I am such a researcher – and when I got pregnant I only became more interested in what the internet had to offer on all topics pregnancy and parenting. We’ve been blessed with a great sleeper – Will has been sleeping 6.5-7.5 hrs in a row starting at 6 weeks and slept through the night by 2 months old, but I do think some of the tips and resources that I am sharing below are a big part of it!
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One | Moms on Call
This is my biggest tip of the bunch – the Moms on Call book saved me! I was up in the middle of the night in the first week and a half of Will’s life and I found the Moms on Call book. I downloaded it as a kindle book on my phone and read the WHOLE thing in just an hour or so. Moms on Call is rooted in the benefits of scheduling and routine for a baby. Not only did it set an amazing foundation for our little guy, but it also has kept me sane! Having a predictable every day schedule has been amazing for both of us. I’ve recorded a few day in the life videos following the Moms on Call schedule on Instagram – you can check them out here and here!
Two | Taking Cara Babies
I found Taking Cara Babies Instagram midway through my pregnancy and she has been an AMAZING resource on baby sleep. My husband and I both follow her on Instagram and we took her newborn course in our last month of pregnancy. We were able to use the tips in her book from the minute Will was born which laid a great foundation for his sleep.
Three | Happiest Baby on the Block
I also found Dr. Karp while pregnant and read his book Happiest Baby on the Block while pregnant. The book is so helpful in understanding the concept of the “fourth trimester” and what that means in terms of baby sleep. We purchased The Happiest Baby Swaddle – the Sleepea – and also the Snoo after reading his book and his theories on baby sleep.
Four | Swaddle, Swaddle, Swaddle
All of the resources above stress the importance of a swaddle. From the minute Will was born, the swaddle instantly calmed him. He fusses when you go to put him in it but once it’s all set, he immediately calms down. We even brought a swaddle with us to the hospital so we could practice there! We actually ended up double swaddling Will – as a way to prevent him from breaking out of the swaddle. We use the Happiest Baby Sleepea Swaddle and the Ollie Swaddle.
Five | White Noise
Another big calming factor is white noise. We have these portable white noise machines everywhere – attached to the carseats, near the crib, in our living room. This was another thing we saw in action at the hospital. The hospital had a white noise machine (this one actually!) and the waves noise immediately calmed Will down when he was fussy. We bought one before we left the hospital and still use it as part of our nap routine!
Bonus! | Consistent Bedtime and Naptime Routine
I couldn’t stop at 5 tips – this one I think is super key too. We have an extremely consistent bedtime and nap routine. It immediately lets Will know that it’s time for him to go to sleep. They don’t have to be super complex, but something that’s clearly repeatable is key. Here are our bedtime and naptime routines!
