Are you struggling to get your baby to sleep at night? Will they only sleep in your arms, on your chest or when close to you in the baby carrier? If you’re desperately trying to get your baby to sleep in their crib and wave goodbye to sleep deprivation; a baby sleep aid can be a big help.
Often using sounds, lights and comforting textures to help soothe and calm your baby before bed, there are lots of baby sleep aids on the market. For the most effective baby bedtime routine, it is recommended you encourage your child to self-settle without needing external support. That said, there is certainly a time and place for sleep aids and they can be welcomed support for parents with busy lives or multiple children.
Here’s how a baby sleep aid can work for you.
- Does your baby have separation anxiety?
Does your baby always want to be close to you? Do they refuse to settle for anyone else? Does she want comfort and reassurance of hearing you nearby? If so, it may be that your child is experiencing separation anxiety, worrying that you won’t return if ever you disappear from view.
Baby sleep aids that come with soothing sounds such as white noise and heart beat sounds can be a great choice, helping provide security for your baby by mimicking the familiar sounds your baby would have experienced in the womb. Working best for newborns and very young babies, these sleep aids work best with repeated use.
- Does your baby wake regularly during the night?
Babies have naturally short sleep cycles so often stir regularly throughout the night. Whilst some babies are able to soothe themselves back to sleep, others wake regularly and get upset – needing your intervention to soothe and settle them back to sleep. If this is the case, a baby sleep aid with a cry sensor or motion detector can be a big help.
These innovative sleep aids will trigger if they sense noise or movement in the crib, making sounds, playing music or turning on a reassuring glow that will help gently encourage your baby back to sleep without needing to go to the nursery.
Without a creaky floorboard or the appealing prospect of milk fully waking and stimulating your baby, you may find these baby sleep aids can help them drift back to sleep far more quickly.
- Does your baby struggle to self-settle?
If your baby struggles to self-settle and drift off to sleep at the start of the night, sleep aids with lights and music can be really effective.
A night light can create a reassuring soft glow in the nursery to calm and comfort, helping your baby to recognize the familiar surroundings and feel safe and protected.
Using included music, such as a subtle bedtime lullaby or even a recorded track of your choice, can become a repeated part of their bedtime routine and help send your baby signals that it’s time to go to sleep.
Ultimately, whether you use a baby sleep aid comes down to personal choice. If you’re facing sleep challenges and struggling with lack of sleep, sleep aids are certainly a low-cost option to explore with your baby.
