Newborn Baby Sleep Essentials
For a safe and comfortable sleep environment
Hi new or soon-to-be parent friends! I know the thought of newborn sleep can feel a little daunting – frequent feedings, middle of the night diaper changes and broken sleep. While a magic “sleep through the night” button doesn’t exist, and especially not during the newborn stage, having the right tools can make a world of difference in having a safe, comfortable, and sleep-inducing environment for your little baby.
Let’s take a look at the newborn sleep essentials that I love and use every day. My goal here isn’t to tell you to buy everything, but to give you a friendly guide to what’s often helpful. Every baby and family is different, so take from this what works for your home. 💛
I know you’re busy, so if you’d rather just see the list and the products that we use, I have provided a free pdf download at the bottom of this post. It includes links to the products mentioned. Quick and simple for easy future reference.
Crib
Choosing a baby crib can feel overwhelming due to the abundance of options at all price points. It can be a pretty pricey purchase, and one you will have to use for a long time. Luckily, most cribs sold in the US at reputable retail stores meet current safety standards, like fixed sides (drop-side cribs are banned), and slats spaced no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. There are still just a few features to consider as you narrow down your list.
Consider the crib’s construction and materials. Solid wood offers durability, and a non-toxic finish offers peace of mind since babies may bite on the rails when they are teething.
Adjustable mattress height is essential; the higher setting is great for easily setting down your newborn, but you will need to lower the mattress to keep your growing baby from climbing out.
If you choose a convertible crib, which most are, make sure that you either purchase the toddler conversion kit right away, or that the crib comes with it already included. You don’t want to have to be looking up manufacturer part numbers and trying to find the exact match conversion kit later.
This is one of the main reasons we went with the Babyletto Scoot crib. The conversion kit comes included and we just keep the toddle rail under the crib until its time to shine. The Babyletto cribs are well made, with real wood, Greenguard Gold certified, and very nice to look at. Remember that you will likely use this crib for a few years, so the way it looks and fits into your home also matters.
To swaddle or not to swaddle
For many newborns, the startle reflex (Moro reflex) can wake them up. A good swaddle keeps them snuggly held, helping to suppress this reflex and keep them feeling secure. For someone who did not grow up with the concept of swaddling, it really looked like torture to put the baby into a restraint. This is a personal decision you get to make as a parent, but I recommend having a couple on hand, even if you’re against it, in case you want to try swaddling your newborn at some point.
We liked the Halo sleep sack swaddles which the baby took to pretty well. We didn’t start out swaddling, but sleep deprivation had me trying every and anything (safe)! With the Halo sleep sacks, we could later keep baby’s arms out and continued to use the same sleep sacks even when we were done with swaddling. Don’t forget to transition away from swaddling your baby once your baby shows signs of rolling over!
Another popular option is the Love to Dream Swaddles that allow baby to sleep with their arms up. It’s a good idea to have a couple of different swaddles to try and see which your baby prefers.
White Noise Machine
A white noise machine can provide a consistent, soothing background sound that helps block out household noises and create a peaceful sleep environment. Keep it at a moderate volume and a safe distance from the baby.
We use the Dreamegg white noise machine for every baby sleep at home; naps and night time sleep, and we take it with us when we travel. We also have a Yogasleep Hushh portable sound machine for car naps because of the sturdy clip we use to attach it to various spots in the car, on the stroller or diaper bag. Anyone who has tried to use their phone for white noise and GPS navigation while driving will know how poorly that works for getting baby to nap in the car. Having a second one ensures that we are never without a dedicated white noise machine even on the go. We love white noise for sleep, and since we are room sharing, we are all enjoying it! I totally recommend white noise for baby and newborn sleep.
The Hatch Rest is also a popular sound machine that comes with many other features like a night light and app control. It costs more, but could be worth it to you if the extra features are helpful.
Room Thermometer
As a bonus note, using a thermometer can help you make sure that the bedroom is at a comfortable sleep temperature. For accuracy, I don’t rely on the thermostat or baby monitor temperature monitor, but prefer a dedicated thermometer. You might be surprised how much the temperature can vary from what you think it is.
Over time, you’ll get a feel for what temperatures your baby is comfortable sleeping at, when to turn on a fan or crank up the heat, and when to change to a heavier or lighter sleep sack TOG.
Checklist
As promised, here is the compiled checklist of newborn sleep essentials and links to the products we like and use. Use this as your quick reference guide to tick things off as you prepare for your newborn’s arrival.
Also check out this post on for a comprehensive look at putting together your baby registry and continue preparing for baby’s arrival.
Here’s to lots of good 😴 for your family! 💛
