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6 Gadgets To Help Baby Sleep All Night

By Linsey Knerl (from Wise Bread) on December 8, 2010

Getting baby to sleep is a major challenge for most parents. Even with all the experts readily available with "tips" for helping soothe your little bundle into slumber, a good gadget is worth investing in (provided it really can induce sleepiness or calm in a wired wee one.) While not all gizmos will work for all babies, some are too clever to not investigate further. Here are our picks for putting tiny tots to bed with style.

Cloud B Twilight Constellation Night Light

cloud turtle.jpg The beauty of a starry night is a peaceful way to coax baby into a natural slumber, and the Constellation Turtle Night Light from Cloud B does that well. The soundless turtle is designed for kids ages 3 and up, but when placed on the floor of baby's nursery, it will shine constellations onto the ceiling - something even baby can enjoy! (The shell, which glows red, amber, or blue can functions as a night light when baby grows older.)

Cloud B also offers a Sleep Sheep, a snuggly stuffed lamb that produces 4 sounds to help sleeping: mother's heartbeat, oceans, rain, and whales!

Infantino Firefly Soother

firefly soother.jpg Cribside mobiles are on every parent's new baby wish list, but they are not all created equal. The Infantino Firefly Soother lets parents choose between sound, lights, motion, or all three! Cute little worms, bugs, and fireflies gently wiggle back and forth with bright colors and patterns, holding baby's interest just long enough to help them focus on sleep. (It also features easy-to-attach straps, making it great to take along on trips!) My own son loves this soother.

Aromatherapy Nebulizer

Adults who enjoy using aromatherapy to help calm down before bedtime have already been appreciating the benefits of diffusers. A nebulizer is a bit different, in that it doesn't heat the essential oils, and it releases oil into the air in tinier droplets via a cool steam. Baby can benefit from oils such as lavender in tiny amounts, of course, and it could help them to get into a healthy sleep routine if done correctly. For additional reading on which essential oils are safe for baby, see this article or get tips for implementing it effectively. Nebulizers can be found at health food stores and at sites like Amazon.com.

Soothing CD's

blow dryer CD.jpg My son loves the vacuum cleaner. It is the only way to calm him when he's at his fussiest. The problem lies in the fact that I can't conceivably run my vacuum all night. This set of 3 CD's, however, offers a different "white noise" on each disc: vacuum, fan, and blow dryer. Parents are raving about these CD's, and while I haven't tried them personally, we love the idea. It could save parents nights of sleeplessness and your vacuum's motor. (The Pure White Noise Company who makes this set also offers CD's with dishwasher, washing machine, clothes dryer, running water, and car ride!)

MamaRoo Infant Swing

mamaroo infant seat.jpg Most babies love swings, but finding one that simulates the same kind of rocking motion that "Mom" provides can be difficult. If you're willing to shell out almost $200 for the kind of swing that offers five different motions, the MamaRoo Infant rocker may be for you. It offers the rocking styles similar to a car ride, kangaroo (up and down), tree swing, rock-a-bye, and ocean wave (around in a circle.) If you can't find the exact way that your baby likes to be rocked with this swing, you might as well skip the swing scene altogether! In addition to having a way to adjust the speed of the rocker, you can also incorporate white noise (or your ipod) and the included toy mobile for the ultimate ride to sleep.

Gro-Egg Thermometer

Having a room that's chilly or stuffy can be a major cause of an infant that refuses to slumber. The Grobag Egg is a modern, digital thermometer that doubles as a night light and shows at a glance if a baby's room is too hot or too cold. Just plug it in a nursery outlet, and if it shows yellow, you're good to go! Red indicates that the room may be too warm for baby to breathe easily, and blue will clue parents in to temps that may require extra layers. It's stylish, and can be seen from across a room, giving parents the chance to check the temp without waking baby. We've had one in our nursery for years, and it's helped us keep baby cozy during the most extreme seasons!

In addition to the basics of rocking, snuggles, and singing, there are some handy techie tools parents can rely on to get baby to sleep without drama. If you're up for the challenge of parenting, you might find a bold new product to be fun to try (and it quite possibly might rescue you from difficult nights.)

[Top image credit: iStockphoto]

What gadgets have proven useful in your quest for a god night's sleep?