Sleeping Gear Deep Dive

Crib
Recommended: Babyletto Lolly 3-in-1 Convertible Crib
When we were looking at cribs, we prioritized ones made of solid wood with non-toxic finishes. We wanted one that was Greenguard Gold certified for further assurance of safety (unfamiliar with this certification? learn more here). While we would have loved to have a crib that was made in the U.S., the price was just not reasonable for our family. Although Babyletto is made in Asia, we felt that it was a good compromise because of its extensive safety testing.

Crib mattress
Recommended: Emily Crib Mattress
We prioritized non-toxic materials and breathability, and this mattress was a great option. As with many natural mattresses, it does contain latex which a very, very small percentage of babies could be allergic to. I Read Labels For You has a great crib mattress comparison post on Instagram, if you’re interested in comparing it to others.

Crib mattress protector
Recommended: My Green Mattress Organic Cotton Protector
It was important to us to have a mattress protector that did not contain any harmful materials and was very breathable, since our baby would be breathing directly next to it. However, we did want something with a moisture barrier. It was hard to find a protector that fit both our requirements! This protector was the perfect solution. Its top and bottom layers are GOTS certified organic cotton. In between is a super-thin layer of thermoplastic polyurethane that is made from renewable resources, including non-GMO corn. It only makes up 5% of the protector and is microporous (it is a moisture barrier but is still breathable).

Crib sheets
Recommended: Burt’s Bees Baby 100% Organic Crib Sheets
We knew we wanted 100% cotton sheets, and we ideally wanted ones that were organic, since our baby would have so much close contact with them. While there are many organic options available, we settled on Burt’s Bees Baby and were very happy with them. They’re very soft, extremely snug, and wash and wear well.

Sound Machine
Recommended: Hushh Portable White Noise Machine
Other good options: Hatch Baby Rest
There are many fancy sound machines, but we found that this inexpensive option was perfect for our family for the first couple years. It doesn’t have to stay plugged in which is great for travel, and it has a locking feature so little ones can’t inadvertently turn up the volume. We placed it several feet from the crib and downloaded a decibel app to make sure we didn’t turn it too loud. If you are interested in a sound machine with more bells and whistles, the Hatch Baby Rest is a popular choice. We typically steer clear of bluetooth- and wifi-enabled such as the Hatch due to concerns over EMFs, but we introduced the Hatch to Miss F before we transitioned her to her big girl bed due to its time to sleep/time to wake features, and we now love it. P.S. We at first didn’t believe we needed a sound machine… one of our many ignorant beliefs as first-time parents :)

Swaddles
Recommended: Love to Dream, Ollie, Halo Sleepsack Swaddle, SwaddleMe Original Swaddle
You can’t anticipate what type of swaddle your little one will like, so I recommend initially registering for/buying a few different types to try, before investing in a lot of one style. Miss F did well in both the Halo and the SwaddleMe, but slightly preferred the SwaddleMe. We didn’t know about the Ollie at the time, but we got one for Miss E and absolutely loved it. The disadvantage of all three of these types is that they have velcro, which is very noisy for late-night diaper changes. The Love to Dream swaddle is zippered (big plus!) and is perfect for babies who like to keep their arms raised—it keeps them snug but still allows their arms to remain upright.
One important feature to look for in a swaddle is that it is loose around the baby’s hips; otherwise, the swaddle can contribute to hip problems such as hip dysplasia. All of the swaddles I’ve recommended are loose enough, provided you attach the velcro correctly and are mindful of hip position.

Sleep Sacks
Recommended: 100% Cotton ZipadeeZip or Woolino*
Other good options: Burt’s Bees Baby or Kyte*; many parents also use a Merlin’s Magic Suit* for the transition away from the swaddle
It is very important to stop swaddling your baby once he or she starts showing signs of rolling over; in fact, the AAP recommends ditching the swaddle at 2 months, as the rolling milestone begins to near. While you don’t have to use a sleep sack after the swaddle, most parents do, as it makes the transition out of the swaddle easier and provides a safe “blanket” to keep your baby warm.
The transition out of a swaddle can cause some regressions in sleep as your baby adjusts to feeling less snug. Many parents utilize the puffy Merlin’s Magic Suit for the transition, but then you also have to transition from that to a sleep sack later. We transitioned straight to the ZipadeeZip, which still completely covers the hands, and Miss F did great with it until almost two years old. Note, however, that the larger sizes of the ZipadeeZip are not 100% cotton. The Woolino is another great option; it is pricey, but it is sized to fit for years (so you only have to buy one instead of continuing to size up). Its merino wool is naturally flame resistant (so it’s not treated with flame retardants) and regulates both hot and cold temperature really well. Once Miss F seemed frustrated with her hands being covered by the ZipadeeZip, we switched to the Burt’s Bees Baby sleep sacks, which are a great inexpensive organic cotton option. While we have heard great things about Kyte as well, they are more expensive and we have not tried them.
When selecting a sleep sack, you may see different “TOGs” to choose from. These are different weights of fabrics, rated for different temperatures. Kyte has a great guide on selecting the right TOG.

Travel crib, bassinet, and respective sheets
Recommended: Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib, Guava Family Lotus Bassinet Conversion Kit, Guava Family Lotus Organic Cotton Sheets, Guava Family Lotus Bassinet Organic Cotton Sheets
We have used the Guava Family Lotus since Miss F’s birth and have absolutely loved it. It is one of the least-toxic options available on the market—it is GreenGuard Gold certified and has no flame retardants (confused on product safety certifications? Check out my blog on them here). We used the bassinet conversion kit as the bassinet in our bedroom during Miss F’s early days and loved how sturdy and spacious it was. We still use the travel crib when we travel, and Miss F always sleeps well in it. Some features we love are that it is lightweight (only 13 lbs!), fits into a compact backpack (which is easy to carry or can fit in a suitcase), and the mattress sits directly on the floor (which means, unlike other travel cribs, it has no weight limit and isn’t noisy when your little one stirs).

Travel blackout tent
Recommended: Slumberpod
While this is a totally optional and luxurious baby item, if you plan on traveling much (even just to grandparents’ houses), I cannot recommend this enough. We did not invest in one until Miss F was a year old, and I wish we did earlier; it is a GAMECHANGER for travel. When we are somewhere like the grandparents’, it has been so nice because the sun doesn’t wake Miss F up every morning. When we are in a hotel, we can leave the lights on and even watch TV after she goes to bed. No matter the setting, she sleeps pretty much the same as she does at home. The Slumberpod has a compartment for a monitor so you can keep an eye on your little one, and it also has a pouch for a fan and multiple ventilation flaps to encourage airflow. It also folds up extremely compactly and only weighs 5 lbs so it’s easy to travel with.
The Slumberpod’s ventilation has undergone extensive testing, beyond what is required by law. All testing was completed with the ventilation flaps closed and no fan, and the Slumberpod passed each test. You can read more about the Slumberpod’s safety testing here. However, I do feel like it gets a little warm and stuffy overnight, so we like to open all the ventilation flaps and use a fan. I also would not be comfortable using it with very new/little babies.

Note: If you’re just looking for travel blackout curtains, we really like this inexpensive option from Amazon! They are lightweight and pack up very small, and they truly do block out all the light from windows.