How to Create the Best Sleep Environment for Babies

You’ve probably heard new parents complain that their baby simply does not sleep. That their child “doesn’t like their bassinet,” or “likes to start his/her day at 5am.” As a sleep-based Newborn Care Specialist and a Certified Sleep Consultant, I am here to share that your baby’s sleep environment has a profound impact on the quality of sleep they get. Here are the absolute necessities for creating the best, most sleep-conducive environment for babies.

1. The ability to darken the room. Babies are easily stimulated and when placed in the crib or bassinet, they don’t think to themselves, “Okay, let me close my eyes since it’s time to sleep.” They close their eyes because the room is dark and there is nothing that is grabbing their attention. Having black-out curtains help to keep the stimuli in their room very low. Black-out blinds work too, as long as light doesn’t seep in from the space between the sides of the blinds and the windows.

2. Sound machine. Sound machines create a calming, consistent sound that mimics the sounds of the womb, and helps to block out household noise that is disruptive to sleep. I recommend a non-looping sound machine, that plays sounds continuously. Personally, I am a big fan of brown noise, as it is more soothing and less static-sounding than white noise.
   
   My favorite sound machine: Hatch Rest

3. Swaddle. Swaddles are highly effective at calming babies, as it mimics the coziness of the womb, and prevents babies’ startle reflex from being activated. Make sure to make it snug, so there’s no risk of the fabric riding up on your baby’s face!
   
   My favorite swaddles: Happiest Baby Sleepea, The Ollie
   
   You can read more about my favorite swaddles here.

These three things are very effective at creating a sleep-conducive environment for babies, as darkness, snugness, and consistent sounds are what they were accustomed to, in the womb. I actually require them when working as a sleep-based Newborn Care Specialist.