1. Homedics Sound Spa Lullaby Relaxation Machine

2. Kiddopotamus Organic Cotton SwaddleMe

3. NUK silicone pacifier

4. Side Positioner

5. Co sleeper

5. Bassinet

Here, my friends are a few items that helped Connor easily dream off to la-la land.  I’m begging you all to look back over your registries because you will not need nearly as much as you think and quite honestly you don’t really know what you do need until you have your baby in your arms and learn his or her individual needs. So save your friends and family from wasting money and ask for gift cards outside of the bare essentials so you are able to get what you really need and want.  You’ll be thanking me later, friends.

But let me get a bit more in detail for you about why these items, above, worked for us…

1. The sound machine – I. LOVE. THIS. THING. Still using it to this day! First off, I love this specific one because it also has the option to project a moving image onto the ceiling. I didn’t use that part of it right away, only for “special” occasions when Connor needed a little distraction.  It hypnotized him into sleepyland quite a few times and then after he would fall asleep I turned it off.  We use the “ocean” sounds because it most accurately mimics the familiar sound of the womb.  I always try to remind new Mommas that newborns are going to be most comfortable in what they know. It’s shock enough coming into this cold, bright, world.  The swishing of our insides are super loud to them while we’re carrying them so this is a comforting and familiar sound.  It’s also muffles some of the noise around the house (aka the dogs barking…) but yet doesn’t leave them in silence.  I am a big believer in not getting your child used to sleeping in complete silence, so no tip toeing, friends! No need if you start it from the beginning and will help you a million during those times when you’re out of your normal routine.

2. SwaddleMe – Another product mimicking the womb.  It keeps them snug and warm.  New little babes have no control of their arms and legs so those uncontrollable body parts can be quite distracting.  Connor used to zonk out as soon as we put him in it.  It was his cue for sleep time.  He wore it to bed for 4 or 5 months until he finally had the strength to pull out of it and then we knew it was time to start operation swaddle wean!

3. Pacifier – This is always a personal choice.  For me, I don’t mind pacis. Babies have a natural desire to suck and this helps.  Some people claim it disrupts breastfeeding.  I didn’t introduce it right away and waited to see if it was something that he, personally would find soothing and always kept it as a sleep time thing.  He rarely had or currently has it in his mouth outside those times.  So again, it was just another soothing transition into knowing it was time to sleep for us.

4. Side Positioner – OK, here is the controversial one.  Apparently they are now recalled? I think this comes down to people not knowing how to correctly use them and recognizing when the time comes to take it away.  Originally these were made to help babies who preferred to sleep on their sides in place.  We didn’t use it for that reason, actually.  Connor slept on his back but the snug-ness of the bumpers up again his lower half, I believe, helped him feel safe and comfortable (in terms of creating a similar environment to the womb) I think some babies who are put into big, open cribs or PackNPlays are overwhelmed by all that open space.  This is also part of the reason why I love # 5 and #6.  Mine also had an incline to it that I boosted up even more with receiving blankets underneath to help him be positioned upright a touch more to help with keeping his milk settled in his belly. P.S. This was given to us but you can always just roll up blankets to get that snug-like effect and layer the blankets underneath the bassinet mattress for the inclined position

5. Co Sleeper – Actually, I didn’t have one of these for Connor BUT next time we have a baby we will definitely get one.  Actually Kyle will make one:)  This could be an alternate to #6. We didn’t need one first time around because at our old house our master was on the first level and we just wheeled our bassinet (which had an offered to us to use) back and forth from living room to bedroom but now all our bedroom are upstairs so we’ll have a co sleeper on our bed because you know, Kyle’s co sleeping issues :)  If we have the bassinet again we may use it for downstairs use but it’s not a necessity if we have the co sleeper.  There are a bunch of different versions of co sleepers and they are really a great idea if you’re apprehensive about having your baby directly in your bed.  It much more convenient having your baby next to you during the night, in my opinion.

6. Bassinet – We were lent this super nice one from Pottery Barn.  Don’t go out and buy this crazy expensive thing but they are nice to have. This one had wheels and the top part came off which was really convenient.  Connor slept on the couch a lot but it was nice to have this cozy, bed for him when we had guests or the dogs were jumping on and off the couch. It was also nice for him to be close while I was doing things around the house downstairs. This was also our solution for a while since Kyle was uncomfortable with him in our bed (rolling over fears) Again, it’s nice to have a smaller space for them to sleep so they are not overwhelmed by all that space a crib or pack n play have.  He slept on me A LOT but it helped provide a special space just for him to learn how to drift off on his own. Plus, since his room was upstairs I stored all his clothes, burp rags , etc underneath.  We didn’t use his room for anything! Connor used his bassinet until he was 7 months old.  As soon as he was literally pulling out of it! :) P.S. If you do use a bassinet, don’t waste money on buying bassinet sheets. Just take one of the million receiving blankets (or regular blankets) you’ll be given and tuck that around the mattress.  Your baby won’t be in it long enough to learn how to loosen up the blanket from the mattress which could pose as a hazard at such a young age.

Of course you don’t need the bassinet and co sleeper but these are my two preferred choices over PacknPlays and cribs.

and p.s. to my twin having Mamas, it may make more sense to use a pack n play next to your bed but this works better for you since you may not want 2 bassinets or 2 co sleepers, especially since they only last so long. These little twin babies should be sleeping in the same space anyway, I think.  Especially initially.  Remember they’ve been cuddled up next to each other and this is what they know and love.  Lay them side by side in the pack n play next to your bed, in the living, etc. so they can feel they have one another next to them.  Remember all those stories of how a twin baby can help the other recover if you put them in the same bed in the hospital?  Remember this in your day to day after having them, especially in times of need.

These were some items that worked for us. Think about the space you are living in and what makes sense for you before you make your own decisions. Remember, you really don’t need much for a newborn so you don’t need everything beforehand. If you are really not sure of what you might need or prefer, hold off on buying until after the baby comes or ask to borrow a friends until you are positive you want to invest in your own. I know this seems overwhelming and if you are pregnant you are anxious to get it all but I promise, a trip to the store to pick up an item you’ve now found you would like is do able. All newborns need to survive right away is you and your boobs, ladies everything else will fall into place. :)

Those of you already out of this new sleep phase, what worked for you? Any of these or something completely different?  Comment and share your ideas with all our new and expecting Mommas and Dadas!