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This Sand Tart Cookie Recipe is our family recipe perfect for the Christmas & Holiday season making a big batch of cookies. These cookies are easy to customize to your tastes with various toppings and make a fun activity for everyone involved.
This sweet, Homemade Coffee Creamer recipe can be used in coffee or tea. It is made with 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and water or for a creamier option, you can use milk or half and half. It is infused with pure vanilla extract but can be customized with other extracts or even Baileys or rum for a boozy option. This creamer is so fast and easy to make for yourself or as an edible gift!
Maple Cinnamon Butter is a sweet and delicious butter recipe that is perfect for having on muffins, toast, popovers, bread, or just about anything you imagine. It only takes a few minutes and 4 simple ingredients to make this maple-cinnamon scented butter.
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Favorite Newborn and Infant Sleep Aids - I want to share with you my favorite newborn & infant sleep aids. Everything on this list, I have used and can speak to through experience. Getting your newborn or infant to sleep is so important as a new parent and when they sleep you can sleep too!
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
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Hi Everyone, I want to share with you my favorite newborn & infant sleep aids.
Everything on this list, I have used and can speak to through experience.
Getting your newborn or infant to sleep is so important as a new parent and when they sleep you can sleep too!
Getting your newborn or infant to sleep can be really hard sometimes and with my first child, I felt like I was in a boot camp for new parents.
So far, with my 2nd child, Marc, it has been a little easier than I remember with my daughter but things can always change and it's important to be prepared for that.
I have this running list in my head of things that we got, that have helped us either with my daughter or with our son and I am sharing them, in hopes that it might be an idea that can help you and your family too!
#1 -Fisher-Price Sweet Snugapuppy Dreams Cradle 'n Swing - This swing is something new that we have just started trying out with our son and so far I love it.
It has many options and the colors are neutral and the design is cute.
It does take up some room though so you will want to keep it in a larger area where you have the space for its footprint.
There are SO many baby swings out there and when I chose this one, I saw that it has the highest ratings on Amazon and was recommended, so that definitely factored into my choice.
Also, I love Fisher-Price products and have always had great experiences with them.
My daughter has a Fisher-Price toy that was mine when I was little, so I know their products stand the test of time.
4moms mamaRoo 4 infant seat - This is a new(er) type of baby swing.
It has a small footprint which was great for our nursery when we got it for our daughter.
We used it well and eventually (after almost 2 years?) it started having a clicking sound.
Granted, we had an earlier version of it.
I will say that overall, I was pleased with it. It's definitely expensive and super fancy and I think the above choice has more options.
#2 - "Sound Sleeper" app (hair dryer noise) on my iPhone - This is an app that I used with my daughter and recently have started using with my son, if we are having a fussy night.
It really works for us and sometimes is the only way I can get the baby to just settle down and sleep.
There is something about that "hairdryer noise" that helps them tune out everything and just go to sleep and it works fast.
I usually swaddle (see below) and could make sure the baby has a clean diaper on and a full belly of milk and has been burped.
#3 - HALO SleepSack Micro-Fleece Swaddle - When I had both my daughter and son, the hospital sent us home with a HALO SleepSack and thank goodness they did!
I bet there are so many thankful parents out there who were out of their minds tired when they decided to break this out and use it.
If you don't know how to do a swaddle fold, this is pretty fool-proof and you can get the same results.
Plus, it's like a blanket and will keep your baby nice and snug and warm in cooler months.
I love it and we used it almost every night with my daughter and we are using it with my son now too.
It keeps the baby from waking him or herself up (babies startle themselves with their arms, it's a reflex).
With the HALO SleepSack or swaddling (see below), this will surely give your baby (and yourself!) a nice stretch of sleep.
Remember, "back is best" (the HALO slogan).
#4 - The Happiest Baby DVD - My husband and I actually took a class on this at Babies R US before we had my daughter and it was SO helpful.
It gave us the confidence to be able to put our daughter to sleep and not be at our wit's end.
I still have this DVD and would recommend it to any new parent.
#5 - aden + anais swaddles - These are the best, let me repeat, the best swaddles, they make great blankets and burp cloths too!
They are soft, they have cute designs and I can't say enough great things about them.
We have a ton of them from when we had my daughter and I should really get some "boy" prints for our son too.
#6 - Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play Sleeper - Many moms I know had this and loved it and recommended it.
I used a stationary bassinet with my daughter and wanted to get this but ended up not getting it.
Well, with my son, I knew I had to try it from the beginning, and I love it.
It's what we use for a beside-the-bed bassinet and it's great for naps.
If I am working at my computer during the day, it's light and I move it right to where I am so I can have my son close while I work. It folds easily for travel and I love the neutral colors.
My son actually likes it stationary too (when not turned on) so I just set him in there.
Sometimes, the rocking motion is better too.
#7 - Marpac Dohm-DS All-Natural White Noise Sound Machine - (comes in white, tan and black) - We actually have this white noise machine in all the bedrooms in our house because it works so well and we like it a lot.
#8 - Wubbanub Infant Pacifier - I love this pacifier!
They have so many cute designs to choose from.
#9 - Philips Avent Pacifier - Similar to the above Wubbanub, but without the cute stuffed animal at the end, these are useful to have on hand between feedings when the baby just needs to be soothed.
I was really against pacifiers when I had my daughter but I realize that was silly and should have used them more because they would have been useful.
#10 - Graco Click Connect car seat and stroller - If we are having a tough time putting the baby down to sleep, sometimes being in the car seat and being pushed in the stroller around the house can help to calm and soothe a fussy baby.
We did this a lot with our Margo daughter and a little bit with our son Marc.
Graco SnugRide Click Connect 40 Infant Car Seat:
Graco Relay Click Connect Jogging Stroller (Travel System):
#11 - Ergobaby Original Bundle of Joy Baby Carrier - Having a good baby carrier is a must.
The Ergo is easy to find (I bought mine at Babies R Us and it's available on Amazon too). If you have more than one child, this frees your arms up, so you can do things while carrying the baby.
With my daughter, I found babywearing to be wonderful exercise and it helped me lose pregnancy weight when I would go walking or hiking.
It's a great way for your partner/spouse to carry the baby as well.
As it relates to sleep, babies just need to be close to their parents and feel your breathing and your heartbeat; I would wear my daughter around the house.
It is so great for bonding.
Make sure you use the newborn insert for newborns.
We have used the baby carrier through the toddler stage!
I recommend joining your local Babywearing International group.
I was a member and attended meetings for 1-2 years after my daughter was born.
It's a great way to meet other moms, connect, be social and try many different baby carriers.
My group had a rental program and I rented a different baby carrier every month so I got to try so many and the one I ended up buying was this Ergobaby carrier as well as a ring sling.
Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Ring Sling Baby Carrier - This is the exact ring sling that I got (only in a different color). I love it and I tried MANY before purchasing this quality one.
I love the fabric which is perfect for Fall weather and is breathable.
If I come across more Favorite Newborn and Infant Sleep Aids that I like and use, I will add them to the list.
I recommend checking in with your pediatrician if you have any questions.
This "Favorite Newborn and Infant Sleep Aids" list is just what has worked for my family but something different might work for you.
I hope this list helps if you are looking for new ideas to get your newborn or infant to sleep - good luck!
What are your favorite newborn and infant sleep aids? Please let me know in the comments below!
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Catherine says
I have used some of these products, and they are great. I would highly recommend these to other moms.