Sleep aids can be beneficial for calming babies and toddlers, but it's essential to choose the right one for your child's age and developmental stage.
Always prioritize safe sleep practices when using any sleep aid. Newborn babies have short sleep cycles, and can wake up frequently, both day and night. While this can be tiring for parents, it's crucial for a baby's development, helps regulate their breathing, and reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
What are baby sleep aids?
A baby sleep aid is a soothing object that makes it easier for a baby or toddler to fall asleep.
Electronic sleep aids use ambient light and sound to calm and settle babies, promote better sleep, and reduce night-time crying.
As well as helping babies sleep better, they can give parents some much-needed rest, too, and make great baby shower gifts for new parents.
How baby sleep sound machines work
Baby sleeping aids that play a calming and continuous ambient sound - called white noise - can be used to mask unwanted noise at bedtime, and mimic the familiar sounds your baby heard when they were in the womb. People sometimes compare white noise to the static that comes from an untuned radio or television. It can reduce a baby's stress levels, soothes them to sleep, and stops them from being woken by loud or sudden background noises.
It's important to remember that noise machines shouldn't be:
- placed next to a baby's head
- used at high volume
- used continuously or for prolonged periods.
How does CrySensor technology work?
The CrySensor in Tommee Tippee sleep aids is programmed to respond to crying or sharp sounds that may disturb your baby's sleep. It listens out for noises and responds by playing sounds or gentle lullabies to help disguise background disturbance and settle your baby back to sleep.
What are the benefits of red light for baby sleep?
Bright household lights can have an alerting effect. So, specially designed baby sleep aids and night lights are a great alternative to regular bulbs.
Melatonin is the hormone that regulates the body clock and makes us feel sleepy. Our research shows that warm red light can help to encourage melatonin production. This signals to a baby's brain that it's time to start winding down and get ready for sleep.
Our Dreammaker™ has a soft red glow to help babies get to sleep faster and sleep for longer. It's also minimally stimulating for night-time awakenings, making self-soothing and re-settling even easier. On average parents thought they gained 90 minutes more sleep each day* when using the Dreammaker™.
A darkened room tells babies that it's time for rest. So, in the bright summer months when the sun rises early and sets late, it's a good idea to put up a blackout blind to keep your baby's sleeping environment dark and cosy.
When can I start using a Tommee Tippee sleep aid?
Your baby should always sleep in the same room as you for the first six months, day and night. But you can use our light and sound sleep aids from birth to soothe your newborn, and continue to use their lights and sounds as they grow.
You should place the sleep aid near your baby so that it can listen using CrySensor mode, and your baby can clearly hear and see it. Use the loop to attach it to your baby's Moses basket or crib out of your baby's reach. Make sure it's hanging outside the crib so that if it falls, it will land outside of the crib, or stand it upright on nearby furniture.
If your baby is having problems sleeping or you'd like advice about getting into a routine, speak to your pediatrician.
*Reported by Mother & Baby following testing of 75 participants with babies aged 0-6 months for 2 and 4 week periods, November 2021, UK.
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