Sleep Products We Swear By for Babies and Kids

This is not your parents’ night-light. Sync it to your phone and you can control the color of the light, plus the type and volume of white noise in your baby’s room, even from elsewhere in the house. Keep it on your kid’s favorite setting all the time, or edit the preset options so that they can switch colors and sounds by simply tapping the top of the light. Like magic. ($59.99, Hatch)

No more waking up and wondering just how much sleep your baby actually got last night. With the Nanit, you’ll know for sure. Every morning you’ll get a report on the amount and quality of your baby’s sleep, and since the monitor runs on WiFi, you can also check the feed on your phone anytime—even if you just want to peek and make sure everything’s okay while you’re out for date night. (Although really, you should go enjoy that date.) ($299+, Nanit)

This easy-to-set-up, minimalist bassinet looks great wherever you decide to put it—whether that’s your bedroom for overnight sleep, or a more central spot for naps during the day. (Or both—it’s super easy to move around.) We love that there’s a slight spring to the legs, so when your baby fusses and stirs, gentle rocking happens automatically. Of course, you can also easily rock the cradle yourself. Note: this bassinet is intended for use from 8-17 pounds. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

The main selling point of this mattress is its breathability—but our favorite thing about it is actually how washable it is. Over the years, between diaper blowouts, stomach bugs, and bedwetting accidents, this is something you’ll definitely appreciate. You can wash every single element, from the cover (wash and dry in a machine) to the core (clean in the shower or with a hose). Major win. ($299.99, Newton)

If you have an Uppababy Vista, Cruz, Ridge, or Minu stroller, this bassinet is a necessity for those first few months. It works for newborns up to 20 pounds (or until your baby can get up on their hands and knees), and basically allows you all to get some fresh air during naptime. Since it’s a totally flat surface, it’s even safe for nighttime sleep (there’s a separate bassinet stand you can use with it indoors). Just note that for the Ridge and Minu, you’ll need adapters. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Of course no one needs a graduate degree to figure out a swaddle, but it does sort of feel like that the first time you try. There’s nothing wrong with beautiful muslin swaddle blankets, but for ease of use, we love this 100% cotton option with two easy Velcro straps across the front. It also makes the eventual sleep sack transition just a little bit easier. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If you use the Halo swaddles recommended above, their cotton sleep sack is a logical next step. It’s basically the same as the swaddle, just without the Velcro straps, and the 100% cotton fabric will keep your baby cozy in the winter and cool all summer long. If you’re okay with a higher initial price point, invest in the merino wool-lined Woolino—which actually turns out to be cost effective over time, since just one size will work from two months to about two years. ($29.99, Amazon)($109, Amazon)

We love Woolino’s blankets as much as we love their sleep sacks. You may be learning the hard way that toddlers are pretty bad at keeping blankets on all night—but this one is just the right weight to stay on easily while still not letting your kiddo overheat. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

For kids who are too little to read a clock, an okay-to-wake light can be a game changer: you set it to turn green at a certain time in the morning, to signal that it’s time to get out of bed. While you can use the Hatch Rest for this purpose, we also like this friendly-looking dog light. The ball stays red all night, then turns green whenever you want it to—helping everyone adjust to a wake-up time that works for you. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

There’s no law saying kids can’t wear holiday pajamas year-round, but if you like short-sleeved pairs for summer, these are a great pick. They’re made from organic cotton and feature adorable seasonal prints with tie-dye, ice cream, turtles, and more. ($29.95, Gap)($29.95, Gap)

There’s tons of advice about baby sleep for ages 0-12 months. But there’s less helpful info out there about what to start using when your kids are past the “never put ANYTHING in the crib with them” phase. When it’s time to graduate to a bed, we like this little pillow, which is smaller and flatter than a regular twin pillow, and easy to wash and dry in case of accidents. You’ll need a special pillowcase, too—check out their range of options here. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)