*This is a collaborative post.
New parents spend hundreds and thousands on newborn baby must haves, from diaper bags to car seats and strollers. While ensuring they have everything to make their newborn comfortable, they often overlook some essential items for helping their baby sleep.
Babies often find it hard to fit into a predictable sleep schedule, especially within the first few months. Unfortunately, parents and newborns suffer the consequences of a lack of sleep. Thankfully, parents can buy several products to make the transition from womb to crib easier, allowing you and your little one to get a restful sleep.
1. Essential Oils
Essential oils can help calm the nerves and soothe your little one. However, you want to ensure the oils are safe and free of other harmful chemicals or parabens.
Baby essential oil for sleep is usually safe for little ones three months or older. Wellements brand is specifically diluted, so it is safe for children this age. Still, as with any other products or supplements, you should consult your baby’s doctor.
Essential oils like lavender and chamomile have a reputation for soothing people and helping them to relax. Several studies point to lavender specifically as a type of sleep complement.
2. Night Light
While some little ones don’t mind the dark, others feel intimidated. Many parents think the darkness should seem soothing because it was dark in the womb, but they forget that a dark bedroom is a much larger space.
A dark room can feel lonely and scary. A night light can help make the area feel a little more inviting and calming. Night lights come in various styles, from simple plugins to high-tech lamps. Many new night lights can dim and turn on with a preset schedule.
3. Sleep Spray
For parents who dislike the idea of rubbing essential oils on their little one’s neck, chest, or back, consider a sleep spray, such as Sleep Time for babies. The spray also contains essential oils, but parents spray it into a room or onto bedding.
The oils, such as lavender and chamomile, are believed to help little ones fall asleep without a fuss — some studies support the assumption. Like essential oils, you should talk to a paediatrician before using the product for your child.
4. Sound Machine
With all the oils and products available to help children sleep, parents often overlook the effectiveness of a sound or white noise machine. Developed in the 1960s, white noise machines help people sleep by masking environmental noises or disturbances.
An added benefit of sound machines for babies is they can help your child’s brain understand when it is time to sleep. If you only use the device at naptime or bedtime, your little one will make the connection, and their brain will help them sleep by releasing hormones and signalling the body for rest.
As you prepare to bring a little one into this world, remember to add sleep aides to your must-haves list. Also, if you already have a little one who struggles to sleep at night, talk to a paediatrician about how to help.
