RestRest+Kids
7 Must-Have Sleep Products to Put on Your Baby Registry
Ashley Abramson
Expecting a baby? Adding a little one to your family often means adding a lot to your to-do list — and one of the most important to-dos before the big day is creating a baby registry stacked with all the newborn sleep essentials you need. The best baby registry items meet baby’s basic needs for the first year or two of life (like a safe place to sleep, diapers and clothes, feeding, and plenty of opportunities for social interaction and sensory stimulation). Another one of the most important aspects of baby’s well-being is — you guessed it — sleep.
But with all the sleep products out there, it can be hard to figure out what’s worth investing in (read: what’s actually going to help your little one log more Zzzs). Because we know planning for baby is stressful enough, we did some of the legwork for you.
Below, find some of the best baby registry sleep solutions to add to your registry — because you (and baby) deserve all the rest.
1. Best Baby White Noise Machine: Hatch Rest
New babies need loads of sleep. You probably already know newborn sleep can be a bit touch and go — being born is a big adjustment, after all! One of the best ways to help your little one sleep is to create and stay consistent with routine, which helps create cues for when it’s time to rest (and in turn, help your little one settle for a nap or bedtime).
Enter Hatch Rest, the dream machine that helps your child sleep at every age. In addition to serving as a nightlight and sound machine, Hatch Rest allows you to set up customizable routines as your baby grows. For toddlers and older kids, you can use Time-to-Rest and Time-to-Rise cues to easily show when it’s time to go to sleep and wake up.
2. Best Swaddle: Love to Dream Swaddle
Especially in their first few months of life, babies love to feel tight and cozy in a swaddle. But many babies sleep with their arms up, so it can be hard to find a swaddle that works. The Love to Dream swaddle is the perfect solution, with “wings” that allow your little one to sleep comfortably with arms outside the swaddle (preventing pesky swaddle jail-breaks that result in 3 AM wake-ups). It has two zippers for easy diaper changes and converts to a sleep sack for when baby grows. Potential cons: Some parents say there’s not enough room in the arms, so if your baby is between sizes, definitely size up.
Buy: Love To Dream Swaddle UP Transition Bag Original Swaddle Wrap
3. Best Baby Pajamas: Magnetic Me Footie Pajamas
So long, annoying zippers and buttons: Magnetic closures on these oh-so-cute footie jammies make midnight diaper changes a breeze. The super-soft Magnetic Me pajamas come in tons of cute patterns, and parents say they’re “the perfect thickness for cool days or air conditioned nights.” Potential downsides: They tend to run on the small side, so babies may grow out of them quickly.
Buy: Moonlight Cloudstretch Magnetic Footie
4. Best Blackout Curtains: Kids Ripple Blackout Curtain
It’s common for babies to mix up night time and day time in the early weeks and months of their lives. When you’re setting up your baby’s sleep space, adding blackout curtains can help support a healthy circadian rhythm, supporting healthy sleep habits as your little one grows. These fun, modern curtains from West Elm come with a blackout liner that both darkens rooms and reduces outside sounds. Choose from three colors and two different sizes to complement your baby's nursery.
Buy: Kids Ripple Blackout Curtain
5. Best Portable Crib: Guava Lotus Travel Crib
Baby still needs a safe and comfortable place to sleep when you’re not at home, so if you have travel plans, you may want to invest in a portable crib. Unlike traditional pack-and-play cribs, the Guava Lotus Travel Crib has a mattress on the ground to prevent disruptive shaking and squeaking when your baby moves around. The durable-but-lightweight crib folds compactly into a backpack, making it easy to pack for road trips or carry through an airport. (It’s even equipped with ergonomic straps.)
Buy: Lotus Travel Crib
6. Best Travel Accessory: SlumberPod
When you’re away from baby's nursery, encourage a great (dark) night of sleep with the SlumberPod, a pop-up tent you can set up over a playard, travel crib, or inflatable toddler air mattress. Along with blocking up to 95% of light, this parent-favorite accessory comes with a ventilation panel, baby monitor pouch, and two fan pouches. It’s also compact and lightweight, so you can easily tuck it into your luggage when you travel.
Buy: SlumberPod
7. Best Sleep Sack: Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket
Once baby’s past the age of swaddling — typically around three to six months, or whenever they start rolling over — you can transition to a sleep sack to keep baby warm without the risk of a loose blanket in the crib. This Halo wearable blanket is made of breathable bamboo and composed of three layers that create a comforting, weighted feel to soothe your little one for rest. Diaper changes are also easy thanks to the two-way zipper. Parents rave about the safety and durability, but some reviewers say the fabric stains easily (TBH, par for the course with baby clothes).
Buy: Wearable Blanket SuperSoft Bamboo
Best Baby Must-Haves for Sleep
- Best White Noise Machine: Hatch Rest
- Best Swaddle: Love to Dream Swaddle
- Best Baby Pajamas: Magnetic Me
- Best Blackout Curtains: Kids Ripple Blackout Curtain
- Best Portable Crib: Guava Lotus Travel Crib
- Best Travel Accessory: SlumberPod
- Best Sleep Sack: Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket
Frequently asked questions
What are the best gifts for baby showers?
Searching for the perfect baby shower gift? First, check the invitation to see if the expecting parent included a baby registry. That way, you can be sure you’re purchasing something the recipient actually wants or needs — and that you don’t give a duplicate gift. (No new, sleep-deprived parent wants to deal with a return or exchange.) If the parent doesn’t have a registry, refer to online baby registry must-have lists for ideas — and definitely provide a gift receipt! Top-selling baby registry gifts like Hatch Rest are available at several retailers, including Amazon and Target.
Which baby sleep products are best?
With all the baby sleep products out there, it can be hard to decide which ones are best. When you’re deciding on the best baby registry sleep solutions, it can help to pay attention to customer ratings. You can also read product reviews to find out about potential pros and cons before making an investment. Hatch Rest, our nightlight and noise machine, provides comforting light while blocking out disruptive noises and helping baby wind down with soothing sounds and music. As your baby grows, you can set up customizable routines that support better sleep. Remember: routines are one of the most important elements of helping your baby sleep, so try to choose products you’ll consistently use.
What are the best baby registry ideas?
It can be overwhelming to decide what to put on a baby registry. Every family is different, and you may already have items from another child. Before creating a registry, take stock of what you already have. Then, scan online baby registry must-have lists to fill the gaps. You can also ask friends and family with kids what they wish they would have had when their baby arrived. Ultimately, focus on adding essentials that help meet all of baby’s basic needs in the first year of life — and items that will help you create routines (like the sleep products above).
