8 products to help ease the daylight saving sleep fight

Bedtime and wake ups don’t always coincide with darkness–especially for little ones. For that reason, blackout curtains are your BFF. This highly-rated affordable set not only plunges any room into total darkness, they also offer the added bonus of sound dampening and the ability to insulate against summer heat and winter chill.

Ok, so what about those naps at grandma’s? Opt for a portable style to create that cave-like environment anywhere you go.

Similarly, blocking out noise makes a big difference. White noise machines drown out everything from those pesky birds who wake far earlier than humans need to to your neighbor’s car as they head off to work. There are a lot to choose from, but a personal fave is the Yogasleep Dohm Classic. Yogasleep has been providing effective sound machines for over 60 years, and the Dohm Classic is the OG—a simple white noise machine with a real fan inside that fills the room with soothing, sleep-inducing sound. The sound is loud and easy to turn on and off thanks to the button being at the top (I can even do it with my foot!).

If you haven’t yet discovered the magic of ok to wake clocks, now is the time. These brilliant tools  use visual cues instead of numbers to let kids know if it’s time for sleeping or OK to get up–even before they’re old enough to tell time. Models range from super simple to more tech-enabled, but if you’re looking for the whole kit and caboodle, our vote goes to the Hatch Rest+ 2nd Gen.

The portable design checks the box of a clock, sound machine and nightlight, and performs all those tasks like a champ. Pair it with the Hatch app to program sleep and wake times with sounds and colors, accompany their slumber with a wide selection of white and pink noise options and take it from room to room without having to juggle cords.

The range of volume and brightness along with the quality of sound is *chef’s kiss* and since it operates via wifi, you can adjust everything without ever even stepping foot in their room. And though it doesn’t require a subscription to get all the great benefits, you can opt into a Hatch Sleep Membership ($49.99/year or $4.99/month)to get access to a library of expert developed content to help create healthy sleep habits. There are calming meditation routines, peaceful dreamscapes and stories crafted for winding down.

If your baby wakes up ahead of time and messes up your whole schedule, don’t panic. You might need to embrace naps on the go, and for that, we swear by this Yogasleep Hushh portable sound machine. It’s equipped with three sound options, including bright white noise, deep white noise and surf sounds, a soft glow nightlight, as well as a convenient ring to hang it from the stroller or car seat. Truly, it’s gotten our babies to sleep in seconds.

Introduce them to a new, super comforting lovey to snuggle this week! Filled with dried French lavender, the soothing, slightly weighted stuffies from Warmies can be microwaved for the ultimate snuggles. They’re the coziest at bedtime but at our house they’re toted along on the ride to school, warmed up for family movie night and even tucked into a sleepover bag now and then. (Just a reminder that babies under one shouldn’t be put to bed with anything in their crib, so this is for toddlers and older only!)

For older kids, a weighted blanket can really work wonders at bedtime. The gentle pressure offers an extra dose of calm and relaxation, and personally, I sleep like a rock under mine. Of course, adult weighted blankets are a no-go for littles (they should only weigh 10% of their total body weight and not used at all for babies), so my recommendation is the 5 pound Luna Dream Weaver Kids Weighted Blanket. It’s super breathable even for hot sleepers and has a removable cover that’s machine washable.

Who doesn’t want a massage before bed? (Or any time for that matter?) After a bath, take some time for a little relaxing rub down to help with the transition to bedtime. It not only helps get them in the zone, it’s also a great way to bond with your babe. There are a lot of massage oils out there, but this is one of our favorites. It’s lightly scented, rich but not super greasy and the calendula gives an extra boost of soothing vibes.

Because you’re going to need a tool or two for yourself, this one’s for you, my friend. Dubbed “the weighted blanket for your eyes,” the Nodpod is an eye mask but better. Unlike traditional styles which I generally find uncomfortable, it became my bedtime BFF from the very first time I used it and now I can’t imagine sleep without it.

The 18 inch long design features four weighted pods that rest on your eyes and temples. The ends are hollow with a button hole on one side if you want to secure it. (For side sleepers like myself, you can just rest your head on one end and slide the first two over your eyes. The remaining length will keep it in place.) It’s not super heavy, but the gentle pressure definitely helps me relax into sleep quicker than I tend to without it. The weight also helps block light, even if you choose a lighter color. I also love that it has two different fabrics, one that’s soft and cozy and one that’s cooler. You can even toss it in the freezer for an extra dose of chill or to treat a migraine.