How many times have you put your child down for a nap, only to have the doorbell awaken him a few minutes later? Just about every mom I know (including me) has had this problem (except for one lucky mom I know, whose child sleeps like a log through doorbells, phones ringing, everything). That’s why I like the idea of the Bell Blocker. It completely covers your doorbell and tells visitors to “Please Knock,” when in the down position (it can be left covering the doorbell in the up position at other times, making the doorbell accessible to visitors). For just $10.99, the peace of mind this product can provide is priceless. It’s also a great gift idea for a new parent. You can purchase one at InventiveParent.com.

Recently my son and I listened to Rockabye Baby!’s Lullaby Renditions of Queen CD at bedtime. My son is a big Queen fan, and his favorite song is “We Will Rock You”. While he wasn’t enthralled with the lullaby versions of Queen songs (Bohemian Rhapsody was particularly good), I thought they were nice and relaxing, and that they would definitely help put a baby to sleep (they almost put me to sleep lying there listening to the CD!) This would be a wonderful way to relax baby while relaxing Mom or Dad at the same time. You can purchase this CD and many other lullaby renditions (including Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, and Green Day) for $16.95 at RockabyeBabyMusic.com.

MamaLittleHelper’s Baby Hammock promises to make your baby feel secure like she was still in the womb, thus helping her to sleep more soundly. The hammock is designed to safely rock baby to sleep just as if she were in her mother’s arms. It can be placed next to the parent’s bed as a bassinet, and can be used for naps or nighttime sleeping. The hammock is supposed to help babies with acid reflux as well. It is certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) and made of 100% dye-free cotton. You can check out the models available, which also include one for toddlers and portable hammocks, at MamaLittleHelper.com, where prices start at $99.

If your child goes to daycare or naps away from home on a regular basis, you know the value of having nap essentials that are portable and easy to clean. I like this fun Vintage Toys Nap to Go set for its inviting print and its convenient handle. It includes a pillow and soft flannel blanket, just right for a nap. Everything is machine washable. You can purchase the set for $42 at myretrobaby.com. Other designs, both masculine and feminine are also available.

It’s common knowledge that many babies love the sounds of ordinary household appliances: the vacuum cleaner, fan, perhaps even the dishwasher. Niko Chainopoulos of Babysounds has come up with an ingenious idea: record these sounds and put them onto a CD especially for babies. Called “Sweet Dreams: Soothing Sounds for Babies,” this CD has nine tracks consisting of about seven minutes each of sounds of appliances including the vacuum cleaner, hairdryer, dishwasher, washing machine, breast pump, running shower, and fan. The concept behind this CD is that while in the womb, babies hear these sounds on a daily basis. Therefore, these sounds tend to calm fussy babies, it is said, since they are used to hearing them before birth. I’m not sure if this really works or not, but it is a unique idea. If you’d like to try it yourself, you can purchase the CD for $14.97 or download the MP3 for $9.99 at CDBaby.com.

Sleep bags and sacks are one of the safest ways to put baby down for a nap or at bedtime. When my son was a baby, I always used sleep sacks, with various weight fabrics for the different seasons. I like the looks of this Ergopouch Sleepbag.Made in Australia of quilted organic cotton with no pesticides or chemicals, the Ergopouch is hypoallergenic, perfect for baby’s sensitive skin. It adheres to all safety regulations. The seamless design of the Ergopouch moves with baby, as it fits snugly yet doesn’t allow baby to get tangled in the sack during sleep. Its double-ended zipper provides easy diaper changing access. It’s a bit steep at the price of $99.95 AUD (about $78 USD), but the manufacturer notes that, as babies spend most of their time in bed, they should do so in comfort, luxury, and safety. You can view the Ergopouch at StyledBaby.com.au, where if you purchase an Ergopouch right now, you can get a pair of Ergopyjamas at half price (use code “ergo” at checkout). They ship worldwide.

I really like this Organic Sleepy Time Baby Gift Box by GrowInStyle.com. While the price might be a bit much for an average baby gift, at $164, it would be perfect for a family member or best friend who just had a baby. The gift box includes an Organic Cotton Hooded Towel by Kate Quinn Organics, Organic Cotton Sleep Sack by Ceewee Baby, Organic Cotton Monster Wash Mitt by Bebop Baby Shop, Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Angel Baby Oil by Earth Mama Angel Baby, Rainbow Baby doll from Kathe Kruse, and a sleepy time book, Down in the Woods at Sleepytime by Carole Schaefer & Vanessa Cabban. All of this comes packaged in a 100% recyclable gift box, wrapped with recycled gift wrap, recycled ribbon, and a lead-free pewter charm. Just thinking about these wonderful sleep-inducing gifts makes me want to curl up and take a nap! You can view this gift box at GrowInStyle.com.

This looks like an ordinary, everyday teddy bear - but wait, looks can be deceiving. It’s actually an MP3 player designed specifically for babies and children. Designed to accompany your child to crib or bed at naptime or bedtime, the Lulla-Bear is a soft, cuddly friend who plays 90 minutes of pre-loaded songs and sounds. Lullabies, nature sounds, and play songs are all part of Lulla-Bear’s repertoire. With Lulla-Bear’s built in, stored USB cable, you can connect him to your computer and upload more songs to his playlist. It has a 512 MB memory capacity, is PC and MAC compatible, and takes three AA batteries (included). The sound quality is excellent, too. This could be the perfect solution if your child is a reluctant napper or becomes fearful or anxious at bedtime. Music soothes the soul, and has often helped my son get to sleep when nothing else would. You can purchase Lulla-Bear for $49.95 at StoreCrowleyJones.com.

Even though my 5 year old son has been potty-trained for the last 2 years, he still needs some help at night. For some reason, he just doesn’t wake up when he has to go to the bathroom. His pediatrician said not to worry about it, that some children physically can’t hold it when they have to go because their bladders aren’t large enough. We’ve been using GoodNites at bedtime for the past 2 years with much success. I tried other nighttime diapers, but they leaked or were uncomfortable for my son. With the GoodNites, they go on like underwear, and have sports themes like underwear, so my son doesn’t feel ashamed to wear them. I don’t know how long we’ll have to keep buying GoodNites; they aren’t cheap, with a pack of 17 costing $10.96 at Wal Mart. If genetics are any indication, however, it might be a while; I wet the bed until I was 7. If anyone can find a better price for these, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know.

I think most moms are now aware of the benefits of swaddling such as reduced SIDS risk and better sleep for everyone. With so many swaddle blankets on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one to buy. This Solana Organic Swaddle Wrap not only makes wrapping your baby for sleep easy, but its breathable organic fabrics will give you added peace of mind. The wrap is made from 100% cotton and is large enough to be used with infants of any size. My daughter has already outgrown swaddle blankets from other brands at 2 months of age, so I definitely appreciate this wrap’s generous size. It also doubles as a light towel, a mat for tummy time, or an bug/sun shade for strollers. I found the gender neutral fabric of this “Baby Tree” design extremely appealing, but other designs are available as well. You can check out the whole collection at SolanaBabyWear.com. The organic collection retails for $35.95.

Our ten month old son, unlike his twin sister, still does not sleep through the night. As you can imagine, we have tried quite a few things to remedy this tiring situation. After reading Elizabeth Pantley’s book The No-Cry Sleep Solution, we decided to introduce a “lovey” and ordered this Snoedel, which is something Pantley used with her own child.

The Snoedel (which means snuggle in Dutch) is a sleeping and bonding aid completely handcrafted in the US of cotton flannel as well as pure sheep’s wool; these natural fibers make it safe to use for all babies, even those born prematurely. The idea is that the mother or father sleeps with the Snoedel for a few nights, until his/her scent is absorbed into the material. This parental scent is supposed to comfort the baby and help him sleep better. And because it’s machine washable and dryable, it’s not difficult to clean and then re-infuse with your scent.

I’d like to tell you that the Snoedel did the trick and we are now sleeping peacefully, but unfortunately this was not the case. Maybe it’s because we introduced a lovey too late, maybe it’s because the only thing that my son has attached to is the breast or his trusty socks (don’t ask me how this last one came about), but for $24.95 plus shipping, it was worth a shot. And who knows, maybe he’ll surprise both of us one day and actually cling onto his Snoedel and ask to be put to his crib for the night…not likely, I know, but a parent deprived of an entire night’s sleep can dream, can’t she?

Even though the Snoedel didn’t work for us, it has been successful for many parents. I highly recommend you try it out for yourself—they are available in a variety of colors and patterns at snoedel.com.

My poor baby has spent the last 5 weeks sleeping in a bouncy seat next to our bed.  She just seems happier in a semi-upright position. I would really like to transition her into the cradle, especially as we are entering the peak period for SIDS and I would like to be able to use our motion monitor.  Unfortunately, she just doesn’t sleep well in the cradle, even when she is swaddled and positioned on a wedge.

 I’m therefore quite curious about this Nap Nanny product. Made from soft foam covered in soft minky fabric, it inclines the baby 30 degrees.  It certainly looks comfortable, but I wish I could try it out before investing $129.99 just to find out the my little one prefers the trusty bouncy seat. If you are curious about this product as well, you can read more about it and purchase one at NapNanny.com. The product seems to be doing well as it is currently back-ordered until early February.

My toddler has been going through a non-sleeping phase.  With a new baby arriving in a few months, I am determined to get her back to sleeping though the night.  This weekend I purchased the Homedics SoundSpa Lullaby Sound Machine.  This little device has a number of options.  It plays a child-friendly melodies, like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” in addition to nature sounds such as rain and the ocean.  A heartbeat sound is also included, although I think that is mostly intended for newborns.  The unit can also project a disk of pictures onto the ceiling or wall.  My daughter is quite impressed by this function.

You can set a timer to turn the sounds and projection off automatically, or leave it on all night.  We’ve been opting for the second option. She did have her best sleep in a while last night (our second night using the SoundSpa), so I am trying to be optimistic. I would recommend the product.  If my daughter doesn’t lend up liking it, I’d be tempted to use it myself.  It is definitely soothing.  It would make a thoughtful shower gift, too. You can purchase one for a very reasonable $19.99 at Bed Bath And Beyond stores or online at BedBathandBeyond.com.

Little kids love to play mommy or daddy with their stuffed animals, pretending to take care of them and tucking them in for a nap or to go to bed. That’s the idea behind The Tuckins, a line of stuffed animals made by Teetersaw, Inc. Each Tuckin comes with its own bed so that your child can “tuck in” her new friend. The look of each Tuckin is retro, looking homemade and therefore not exactly perfect. They will easily fit into your child’s bed or on her pillow so they can sleep with her at night or during naptime.

There are a variety of Tuckins available, including Bunny, Monkey, Doggy, Kitty, Bear, and the Tuckin Piggy pictured above. Each costs $14.95 at OddDoll.com.

Night lights are always a good idea for toddlers, and this Nocturnimals Fox Night Light Slumber Buddy by Manhattan Toy combines a night light and a soft, cuddly toy in one. Just press its paw and the fox’s belly glows with different colors for about four minutes. It’s a great way for your child to keep a night light with her in bed in case she needs it in the middle of the night. I think this would be a lifesaver during potty training, as your child could push the buddy’s paw and use her buddy to find her way to the bathroom during the middle of the night.

The Nocturnimals Fox Night Light is 9″ high and recommended for ages 3 and up. You can view and purchase it at geniusbabies.com, where it sells for $19.95.