Honest mum's review - Love to Dream sleep bag and Sleep Machine
We tested out a Love to Dream sleep bag and its white noise Sleep Machine to see what worked for my 18-month-old toddler
As parents, there's isn't much we wouldn't do to guarantee a good night's sleep for our baby.
A perfect ambient room temperature, milk warmed to the ideal degree and a complete lack of light in their room thanks to meticulously placed blackout blinds; those of us still reeling from sleep deprivation know all the tips and tricks to get our little ones off to the Land of Nod.
My own daughter, now 18 months, was a pretty good daytime sleeper from the off - friends joked that for the first few months they never actually saw her awake, thanks to her love of napping in her pram.
She snoozed her way through a six-week baby massage course, multiple Bumps to Babies classes, and even her first trip to the zoo, while we, her parents, dutifully trooped around all the animals waiting for her Ladyship to wake up.
Nighttimes, naturally, were a completely different matter. While we dodged the four-month sleep regression, the six-month one hit hard, and she would wake every 45 minutes throughout the night. For a good six weeks.
A sage friend recommended we try a white noise machine to get our sleeping beauty used to some sort of routine. A 1990 study found white noise can help newborns drift off to sleep, with 80 percent of the 40 babies who took part in the research dropping off within five minutes of hearing white noise. So it was well worth investigating...
Love to Dream Sleep Machine
Love to Dream, inventors of the Swaddle Up suit, got in touch to see if my daughter would like to try their new Sleep Machine, a very cute hand-sized, heart-shaped gadget that has nine different sounds to lull your little one to sleep.
It's rechargeable - meaning no faffing about in the middle of the night searching for batteries - and plugs straight into a USB-C compatible charger. When the battery starts running low, you'll see a red flashing light reminding you to stick it on to charge again.
The machine comes with its own charger but no plug, so just be aware before you buy. A single full charge lasts for 22 hours - a stand-out feature among what is becoming quite a crowded market.
Among the pre-set noises are whooshing womb sounds - which my daughter absolutely loved - rainfall, hushing, bird song, heartbeat, rhythmic white noise, brown noise and lullabies.
The pre-record feature is genius, allowing users to record 30 seconds of their own sound so you can soothe your baby from afar - perfect if you're just finishing off a hot cuppa as your little one stirs from their nap.
And there's even a Bluetooth mode, which you can pair to your phone to play music, nursery rhymes and stories to your toddler when they're a bit older.
The Sleep Machine also becomes a night light for middle-of-the-night wakings, when you're desperately groping around for a bottle in the dark. Its warm white, red and pink breathing lights, which can be set in three different brightness levels, support the production of melatonin, which is essential for sleep. Unlike blue light, which is emitted from phones, red light won't disrupt a baby's circadian rhythm.
Pros of the Sleep Machine
We loved its auto-start cry detection, which automatically starts playing the chosen soothing sound when it hears your baby crying. My daughter occasionally stirs at night without fully waking, so having the Sleep Machine kick in with gentle womb noises when there's a stray 'wah' helps keep the whole household in bed for longer.
Its size and shape lends itself to easy transport. If you know you're going to be out and about during baby's nap, you can pop the Sleep Machine on their pram with its handy silicone strap and let them drift off, with the device masking sounds of traffic, busy crowds and general public noise.
If you get a few minutes to yourself, put your feet up, close your eyes and play the 'lullaby' noise. It's just like being in a spa!
Cons of the Sleep Machine
The cost may put off parents, considering there are cheaper white noise machines on the market. The Sleep Machine costs £54.99 (with 10% off first-time purchasers from Love to Dream's website), but honestly, the makers have thought of absolutely everything to help their device stand out.
The pre-record feature is a little tricky to figure out at first, and you might have to re-do it a few times (especially if the postie turns up at your door, sending your dog into a barking frenzy...).
You can buy the Sleep Machine from Amazon, there is also a white noise version for £6.09. It too plays soothing white noise, has a strap for portability and is recharged using a USB cable.
Love to Dream sleep bag review
We also tested out the sleep bag from Love to Dream, having been sold on sleep sacks from when my daughter was first born (she loved nothing more than being swaddled in soft, warm fabrics).
Designed in partnership with The Lullaby Trust, the long-sleeved suit we tested has a built-in quilted blanket made from premium organic cotton filling - which feels lovely against soft, sensitive baby skin - and 30% Australian Merino wool for warmth. Merino also helps to regulate temperature, making it an ideal choice for baby sleepwear.
The long sleeves were a gamechanger on those cooler nights as we transitioned from winter to spring, and are still great now when the weather takes a dip. We opted for the 2.5 tog sack, which can be used in bedrooms when the indoor temperature is between 16 and 20C.
The little sheep are super-cute too, and my toddler loves pointing to them and yelling "BAAA!" just as we're trying to calm her down for bed.
Pros of the Love to Dream sleep bag
The twin zipper means late-night nappy changes are a doddle: no having to undress your baby completely, thus waking them up.
The sleep sack washes beautifully at 40C in the machine, with no bobbling or colour fading. If anything, the fabric gets softer over time with each wash.
And the wool material helps support good sleep thanks to its temperature-regulating qualities, meaning our daughter is kept consistently warm but not too hot overnight.
Cons of the Love to Dream sleep bag
If there's just the tiniest quibble, it's that the sizing could be different. Our one is a Size 0-1, which the company says fits babies aged six months to 18 months - but you'd risk losing a six-month-old in this one! If you're ordering online, check out the size guide and have a measuring tape to hand so you know what's best to fit your youngster.
Why don't they have this in adult sizes?! I could definitely see myself drifting off in one of these.
The Rose Lamb's Best Friend sleep bag costs £52.99 from Love to Dream, but if looking for a cheaper option, you could try the Chilsuessy long-sleeved sleep suit from Amazon for £22.99. Reviewers love the detachable sleeves, making it a great transition choice for when the nights start getting colder.
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