Warning: I am in NO way a toddler sleep guru!
As a Mom of two under three (and just a very short time ago, two under two…oof!) there have been many a time where I would have done just about anything to get my little ones to sleep through the night. In the spirit of understanding I am the rule, and not the exception, when it comes to early motherhood sleep deprivation – I’m sharing what’s worked for our tiny girl gang in hopes that YOU (and your little one 😉) can get the shut eye you deserve and so desperately need. Enjoy!
Sleep Sacks // Since Day 1, both of my girls were in sleep sacks through the night. I read the blogs [1], studied the benefits [1, 2,] and tried SO many freaking sleep sacks. Of course, all babies are not created sleep equal, but with that being said – both of my girls favored Halo sleep sacks *and therefor, we bought in bulk 😅. Side note, when Emmy was born, we didn’t even mess around with swaddling, and I brought two sleep sacks in my hospital bag. #protip
From our experience *and hatred of more laundry than necessary I always had at least 3 of the current size sack on hand. Check out shoppable links for our favorite sleep sacks –> HERE!
Sound Machine // The only sound machine we put on our registry with Olivia was this sleep sheep, and it was worth its weight in gold, and so great for attaching to her stroller while we were on-the-go. When we moved her into her own room, we needed something a bit more stationary, so after (again!) reading blogs and reviews, etc. etc., I landed on this model by Marpac and we’ve been happy with it ever since. I also loved that it’s 110-220v and comes with a USB plug, which made using it while in Europe and now in the US (and traveling) super easy.
Related Post: Registering for Baby #2
When Emmy was born, the new sound machine on the block was the Hatch Rest, so we grabbed that up and planned on using it for Olivia when she was ready for a ready-to-wake sound machine/light, etc. In true toddler fashion, Olivia had no interest in abiding by a light to tell her when she was ready to get out of bed, and Emmy actually has a little fear of the dark, so it worked out to keep it in Em’s room. My favorite feature is that I can set it for a certain time, so it’s one less thing to mess with when it’s time to get the girls down for naps, or when we have a babysitter. The new model is also Alexa enabled, which is pretty much the bomb.com.
Follow Sleep Regressions // So this tip is more for parents peace of mind than something that will actually help your baby sleep, but for me that peace of mind has been clutch. Knowing and tracking the normal sleep regression patterns gave/gives me hope that a disruption in sleep didn’t mean that my child would/will sleep soundly again (we’re in this one right now with Emmy…and none of us are thriving due to it!). This site is an amazing resource, and has in-depth info on all of the sleep regressions (and a timeline, so you know how long they’ll last!)
Ask a Professional // Even when you know toddler sleep patterns are all over the place, sometimes you just need to ask a pro and get your little one on a plan so everyone in the house can grab some shut eye. When we were going through a particularly tough time with Emmy (when her 12 month turned into her 18 month regression…) I reached out to Laura with Sleep and the City. First I took her free 30-second quiz, which ended with a customized schedule (which I still use!). Once I started implementing her schedule, I used Laura’s 18-month+ Toddler Guide (for children 18 months to 5 years), which was a quick read, easy to follow…and it worked! Check out Sleep and the City if you need some #protips to get you through the night!
I was provided Sleep and the City’s 18+ Month Toddler Guide complementary in exchange for our honest feedback. As always, all opinions are genuine and 100% my own.
A Lovey // Having a little buddy in the crib/bed while sleep training is a great source of security for growing babies. “Research tells us that “their lovey objects are like the first training wheels for telling themselves ‘you’re all right’.” [Source] Our girls are obsessed with their bunnies appropriately both named “Bunny”. We prefer the Jellycat stuffed animals because they are oh, so soft, and they come in many different sizes for growing babies.
Have a sleep tip to share with our #momtribe? Comment below!
What sleep sacks have worked best for the author’s children, and why does she recommend using them? Which sound machines did the author use for her children, and what features did she find beneficial in each of them?