Are you a new parent? Here are the best products to help your newborn sleep.
By: McKenna Linford, Master Sleep Consultant
As a mom of three and an expert pediatric sleep consultant, I know how overwhelming it can be for first-time parents to figure out what baby products they really need — especially when it comes to sleep. That’s why I’m sharing my favorite sleep-related gift ideas for new parents.
These are the items that I would text to a friend if they were expecting. I've used these products time and time again and I can't live without them! Whether you’re shopping for an expectant parent or building your own baby registry, these products are absolute game-changers when it comes to ensuring better sleep for your baby (and you!)
1
A Portable Sound Machine is a MUST
The first product that I recommend as a gift for first-time parents is a portable sound machine. The reason we recommend portable sound machines is because a sound machine is an awesome way to cue the brain for sleep. If you're out and about, it's really helpful to get that on-the-go nap by turning on a sound machine, especially when you use one at home already.
For the sound machine, we really want it to be a good brown noise and I love one brand: Hushh by Yogasleep. It has a plug so you can plug it in, but it can also just hang from a car seat or be attached to a diaper bag with its portable charge. This has been my favorite product and I even have multiple for when we are traveling and my girls are in separate rooms.
What to look for in a sound machine:
High-Quality Brown Noise — this type of noise is particularly soothing and effective for sleep. It sounds more like a rushing river as opposed to radio static that white noise emits.
Portability — it’s ideal to have a sound machine you love that you can take on the go, as your new baby will inevitably be taking naps outside of the home. Look for options that can attach to a car seat, stroller or diaper bag.
Dual Power Options — we love a sound machine that can be plugged in or run on a charge for maximum flexibility.
2
Number 1 Product to Put on Your Registry: The SlumberPod
Trust me when I tell you, you cannot live without the SlumberPod. I have told so many of my friends and family about the SlumberPod and after they’ve purchased it, I always get a follow-up text saying, “Oh my gosh, this is a game changer. I can’t live without it.” I love it so much that I own two of them.
The SlumberPod is a pitch-dark tent that can go over a pack-n-play or a mini crib. It’s lightweight and it’s breathable. It’s especially helpful when traveling because you can keep all the lights on in the room while you have multiple babies sleeping next to you in their pack-n-plays with SlumberPods over them. No more stumbling and bumping into the furniture blindly after your kids have gone to sleep, or trying to navigate the room by the light of your phone flashlight.
What’s especially helpful about the SlumberPod is that your child’s sleep environment stays consistent from location to location, especially if they use it at home. It’s like they have their own little bedroom. I highly recommend it if you’re room sharing for the holidays or simply room sharing in general if you have a smaller home with fewer bedrooms. I use the SlumberPod all the time when I’m working with families and it has never failed me.
Key things to keep mind about your newborn’s sleep environment:
For optimal sleep, you want your baby’s sleep environment to feel like a little cave: dark, cool, and quiet. The SlumberPod will help you achieve a consistent, pitch-black environment. It comes with a spot to place a fan to help circulate the air, which is also helpful. SlumberPod even makes its own fan you can use. Use your sound machine (the first product I recommended) to help create a consistent, quiet environment.
3
Swaddle I Recommend the Most: The Ollie
The Ollie swaddle is a must if you have a newborn. One of my favorite things about the Ollie is that it has velcro, so you can get it really snug on your baby so that they're not going to get their arms out in the middle of the night and wake themselves up. (I know from experience!)
When I had my first daughter, I was using a muslin blanket and a couple other swaddles on the market. Every night, after a few hours, she would manage get her arms out and wake herself up. When I got the Ollie, she was able to sleep so much better and for longer stretches because it kept her nice and snug, and her arms no longer wriggled out, keeping her from waking herself up.
Another thing I love about the Ollie is it's one-size-fits-all. A lot of the other swaddles on the market have a small, medium, or large to graduate into as your baby starts to get a little bigger. But the Ollie fits your baby from fresh newborn until they are transitioning out of the swaddle, so you just need one size, which is awesome. It’s cost-effective and it’s consistent.
Why SwaddlIng your baby helps them to sleep:
Until your baby was born, they enjoyed the snug, cozy, warm environment of your womb. Swaddling helps to mimic this feeling of being in the womb. Also, your baby has an impulsive startle reflex called the Moro reflex that stays with them until 3-6 months old. This reflex easily wakes babies and disturbs their sleep. Swaddling effectively keeps your baby’s arms nice and snug against them, preventing sudden movements that may wake them up.
4
A Hatch to Grow With Your Baby
Another product that I love to recommend to first-time parents is the Hatch. Just like the SlumberPod, I have multiples of these in my house.
It isn't portable, so you do need to put it on a nightstand or a dresser and you do need to have it plugged in, but it's super easy to use. It has a sound machine, so you can use this as your baby’s bedroom sound machine, and it can also be used as a nightlight.
(Note: we don’t recommend incorporating night lights until your child is closer to 3 years old or expresses a fear of the dark — more on that in this blog post.)
The Hatch can change colors and can be set to a different color depending on yours and your child’s needs. For example, you can use the red feature to have a more amber nightlight, which is conducive to sleep. This is also especially helpful when handling those middle-of-the-night feeds and diaper changes when you need some light but don’t want to disturb yours or your baby’s circadian rhythms.
You can also use the Hatch when your baby becomes a toddler to help them learn how to stay in their bed. You can do this by setting a specific time on the Hatch to turn green and when your toddler sees the green light, they know it's morning time and that it’s okay to get out of bed. We use this all the time for our toddler sleep programs.
If you get the Hatch at the beginning of your baby’s life, then there's no need to get anything else as far as a night light or sound machine goes for the years to come. It really does grow with them.
Be Prepared with a Good Humidifier
The last sleep product I recommend is a really good humidifier. Here's one of my favorites: Canopy 4-in-1 Dishwasher Safe and Mold Inhibiting Humidifier. The reason I suggest a humidifier is because if your baby is sick, it will help them breathe better, allowing them to get better sleep and sleep for longer stretches. This humidifier is awesome, easy to use, and it's definitely a staple if you have a baby or a toddler.
How to best use a humidifier for your baby’s room:
Always Use Distilled Water in Your Humidifier — this prevents the release of mineral particles and white dust into the air that are found in tap water. Minerals can also build up in the humidifier, leading to mold or bacterial growth. Distilled water helps to keep the air cleaner and your humidifier functioning longer.
Clean Your Humidifier Regularly — this seems like a no-brainer, but it can easily get away from you when you are busy with a newborn! It’s really important to clean your humidifier regularly, as it can become a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and mildew (which is exactly what you don’t want when your baby is sick!) Use the cleaning instructions provided in the manual of your humidifier to best clean your device.
Avoid Over-Humidifying — just like the device itself can breed mold if not cleaned regularly, emitting too much humidity can encourage mold growth in the room. It’s best to keep the humidity between 40-60% and use a humidity monitor to check the room’s moisture levels.
Get In Touch
Those are my favorite products that I would definitely recommend to give to first-time parents. You really can't go wrong with any of them. They're all awesome, I own all of them, and they’d make great gifts this holiday season. If you have any questions about them, just send us a message and we’re happy to help!
If you need assistance with your child’s sleep, remember we’re here to help! Please schedule a complimentary call with us and we can explain our approach and next steps.
All team members have completed training with Kelly and have learned the Murray Method. Kelly continues to support, guide and oversee the Sleep Squad as they work with the families who trust in us. This way, all clients are able to experience the same amazing results (and lots and lots of sleep).
Sweet Dreams…
Kelly Murray is a certified sleep coach and an award-winning pediatric sleep consultant based in Chicago offering sleep coaching services nationwide.
