2 days ago
15 Must-Have Items For Better Child Nap Times
A Hatch sound machine because good sleep is priority #1 for every parent — especially when you need that break in the day during naptime. It also has a clock, different color settings, and an app to control it so you can turn the sound down after you make your escape.
Promising review: "My newborn would not go down for naps during the day. I was skeptical that this would help with my baby's naps, but I bought this out of desperation. My baby loves it and, after a few weeks, is now falling asleep almost instantly for naps! My only resentment is that you don't have a lot of noise options to choose from unless you pay for the app subscription. It's OK, though my baby loves the standard brown noise setting." —NicoleGet it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in two colors).
A Baby Shusher that you would have mocked in your pre-baby life, but now you know what it's like to manually shush a newborn to sleep for what feels like hours. Save your energy and just place this near the crib or throw it in a stroller.
Promising review: "My baby hated napping. Great sleeper, terrible napper. I heard about this baby shusher and thought it would be the dumbest thing I've ever bought, but I bought it anyway, and wow, am I glad I did. I used to have to rock my baby to sleep, but not anymore. I just wrap her up in a swaddle sack, turn on the baby shusher, put a pacifier in her mouth, and plop her down in the bassinet. Then within SECONDS, she is asleep. I know that's a lot of factors, but the shusher made the difference. She is the best napper in the world, and I typically get more than 30+ minutes out of her. I highly recommend this product in addition to other elements that help your baby sleep!" —New MomGet it from Amazon for $34.99.
A travel crib because nothing ruins a relaxing afternoon on the beach like an overtired kid. This portable crib can come with you literally anywhere, and is compact enough to use as a carry on.
Promising review: The Guava Lotus Travel Crib is like the Mary Poppins of baby beds —practically perfect in every way! I just got it, so I can't promise it'll solve all my sleep-deprived woes, but it's already been a lifesaver for nap time. The setup is so easy that even a parent running on fumes can manage it without turning it into a circus act.I bought this crib hoping it would help with my toddler's travel-induced meltdowns, and while we haven't taken it on a plane yet, the backpack-style carry bag makes me feel like I'm ready for a grand adventure. The crib's pleasant smell is an unexpected bonus — no odd plastic odors here!It's cozy enough to make my little one feel at home anywhere, and the side zipper door is perfect for sneaking in some extra cuddles. If this crib were a person, I'd take it out for a celebratory ice cream for making my life a bit easier. Here's to many more adventures with the Lotus! —MarleeGet it from Amazon for $299.99.
Pair it with a SlumberPod so your little one can nap in the hotel room while you still get to enjoy the afternoon sun. This blackout tent has room for you to add your own fan (it runs hot) and a camera so you can still keep an eye on your baby. This is also a great accessory to have for naps at Grandma's house and beyond.
Promising review: "I discovered this fantastic thing from a mom friend. I was visiting her and her kids with my 18-month-old son, and it was time for a nap by the time I got to her, but I doubted he would nap since it was a foreign space to him. She had the SlumberPod and encouraged me to just try putting him down for a nap. I did, but I felt bad because he immediately started crying and seemed scared. But…five minutes later, he stopped crying and fell asleep for his full two-hour nap. I was AMAZED!I ended up renting the SlumberPod for a trip after this, and again it worked for both naps and bedtime!! Finally, I bought one and used it this past weekend on another trip, and he slept so well in it! It's needed at this age because without it, he'd be standing up and able to see everything. The blackout really allows him to feel safe, in his own private space, and to sleep well!" —SharonGet it from Amazon for $199.99.
A nap mat with a built-in pillow and blanket for an easy sleep solution for your little one at daycare. Reviewers love that this is also easy to wash!
Promising review: "We bought this Nap Mat for our daughter to take naps in at daycare. The quality and make are as described. We are very happy with the product. My daughter transitioned really well into this from a crib. She loved being covered up, so the built-in blanket is a plus. It is also so easy to wash. Each week, we throw it in the washer and then hang it to dry. I have dried in the dryer as well on occasion, and that worked just fine too." —ENPhippsGet it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in eight patterns).
A portable sound machine we used for on-the-go naps for our baby. Attach it to your car seat, throw it on your stroller, or put it in your travel crib so you can live your life without stressing about rushing home.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this Hatch sound machine — it's a game changer for on-the-go naps. It offers a great variety of soothing sounds and has easy volume control. My baby sleeps so well whenever we're out, thanks to this little device. The battery life is impressive, holding a charge for a long time. It's compact, reliable, and an excellent value for the price!" —Alli AGet it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).
A blackout curtain that attaches to the window directly so it stops any beams of sun from creeping in through the top of your curtain. These temporary, portable curtains fit in a suitcase or you can do what we did and send them ahead of time to Grandma and Grandpa's or any house you might be staying in regularly.
Promising review: "These portable blackout curtains have been a game changer for helping my baby nap during the day. They block out light really well, creating a dark, calming environment even in the middle of the afternoon. I also love that they're easy to pack and set up, making them perfect for travel or visiting family. A must-have for any parent trying to keep naps on track!" —lanie terharkGet it from Amazon for $20.98+ for one (available in four colors and as a pack of two).
A set of sleep sacks because if your child is like mine, a soft, warm sleep sack makes things extra cozy and is a requirement for any hope of daytime (or nighttime for that matter!) sleep.
Promising review: "Best sleep sacks for my toddler. I use these every nap and nighttime! Best value also, and was nervous these wouldn't work, but I've been buying these for several months, and he is now almost 2 years old. I definitely recommend and best value!" —AlyssaGet it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four sizes and 17 patterns).
A soothing otter that will lull your baby to sleep with music, repetitive motion, and lights while you hover over them taking pictures because is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen?
Promising review: "My daughter and everyone who sees this toy fall in love. The music is soothing, as well as the belly going up and down. The motor to make the belly go up and down makes a weird noise at times and can be heard more loudly when the volume of the music is at a lower setting. This otter made a trip on an airplane and a few long car rides, otherwise he is used prior to nap to calm our little one down and get her ready for sleeping — she loves snuggling him and laying her head on his belly." —Courtney SchendelGet it from Amazon for $42.99.
A pair of baby earmuffs for those days when naptime has to happen in the middle of a wedding reception, or at a baseball game (been there!) or anywhere it might be loud and they'll need a little extra protection.
Promising review: "Originally purchased to help protect my baby's ears during a wedding. After a few attempts adjusting to fit her head comfortably, they worked well enough for her to have a few good naps during the party, and it was a bonus that the color and design were cute. They are lightweight and easy enough to keep in her diaper bag for when we find ourselves near loud music, and they have definitely come in handy!" —RachaelGet it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in five colors).
A sea-life soother that seems counterintuitive (bright lights? music?) but that thousands of parents swear by to mesmerize their little mermaids and mermen into falling asleep quickly during the day.
Promising review: "I have a FOMO (fear of missing out) baby who does not like to nap ever. A family member had this at her house, and my daughter fell asleep instantly. I thought it was a fluke, but it happened again, so of course I bought one. It plays music and white noise with and without lights, has a remote, and can be mounted to the crib. Plus, it times out in 20 minutes, and the critters are cute! My baby loves i,t and it's been a nap time saver. Only downside is it is kind of heavy and takes 4 'C' batteries, which can be expensive and kinda hard to find." —MalloryGet it from Amazon for $34.92+ (available in two styles).
A swaddle we used almost exclusively when my toddler was a baby because she absolutely hated having her arms confined.
Promising review: "Since before he was born, my little guy has been obsessed with his hands and always wanting them near his face or keeping his arms up like a goalpost. With a regular swaddle, he fought so hard to get his arms upright that he'd 1) wake himself up fighting it, and 2) unravel the swaddle. This has provided the perfect solution and he goes down so much faster, especially for naps." —Lindsay LittlejohnGet it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in up to eight colors and three sizes).
A Snoo smart bassinet, which was designed by a pediatrician and will quite literally rock your baby to sleep for you. It's an investment, but for many parents, extra time to recharge (or take a nap yourself!) is priceless.
Promising review: "Once our baby turned 4 weeks old, he would immediately wake up once we set him down. For naps, we were putting him in a normal play yard, and he would wake up and stay up and fuss because he was overtired. Now we use the Snoo for naps — with the Snoo, we can set him down, and although he wakes up initially, the Snoo immediately rocks him back to sleep. This same thing happens at night, too. Instead of spending lots of time rocking him back to sleep, I just immediately set him down in the Snoo after feeding and let the Snoo rock him back to sleep." —TaylorGet it from Happiest Baby for $1,695.
A naptime book because sometimes establishing a good routine is the secret to getting your little one on board for a nap. Also sometimes toddlers just need to be in the know, and this takes them through why they need the rest!
Promising review: "I ordered this book for our two-year-old granddaughter who had suddenly begun protesting taking a nap, even though it's quite evident that she's very tired in the middle of the day and really needs a nap. I searched EVERYWHERE for a book that specifically addresses naps, and not going to bed at night, and this is the only one I found! Even so, this is the ABSOLUTE PERFECT book for our purpose!! It talks about how the little boy in the book still wants it to be play time when his Mommy tells him it's nap time. Then the mommy talks to the little boy about why taking a nap is a good thing, saying cute little phrases like, 'I take a little rest, so I can feel my best!' The little boy ends up deciding he can be (and wants to be) A Happy Napper! The book is the perfect length for a 2–4 year old, and uses language that they love and say along with you after they've heard the book a time or two. Our little Sam likes us to read it a couple of times just before her nap, and then she 'reads' the book to her animals after we leave the room. As we go out the door and turn out the light, we say, 'Night, Night, Happy Napper!' And she says it right back to us. This book has made a world of difference in helping Sam to understand why she takes a nap, and to be happy to do it on most days. It's simply irreplaceable, and PERFECT for creating your own Happy Napper!!" —Sam's NanaGet it from Amazon for $9.29.
A sleep training clock you can use once your child knows their colors: Red means it's still time for sleep, green means it's okay to wake up. We started using this system with our 2-year-old and it has worked really well to curb early morning wake-ups and prevent prolonged nap time struggles.
Promising review: "This has been the perfect clock for our two-year-old who is learning how to stay in his room even if he wakes up before 7 a.m. Also super helpful for nap as it has a nap time mode that can be set for a certain time. Because it has a cute little face, it has become personified, which is perfect for toddlers. Ours is named 'Clock Bot' and is very beloved. The many light options are fun, and the red light is perfect for sleeping. Definitely recommend!" —The Smith FamilyGet it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in four colors).
