sleep struggles
Who would have thought parents would lose so much sleep over trying to figure out how to get your little ones to sleep???
I knew it would be a struggle but didn’t realize all the trial and error that goes into finding what works best for your little and your family. Whether it’s what time bedtime is, what they sleep in, or what the sleep environment or bedtime routine is, it takes a lot of effort to find out what works! Like anything related to children/parenting, there is literally NO right answer or one size fits all product/routine.
We, most certainly, have had our ups and downs in regard to the bedtime sleep situation. There are periods of time where Adelynn sleeps like a rock and others where she needs some extra loving during the night. These fluctuations in her quality and length of sleep are often the result of some kind of leap or growth spurt, but keeping a consistent routine and making sure she is comfortable and calm before “night night” has always helped.
Before we jump in to the sleep swaddles/sacks, here are some safe sleep tips to help you decide which “stage” contraption (haha) your little should be in. These are the safety basics and we tend to follow them in our household! I know every family varies in what sleep methods they use (and ZERO judgement from me if you do things differently), but wanted to share the guidelines straight from the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP).
Back is best (but quickly learning that once they roll around regularly, belly is okay too!)
If the child is able to roll, the swaddle/suit/sack must give them access to their arms
Keep the crib free of loose items that could potentially cause choking/suffocation hazards
One of the most asked questions I get is: What does Adelynn sleep in? A swaddle? Arms up, arms down, arms out? A sleep sack? What is safe?
We have tried so many different options and, like I mentioned earlier, through much trial and error (and probably much money wasted) found what she liked. I wanted to share our “timeline” of sleep swaddles/suits/sacks in case it helps anyone else out there. Just remember, this may have worked for us but may not for your little. Sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures though, right?
Click on the images to shop or learn more about each sleep sack! I went ahead and listed them in the order we used them and included the weeks/months old Adelynn was while using each. There are about a million other products out there that may work too, but these had our little one sleeping pretty solid over all for bedtime.
Hope this helps get your families more sleep at nighttime. Report back and let me know if you try any of the sleep suits I shared and your experience!
Sleep tight!
xoxo
Cali