3 Tips to Help Your Child Master Sleep, plus Little Sleepyhead Pillow Review.

When you are expecting, the number one advice you receive is: enjoy yours sleep. I had zero complications during my pregnancy, I slept like a baby until a day before my son was born. Our son’s first night was perfect, he was born close to midnight and after all of the initial mumbo jumbo was done, he slept throughout the night without a single cry. With the exception of a metaphorical bump on the road the first few nights home, our son was a great sleeper. I say “was” because when he hit the three-month mark something happened.

Since day one, Nicholas has slept in his own room, in his crib. We decided to skip the crib alternatives and it seemed to work for us. When he was three months old, however, we found ourselves waking up several times throughout the night and running to his nursery. The three-month sleep regression hit us hard and it lasted several months. Unfortunately, the regression occurred right as my maternity leave was ending and I was returning to work. Breastfeeding lying down became my favorite position and best friend. This way, I was able to get some rest and nurse while my husband took care of both our son and myself.

Suddenly a few weeks into Nicholas’ six months, something magical happened. It was like if something just clicked. In retrospect, it wasn’t that easy, but after several sleepless nights it sure seemed magical. Today I will be sharing with you some tips that have helped my son sleep through the night.

This is a sponsored post in which I received free product in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are 100% my own. This post also contains affiliate links to which I earn a small percentage of sales. This in no way changes the cost to you.

1. Establishing a bedtime routine for your little ones is vital.

When your little one doesn’t know what’s next, they stress out. And when they are stressed out, they are less likely to fall asleep. We began a bedtime routine at around six months. Sticking to the routine was difficult as it meant less time to share with him after work. However, it definitely helped him. After about a week, Nicholas knew the routine. He did not fight the teeth brushing, the shower, or his sleep. Even on weekends when I would want to let him stay up a bit later, at around the same time he would start getting sleepy and [try to] start the routine himself.

Now at almost twenty-one months Nick goes through the routine almost impeccably. Of course there are still the random nights when he fights his sleep but when this happens we know its usually something that is affecting him, like teething, or he’s sick. We know he’s not just being a brat and we act on that external factor.

2. Know your child.

Not all children have the same preferences and this also applies for sleeping arrangements. When I was expecting, I was gifted beautiful infant wraps. Our son hated them. He would cry and cry until we took the wrap off. We now have also learned that he gets hot easily. During the colder nights he does fine with the heater on and a medium sized blanket while his dad and I prefer thicker blankets. Sometimes we feel really cold and try to put a thicker blanket on him, this usually results in a lousy night of sleep both for him and us. Go with what you know your child prefers when setting up their bed and other sleeping arrangements.

3. Don’t be afraid to get some help!

No, I don’t mean go drop off your child with the neighbor so you can get good sleep, unless of course you trust them enough to do that. (Just Kidding.) Don’t be afraid to use items to help provide better sleep for your child.

I added this lullaby machine to my baby registry and it turned out to be a lifesaver. During my little one’s first few days this was the only thing that helped my little one sleep for a few hours at night. He particularly loved the heartbeat sound. I think its because it reminded him of what he heard when he was in my belly.

If your little one sleeps great in your bed but horribly on their own, try a pillow. We were excited when “Little Sleepy Head” offered to send us a complimentary pillow and pillowcase. They offer pillows, pillowcases, swaddles, and bath products for the little ones. We received the “Alphabet Gray” and “Limited Edition Reindeer” pillowcases which are 100% polyester. My son is already sleeping through the night, but the first night he used the pillow he slept well over his usual time.

Remember, the pillows are recommended for children ages 2 and up, but you know your child best and will know when he or she is ready for their own little pillow.

These are definitely pillows we recommend. Check them out for yourself, use code MYCODE15 to receive 15% off site-wide.

The toddler pillow measures 13″ x 18,” the perfect size for the little ones.

If all else fails, make bedtime exciting. We recently ordered the Daniel Tiger bedding set and pillow buddy from target.com. The day the sheets arrived Nicholas wanted to go to sleep right away. He snuggles the pillow buddy the same way he snuggles me when he’s tired. The fabric of the pillow is super soft and great quality.

While we’re on the Daniel Tiger subject, I also recommend the Snuggle & Glow plush. My son received it as a gift and uses it as a soother to go back to sleep by himself. Some nights we hear the song play over and over again until he falls back asleep. Other nights he uses the built in night light to make his way to our room. Nicholas’ sleep is disrupted by regular night lights. This little plush, however, is perfect because he can turn it on at his preference.

Being able to help our little ones enjoy good sleep is vital. Sleep is when their minds and bodies grow. Better sleep for them also means good sleep for us. I hope you find these tips helpful. I invite you to share your own tips in the comments below. As parents we need all of the help we can get. Maybe something that worked for your little one is exactly what another parent is looking for.

XOXO – L.