The 8 Best Products to Help Baby Sleep

While natural light is a must-have for babies during the day, it also suppresses the production of melatonin, the hormone that makes us sleepy. Blackout shades to the rescue. These easy-to-install shades block 99% of that sleep-disrupting natural light from your baby’s nursery. You won’t need any tools to put them up (or to take them down, for that matter), and since they’re made of paper, you can trim them to fit your exact window size and toss them when you’re done. They’re perfect for those early months when you’re trying to establish healthy sleep patterns with your little one.

A safe space for baby to sleep is a must-have. A bassinet offers a snug, safe spot for baby while also keeping them close by. The BassiNest Swivel Sleeper bassinet is one of our favorites. The 360-swivel allows it to scoot right up to your bed and the base fits underneath it so it doesn’t take up a ton of space. And the side is retractable so you have easy access to baby for middle-of-the-night feeds.

According to pediatrician Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, swaddling is essential to helping newborns fall asleep and, more importantly, stay that way. But it can be tough to guess which type of swaddle both you and your baby will like before they arrive. So why not give a few bestselling options a try before you commit? Babylist’s Swaddle Box includes four popular swaddles, each in a different style and from different brands. Once you figure out which one works for your family, you can stock up and settle in for some longer stretches of sleep—we hope!

While there’s no perfect product that’s going to turn your nursery into a magical sleep wonderland for your baby, we think the Rest+ comes pretty close. Need a night light? Check. How about a sound machine with white noise and other soothing sounds? Check again. And what about a time-to-rise clock? And a two-way monitor? And a digital clock? Rest easy, because it’s all covered. The Rest+ is an all-in-one solution that helps parents create the ideal sleep environment for their little ones. There’s even curated playlists and bedtime stories available through a Hatch Sleep Membership and a battery backup in case your power goes out. And the best part? It’s all easily controlled—and customizable—via your smartphone.

High-tech baby gear isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a parent who thinks you’ll be reassured by access to more information rather than less, then this Nanit bundle is for you. The Nanit Complete combines a monitor and a movement/breathing tracker in one so you can rest easy while your little does, too. The monitor delivers a crystal-clear, bird’s-eye perspective on your baby, along with a host of other helpful pieces of information like room temperature and sound and motion data. Add the custom swaddle band to your baby and the camera is then able to track your little one’s breathing. If anything looks outside the norm, you’ll be alerted both through the app on your phone and the monitor itself.

A newborn sleep staple, footed pajamas are the perfect one-piece solution for keeping your new addition warm and cozy during bedtime. (And anytime, really.) These PJs from sustainable brand Tiny Kind are made from soft organic cotton so they’re extra gentle on your little one’s delicate new skin. They also feature a zipper, a must-have in any newborn footie. It may not sound like a big deal now, but you’ll be thankful for it during that 2 a.m. diaper change when it saves you the hassle of fumbling around with snaps.

Starting a bedtime routine from as early as the newborn days is a great way to set the stage for good sleep habits as your little one grows—and every bedtime routine needs a good book! Reading even a quick story to your baby each night will help stimulate language skills, build your little one’s vocabulary and introduce concepts like letters, numbers and more. This bedtime classic from bestselling author Susan Marie Swanson is one of our all-time faves. The calming story and beautiful illustrations are perfect for winding down the day with your little one.

Trying to sleep with a stuffy nose is pretty uncomfortable for anyone, but especially for a tiny baby. Adding a humidifier to your little one’s nursery—especially during the cold, dry months—is a good way to get moisture back into their sleep space, preventing the stuffies before they even have a chance to start. This cool-mist option from Crane features a simple, modern design and is easy to use and fill. You will have to clean it on the regular, but we think it’s worth it all in the name of a good night’s sleep!