Bedtime
All I can say is bedtime is one of the most unpredictable aspects of parenthood.
What works for one kid, doesn't work for another.
What worked for your neighbor was a dream one day and totally fell apart the next.
So stay strong and try what you think might work.
There is no secret sauce here.
Here are a few things that made the magic of sleep happen in our household.
Rock N' Play
This almost made it into my "Life Savers" section, but we only used them for the first six months. That being said, these were so money when the kids were first born. The angle and the soft fabric hugs the babies and holds them sweetly. Pair that with the gentle rocking motion, these were a game changer in getting our kids to nap between feedings. There are several different kinds of rock n' plays, and my favorite was the auto rocker because it would rock on its own for up to 6 hours.
Multiple baby hack: get one with an auto rocker and one without (cheaper), and then you can overlap the legs and they both rock together. I'm not sure if there are safety concerns, as this is not sanctioned by the company, but we found it to be the best way to rock both and get the most bang for our buck.
Crate & Barrel Organic Crib Sheets
Beautiful designs. Fun, whimsical and appropriate past the "baby stage," I absolutely adore these organic sheets and have had so much fun shopping for them. We have several sets, so I can leave them on the travel cribs or at the grandparents houses. Extra sheets also come in handy when accidents happen in the crib. We wash them every week and we've never had any quality issues with piling or damage. I originally bought these from Land of Nod before Crate & Barrel purchased them, so please write me if for some reason the quality declines.
Also check out their other well designed bedding options including the changing pad covers and quilts.
Lullaby Earth Crib Mattress
Get a good mattress. Your baby is precious and if you can put their little new bodies on something that is safe made with materials by a company that is thoughtful about what they use, then that's what I would recommend. I am not partial to any particular brand. This is the one we bought, so if youre like, I don't want to do any research here, then just buy this one, otherwise, get a good one that doesn't break the bank. The goal here, and always, is sleep.
