Baby Sleeping Essentials- Best Items for Sleep Training Baby

I am going to be the first person to admit that having two kids, has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Mainly, because I wasn't prepared for the fact that my kids were designed to be different. From the day Gunner was born I had it in my mind that I would do everything the same way I did with Ainsley, because why not, she turned out great. Truth is, they couldn't be more opposite, and everything that worked for Ainsley, down to the type of bottle she took, simple didn't work for Gunner. 

Ainsley has always been an amazing sleeper. Always. By 3 months old she was sleeping through the night. She is 4 and a half and still takes 2-3 hour naps every day. So I always assumed that if I just did everything the way I did it with Ainsley, Gunner too would be an amazing sleeper. WRONG. There were days I didn't know how I was going to survive on such little sleep, especially when Chris deployed when he was only 2 months old, and I had to be a single parent for a few months. The only way I can describe the first 6 months of Gunner's life in regards to his sleeping habits is, non-existent. The kid didn't sleep. He would get up 5, 6, sometimes 7 times a night. We would always start out in his swing, then he would always end up in bed with me, and then I couldn't sleep. It wasn't good for anybody. 

I kept asking for advice on what to do, and finally it was Chris who brought the hammer down. Once he got home, he said enough was enough, and moved Gunner to his crib once and for all. We agreed we were going to begin only giving him 1 bottle at night time around 1-2 am. And, anytime he cried, he had to cry for 10 minutes before we would go in there. Within a few nights he was sleeping longer and longer. He would wake up a time or two, cry for a few minutes, and then go back to sleep. It was a game changer for us. I finally had my bed back to myself, he was finally sleeping through the night, and everyone was much happier. While it sounds like we just started putting him in his crib, there was a lot more to it than that. 

Before we moved him to his crib, I started doing research on the best methods for sleep training, and the best items that helped. What I am about to tell you is what worked for us. It very well may not work for you. I spent the first six months of his life trying so many different things, until I finally found a few items that helped be game-changers in Gunner's sleeping habits. 

These are the items that I personally have had success with in helping in the sleep training of our 6 month old:

1. Merlin's Magic Sleep Suit

Gunner started using this around 3 months old when we quit using swaddles, and still uses it to this day. I honestly don't know what we are going to do when he grows out of is because he loves his sleep suit. It is weighted so it definitely helps soothe them, and also keeps them warm so you don't have to worry about baby getting cold if you choose not to let them sleep with a blanket (we don't.) Do I think this suit is magic? No. By itself it didn't do squat for Gunner's sleeping habits. But paired with everything else, it definitely helps him sleep. 

2.  Lavender Essential Oil and Diffuser

I am going to be honest and admit to you that I was not a believer in the whole essential oil fad. I can't tell you how many people told me to try this and I just brushed them off because I thought they were crazy. Hear me when I tell you this: The first night I bought this oil and a diffuser and put it in his room, was the FIRST night he slept all night. I even tried an experiment where I left the diffuser off, he woke up 3 times that night. If the diffuser is on, he sleeps anywhere from 10-12 hours. I would absolutely recommend trying this to everyone, but until you know if they are allergic, make sure you keep an eye on their breathing, etc. 

3.  Owlet Monitor

Okay so, this one is probably more so for me then him, but is so so important. When I was pregnant with Gunner I had heard about the Owlet, but said numerous times that I would never pay $300 for something like that, and that a video monitor would be sufficient. It wasn't until someone in one of my mom groups lost her baby to SIDS that I finally decided I couldn't put a price on my baby's safety, and that SIDS can literally happen to anyone at anytime. So I began researching the owlet and learned that it has already saved over 10 babies lives who likely would have died from SIDS without it. They also offer monthly payment plans with 0% interest so that it can be more affordable. I know $300 is a lot of money to shell out at one time, and I think it is amazing that this company tries to make such an amazing product affordable in a way that it get into the hands of more parents. In a nutshell the sock goes on the babies foot and it monitors their heart rate and oxygen levels. If the levels drop below a certain threshold and alarm sounds on your phone and on the base station to let you know something is wrong. If the sock is on incorrectly or falls off, the alarm will also go off to alert you. Why do I think this is important for sleep training? For starters it gives you piece of mind. Well rested parents are just as important as a well rested baby. Before I got this monitor I was constantly getting up and checking to make sure he was still breathing. Now I can pull the app up on my phone and it tells me his heart rate and oxygen levels so I know he is ok. It also tells you when they are moving, which can help you determine when sleep training, when to go in and check on them, or when to leave them to try to fall back asleep. I really cannot say enough good things about the owlet, and I encourage everyone, as soon as you find out you're expecting, try to put back $10 a week, and by the time baby gets here, you can gave an owlet paid for. It will literally be the best $300 you spend on your baby, I promise. 

4. Crib Wedge

This last thing is something that we also used for Ainsley and it worked well for her. The crib wedge allows their head to be elevated, which is especially important for babies with reflux, and also has padding on the sides to help them feel more secure. As Gunner becomes more active in his crib, we will likely have to stop using it, but for now, it helps keep him in one spot and he likes the security of having something touching him. 

So those are the top 4 recommendations I have if you are thinking about sleep training your baby. We started sleep training right around 6 months and feel it was a great age to start teaching Gunner how to self soothe and sleep on his own. He will 7 months in a few days and I can tell you, all we have to do now is lay him in his crib and he puts himself to sleep. We don't have to rock him or feed him or soothe him. He does it all on his own. 

I hope this is able to help someone who may be on the same struggle bus that I was. If you also tried sleep training, did any of these items work well for you?