRHEA Small Elephant Essential Oil Diffuser
Essential oil diffusers are an amazing tool to help optimize your little one’s sleep environment. This elephant-shaped diffuser also doubles as a night light!
Aidan + Anais Easy Wrap Swaddle
This swaddle is comfortable, great for promoting deep sleep, and super easy to use!
Warmies Microwavable Fresh Lavender Scented Plush Giraffe
This is the perfect stuffed animal for nighttime comfort. It can be warmed up and smells amazing to help soothe your little one and make them feel sleepy. (Make sure to wait until your little one is old enough to sleep with a lovey so it’s not a safety hazard!)
Still battling sleepless nights even with sleep aids? Sometimes, sleep issues require a more personalized approach. Sleep Shore offers one-on-one sleep solutions for newborns, infants, and toddlers. We can help tackle any sleep problems you may be having to form healthy sleep habits. Children are unique, and in turn, deserve a unique approach to sleep. See what this mama had to say about our sleep services below:
“Danielle was amazing to work with! I have her coaching and encouragement to thank for getting us back on track with nap time and bedtime. In less than a week she helped to get us on a great schedule with so many resources. Her positive feedback and troubleshooting along the way were so appreciated. I highly recommend anyone to work with her and have already referred other families her way! Thank you!”
-GRATEFUL MAMA
Better sleep is ahead. Feel free to reach out if you’re curious about sleep training. Sleep Shore is here to help you sleep!