Bedtime Favourites - Sunset Dimmer

My little H loves to read books. Every night we read 2 books to him in bed and then he turns on his little flashlight and reads one more book to himself. It is so cute! So when I saw this product today on Kid Steals I knew that we had to have it.

The Sunset Dimmer is a device that you plug your light into and then it into the wall outlet. Over the next 30 minutes it dims the light until it is completely out. This is ideal for your little readers who love to curl up themselves at night to read a book.

Here is a list of its features (taken right from the Kid Steals website):
•gradual dimming helps soothe to sleep with a natural release of melatonin in the brain, no matter when bedtime is
•the light stays bright enough to read by for 20 minutes - a great companion to school reading programs that request 20 minutes of reading per day
•dimming goes unnoticed as the eyes adjust to the subtle light changes
•perfect nightlight for kids that are afraid of the dark
•works great for feeding or rocking baby in the middle of the night
•for adults too—read in bed and be soothed to sleep
•select from two simple buttons to choose preferred mode ◦nightlight: slowly dims to a low-lit light and remains on all night ◦off: slowly dims until light is completely off
•works with all standard lamps (does not work with touch lamps)
•for use with 75W max incandescent or halogen bulbs
•ETL compliant in the United States, not yet certified in Canada

This would also save me from creeping in after H is asleep and trying to first of all find his flashlight in his bed and then turning it off - all without waking him!

Today it is on sale for $9.95 on www.kidsteals.com, and sells regularly for $19.95. Check out their website, Sunset Dimmers, for more information!

Bedtime Favourites - Weeurban Sleep Sacks

During the winter I always worry about if my kids are warm enough while sleeping. In both of their rooms we keep a heater, but I also worry about being covered. H hates sleeping with blankets so we have to tiptoe into his room late at night and cover him up while he is sleeping, with P it is a bit easier as she wears a sleep sack.

I am constantly looking at different sleep sacks and right now I am using a Halo one for P at night and during the summer I used a lighter muslin one by Aden and Anais.

Weeurban makes these cute, modern and organic sleep sacks that look amazing! They come in bright fabrics with a modern picture just on the bottom corner.

Some other features are:

-Made from a blend of Organic cotton and Bamboo Viscose
-Unisex designs
-Lead and nickel free snaps
-Fitted neck and roomy sleeves
-Machine wash and tumble dry
-Duo-sliding zipper that opens at the bottom allowing for quick and easy diaper changes

Another plus is that they are a Canadian product.

Their sleep sacks come in 3 sizes: 0-6 mths, 6-18 mths and 18-36 mths and two different togs 1.0 and 1.5.

They sell online for $49.99, which I think is pretty reasonable, and shipping in Ontario is $7.95.

They also sell rompers, blankets and shopping cart covers.

Check them out at:
www.weeurban.com

Bedtime Favourites - Sleep Trainers

OK, so a long time ago I posted about this monkey sleep trainer that I had purchased. It is really cute and H seemed into it, putting the monkey to sleep every night and what not - but it just isn't working... we are up every day earlier than we would like - before the monkey opens his eyes!

I recently stumbled upon another sleep trainer called the Gro-Clock. This one actually looks better to me. Basically your child knows to stay in bed until they see the sun. At night there is a picture of stars and it counts down to when it is time to get up. There is also an option to display the digital time.

I like this one as it seems easier for the child to "see" what time it is, the countdown of the stars lets them know how soon it will be to wake up time and I like how the digital time is visible as well. On the monkey sleep trainer I have the digital time is so small and is not lit up, so H really has no idea what time it is or if it is close to morning.

The Gro-Clock can be purchased from many online stores for about $50!

If I was made of money I would go out and purchase this one today, but since I already have the monkey sleep trainer I think I am just going to purchase a regular digital alarm clock and teach H that he cannot get out of bed until he sees a 7. I have heard from a few moms that this works wonders too!

Let's give it a shot!

First Year Favourite - Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe

When H was born we mastered the swaddle using receiving blankets - so I never saw the need to use the Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe that I had purchased beforehand. We also stopped swaddling him very early and moved him into a sleepsack.

With P, the swaddling with the receiving blankets just wasn't working for us, so one night I decided to try the "pink" swaddleme that a friend had lent us. Wow! I was amazed at how well it worked! I liked how it had Velcro in a few places so it really held together well - instead of just tucking the blanket in and hoping it held. I also liked the sizing - the one we are currently using is a small and fits P perfectly. They come in a variety of sizes and we have the next size ready and waiting if we need it. She doesn't seem ready for the sleepsack like H was, so I anticipate using these for a bit longer.

They sell at ToysRUs for just $14.99 and are often on sale! I think I may have seen them at Walmart as well. Like I said earlier, they come in a variety of sizes, but also come in different fabrics (e.g., cotton, fleece, organic) and colours.

I also tried the Woombie - which she HATED because it zips right up to their necks locking their arms in, whereas the swaddleme has more of an opening at the top where I let her hands poke out of so she has some movement.

If you have a newborn and are currently just using receiving blankets to swaddle them I would suggest you try the Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe - you just may be surprised (like me) at how well it works!

Favourite Books - My Bedtime Favourites

I usually do the book reading before bed and H and I read two books each night - he picks one book and I pick the other. Both of us seem to have found some favourites and about a month ago I posted some of his most recent ones. Here are a few of my mine:

(Book Write-Ups Come From Chapters.ca)

1. It's Time to Sleep- Nancy Tillman: As children prepare for bed, the world around them is also settling down for the night. Animals who live in the jungle, the forest, the sea-all whisper to their babies a soft refrain: It's time to sleep, my love. As comforting as a soft blanket and warm as a goodnight hug, Eric Metaxas''s lullaby is lovingly brought to life by bestselling artist Nancy Tillman (On the Night You Were Born) , whose illustrations celebrate the wonders of the natural world, and the bonds of family.

2. Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones- Claire Freedman: The sun paints the sky a warm, glowing red. It''s time to stop playing, it''s time for bed."
All of the animals, from the bold leopard to the shy antelope, snuggle down for the night, ready to sleep, in this charming book. The baby hippo cuddles up close for a big hippo hug while the porcupines curl up together in one spiky ball.
This soothing rhyme, illustrated with glowing pastels, is the perfect bedtime story for a child worn out by a busy day.

3. How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?- Varsha Baja: "How many kisses do you want tonight?" the animals ask, snuggling critters tight. This adorable counting bedtime book celebrates the special ritual of goodnight kisses. Cozy up with your little one for a goodnight kiss-or two, or three...

4. Mommy's Best Kisses- Margaret Anastas: Every mother knows that the sweetest way to say "I love you" is with a kiss. This loving book shows that animals know all about a mother's love, too.

5. Who Will Tuck Me In Tonight?- Carol Roth: It''s bedtime, but Woolly the little lamb can''t find his mother. Who will tuck him in? "I will, I will," said Mrs. Cow. "Don''t you worry. I know how. Everything will be all right. I''ll tuck you in real snug and tight." But Mrs. Cow wraps poor Woolly up so tight that he can''t move. "STOP!" cries Woolly. "That''s not right! Oh, who will tuck me in tonight?" Mrs. Cat, Mrs. Horse, Mrs. Pig, and Mrs. Duck all try, but their efforts prove disastrous, and Woolly grows more and more desperate. Mother Sheep returns at last and tucks her little one in just right--"as only a mother can. From the team who created the best-selling "Little Bunny''s Sleepless Night comes another comic, yet sweet and satisfying, bedtime story.

Bedtime Favourites - Grobags and Baby Bjorn Ultra Light Travel Cot

Here are some of Tamara's Bedtime Favourites:

Grobag
"Grobags are sleeping bags that come in different thicknesses depending on the "tog" (0.5, 1, or 2.5). Prevents babies from kicking off covers and keeps them warm at night. I use them here too (0.5 tog) even though it only gets to 26C at night. They are expensive but worth every penny. You can also use some of them in the car seat as some of them are travel friendly with an entry point for the car seat belt."

I found Grobags on many sites. They come in a variety of togs (thicknesses), sizes, colours and patterns. Most sell for about $50-$70. Here is one site that I found a good selection on:
http://www.storksandberries.ca/bed-time/grobag-baby-sleeping-bags-p-265.html?osCsid=01f1d356ca80cb630c12f845cf04356a

Baby bjorn ultra light travel cot*
"The baby bjorn travel cot...self explanatory...expensive but very compact and very very useful especially if you like to travel or go camping. Nice and compact."

I tried to google this product many times, but could not find a store that sold it in Canada (many in the US though). They sell for about $250 US.

Thanks Tam, these are some more greats!

Bedtime Favourites - Bebe Bella Designs

H loves his blankies, especially those minky ones with the little raised dots. I found this company, Bebe Bella Designs (again through my discount websites) that makes a variety of blankets in different sizes (baby, toddler, and adult), plus other neat accessories for your little one (hats, slippers, clothing, pillowcases, etc.).

Today I purchased H a pillowcase for his new big boy bed that is made out of that same material. Originally I thought the price was a bit steep $30 and that I could make one myself for less, but then I saw this note on their website that until January 31st they are having a sale of 62% off on their Minky Chenille Baby Blankets (reg. $50 on for $19) and their Standard Pillowcases. So, with that I ended up getting the pillowcase for just $11.40 - WOW! The shipping was only $7.50, so my entire order came to less than $19 - super savings!

Check out Bebe Bella's great products at www.bebebelladesigns.com

Bedtime Favourite - Sleep Sheep

Andrea shares one of her bedtime favourites:

"It is called the Sleep Sheep. It is a little stuffed animal (white sheep) that plays soothing sounds for babies. It has rain, waves, orca whales and a trickling stream. J loves it to go to sleep. I also use it to calm him in the carseat. He hates the carseat! I have attached a link for you to check it out. I received it as a gift from my sister-in-law but I have seen them at Chapters and Scholars Choice. It is a great gift because a portion of the purchase goes to the Children's Miracle Network so you are giving to a great cause too. There is a large version and a travel size. I have the travel size.

http://www.sleepsheepandfriends.com/sheep.html

Thanks Andrea! I went to their site and it is sooo cute. I have also seen this guy at Serenity Birth Studio. H has a stuffed sheep, he calls it his "BaaBaa" and he loves it, wish I would have know about this toy when he was little!

Bedtime Favourites - Fisher Price Tender Lullabies

Allyson has sent me many of her faves (thank you so much!) and here is another of hers:

"The best lullaby CD for us is Fisher Price's Tender Lullabies. These are the CDs you find at the ends of the aisles of stores like Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart. I can't even find it anymore (I think I've bought them all). But I know you can buy it on iTunes. It is a great going to bed CD. We have played it at least 2 times a day since the day we brought P home. It is just easy to listen to, classical lullabies done well. We had to buy another one when A was born because P was sad that I took away 'his music' (rip my heart out). Now bedtime in our house is the sound of these two CDs playing at different parts (ah, the crazy things we do...)! When I was putting P on a sleep schedule I had the songs memorized and knew that he had not slept long enough if the CD wasn't done because it is almost exactly an hour long! I wasn't lying about being obsessed about his sleep schedule!!"

Thanks Al! I use a CD, Lullaby Classics by Baby Einstein, when H goes down too and it really seems to work. We are even taking up our stereo and iPod to the cottage this weekend so he can have his sleepy music there! (I know about obsessions) I will definitely look for this one - perhaps H can change it up once in awhile!

Bedtime Favourite - My BabyZoo Night Light and Sleeptrainer

OK, I saw this night light today on one of my baby discount websites but was too late to get one so I then checked out their website. Here I found two cool products which I think would be helpful for your little one at night.

#1: Turtle Gus Night Light: it is a timer based night light (10, 20 or 30 minute setting) that is safe for your child to take to bed with them. If they wake up all they have to do is press down on the shell and the night light will turn on again. It sells for $19.99 USD

#2: Monkey Sleep Trainer: it is both a digital and an analog clock where the monkey's eyes are open when it is ok for them to get up or closed if it is still sleeping time (you can set the preferred wake up time). It also has a jungle alarm that can be volume controlled and it also can act as a night light. It sells for $34.99 USD.

Right now they are having a special on where you can purchase both for $45.99 (a savings of around $9).

I have not used either product or heard of anyone who has, but they sound pretty neat to me and I think that I will be picking them up for H very soon.

Check them out at http://www.mybabyzoo.com.

Just For Moms - Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

When H was about 3 months old he didn't want to nap. I was going crazy!!!! I didn't know what to do... so I first borrowed "The Baby Whisperer" from the library. After reading just a small section of the book I was crying as according to her I was doing everything wrong. I tried the methods from the book and stressed about this (and cried some more) for a few days, until a friend suggested I look at another book called, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child."

I went into this book with the realization that I was just going to get some ideas from it, not jump into it full swing. I absolutely loved this book. Now it did say that I was doing a few things wrong (i.e. letting H fall asleep in the swing, rocking him before putting him down, etc.) but it also gave me a few great ideas.

Number 1, work on one nap at a time - get the morning nap routine down pat and then worry about the afternoon nap. I loved that!
Number 2 - it suggested introducing some sort of comfort item like a blanket - BINGO!

I started trying some of these methods when he was about 4 months old. First, I would wrap him in his blankie and rock him (yes I know) until he was almost asleep and then lay him, with his blankie still wrapped around him, in his crib. At five months, I just had to rock him for a few minutes until he was settled and then lay him still awake into his crib with his blankie. At six, months he just didn't want to be rocked anymore - all he needed was to feel his blankie on his face. From this point and still now we just have to lay him down and cover him with his blankie and he goes to sleep without any complaint. Now, he may have a blankie until he is 10 (hahaha) but at least nap and bedtime are actually happening and are not so stressful.

The book also has suggestions for sleep all the way to the teen years. If napping/sleeping are an issue for you, I would highly recommend this book. But remember, you don't need to follow it step by step, just use it for some good ideas!

Bedtime Favourites - Halo Sleepsack

When H was little (newborn to about 6 months) he slept in a sleepsack. Being a new mom (and a worried one at that) I knew that I did not want to put ANY blankets in his crib in case he suffocated on them. Many friends recommended using a sleepsack instead - and I loved it for the first 6 months. It was loose enough that I wasn't worried about him getting caught in it, but I liked that it didn't have any sleeves and that it stayed on and ensured that he was warm all night. I went for the HALO brand sleepsack that sells at Toys R Us, why? because it was the first one I saw - but I must say that I was happy with it. It wasn't too thick but a nice thin cotton that was perfect for those summer months. By about 6 months he was moving a bit more and not sleeping very well - so I moved him to a blanket. (That story/favourite to come tomorrow!) So, for those first few months, I highly suggest using one of these, especially if you are a worry wart like me!