Halo SleepSack
The SleepSack is great and it's a necessity when a baby is transitioning from being in the womb to the outside world. It's no secret that babies love and need to be swaddled. Not only that, babies tend to wake up due to the Startle Reflex (Read more on that here) Start with the SwaddleSack and transition into the other wearable blankets as your baby grows. The velcro is great on the swaddle because you won't need to worry about fixing the baby in the middle of the night when she unwraps herself as with regular receiving blankets. My favorite is the micro fleece, it's super cozy, but they also come in cotton. Not only are these convenient but most importantly they reduce the risk of SIDS. Remember the crib should always be bare, so these make great blankets.
As Baby Grows, Grow with HALO
When your baby grows out of the swaddle, Halo makes sleepsacks that grow with your baby. The swaddle can only be used for a short time (until your baby starts rolling). This wearable blanket is the next best thing. Your babies arms will not be swaddled, but by that point it won't be safe to do so anyway. The legs will still be in a sack, which is great because it makes the transition easy. They come in a variety of colors, like this adorble Winnie the Pooh Wearable Blanket.
The Micro-Fleece, like the one pictured below is one of my favorite too.
| Carter's Sleep Bag |
This is also another type of sleep sack. But what's great about this is that it has sleeves which keep your baby warm and cozy. It's a very soft and thin micro-fleece material. My baby actually snuggles up against her own sleeve, when she goes to bed. This is a really great sleep sack for young babies transitioning out of the swaddle. The sack part is much smaller than the Halo so it makes your baby still feel sort of swaddled at the feet. It's snug at the body, so it's awesome for babies who are really dependent on swaddling. I say it's great for young babies because it only comes in one size 0-9months, and 9 months is pushing it. I would say more like 6 months, unless your baby is really small or short. When your baby outgrows it, you can then switch to a Halo, which is just a bigger/wider and sleeveless version of this sleep sack.
Arms Reach Co-sleeper
This like no other bassinet. It actually attaches to your bed and gives you clear vision of your baby. Great for middle of the night breastfeeding. Your baby can sense your are next to her and sleep soundly. It's like sleeping with your baby but safer. It's a great option especially for newborns who tend to have a hard time falling asleep without you.
Here is a short video that introduces the Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper.
Any kind of sound soother will do. As you already may know, newborns don't really like silence. It was so noisy in the womb. So these are great in the beginning as long as your baby doesn't rely on them to fall asleep. Make sure to get one with the womb sounds. Use it to help them relax before bedtime. Great wind-down routine item.
The Dex sound sleeper is one of the best soothers on the market. It is the ONLY audio soother with an actual recording made inside a mothers womb. Sound and motion reactivate the recording. The sound soother worked miracles for us, Brianna stopped crying immediately when she heard the "swooshing" noise. You can get it for about $20 On Amazon.
Skip Hop Bumper Free Bedding.
I'm a huge advocate of the SIDS campaign and crib safety. But I also want my baby's nursery to look like a nursery. I did some research and found a company that makes cute and stylish bumper free bedding. Take a look here
Carter's Velour Sheets
This is another one of my sleepy time must-haves. Both of my babies used the texture of this thin velour sheet, to soothe themselves to sleep. I absolutely love these sheets! They were crucial part of helping my babies learn to self soothe, and fall asleep on their own. It's hard to find something to give your baby to sleep with, especially when everyone scares you about SIDS. With this sheet alone, we didn't need any blankets, or stuffed animals. My babies just rubbed their face and hands across the smooth texture of this sheet to fall asleep. It's pretty genius, if you think about it.
Blackout Curtains
This is a no brainer. You absolutely need blackout or room darkening curtains in your baby's nursery. There will be times when you will really regret not having these. Like when there's a full moon, during daylight savings time, or when your neighbor buys a new garage light. Blackout curtains or shades also filter out light during the day, which is perfect for naps. I recommend the ones pictured below, because they filter out 99.9% of light. They are also thermal insulated, which keeps the heat out during the summer, and keeps cold out during the winter.
