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What I can't parent without: Tips on how to get your baby sleeping peacefully

By Nikolina Koevska Kharoufeh |

As a new parent, it sometimes feel like all you ever think about is your baby's sleep. Are they sleeping well? Sleeping long enough? Sleeping through the night?

And the big question - how can I get them to sleep better?

We asked 9Honey Parenting readers to share their recommendations and wisdom when it comes to baby sleep - from products that actually work to advice that lead to positive changes at home.

READ MORE: The essentials for stress-free travel with kids in tow

Adorable newborn baby girl sleeping and yawning in bed at home
A sleepless baby, means sleepless parents. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Sleepsuits with harness access

Newborns and babies tend to take a lot of naps during the day and the constant need to put your baby to sleep can sometimes get in the way of plans to venture out of the house.

Mum to now three-year-old Cedric says that was something she and her partner wanted to avoid and one thing that helped was a sleepsuit that made sleep-on-the-go easy and achievable.

"Using a sleepsuit that allowed for access to pram straps and the car seat harness meant we could put Cedric to sleep while still maneuvering about," she said.

"It also meant we could dress him for bed and put him to sleep at a friend's house, then easily transfer him to the car seat when we left so we didn't stress as much about getting home before his bedtime."

Popular Sleep Suit Bag by ergoPouch can be used in a five point harness such as a pram, carrier or car seat when in 'legs' mode. And the Save Our Sleep Safe Sleep Bags also have an opening at the back that caters to this need.

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ErgoPouch Sleep Suits.
ErgoPouch Sleep Suit Bag. (ErgoPouch)

HeaterMate Thermostat

Something useful parents wish they were taught in math's class was how to calculate which clothes will keep their baby the right temperature while they sleep. It's a formula that even when you think you have it figured out - changes in an instant.

But one thing that can help is keeping the baby's room temperature consistent - especially in those cold winter months.

A product new mum Julia has been using to keep her newborn warm this winter, is the HeaterMate Thermostat. It was recommended by a friend and is now her number one tip for other parents.

"It's the best! I set it to the minimum temperature I want the room to stay at, connect it to my heater and it keeps it consistent. No need to always check, no adjusting and less worries," she explains.

Glow Dreaming baby sleep aid

Gadgets that claim to help your baby sleep are everywhere, making it hard to determine which ones actually work and which are a waste of money.

One that is increasingly popular with Aussie parents is the Glow Dreaming Sleep Aid - a machine that uses sound and light to lull your baby into sleep. The product is so good that even adults are using it as a way to get better sleep each night.

Mum Emma is a big fan of the gadget which she has been using since her toddler was a newborn. "It keeps my Valentino in a sleepy state all night," she says.

The product is so loved by families, that an adults version is now available. So now everyone can "sleep like a baby".

Warnings before bed

While they all have different approaches, most baby sleep consultants can agree on one thing - a good bedtime routine goes a long way.

And while a typical routine usually involves a relaxing bath, baby massage and final feed of the day - one thing some parents forget to do is actually communicate with their baby.

Something twin mum Rita has been doing with her daughters since they were three-months-old thanks to a great tip from her midwife.

"I thought there is no way they would understand that I am telling them it's time for bed, but it really does work. I give them a warning five minutes before bedtime and then another at two minutes," she explains.

Her twins are now 15-months-old and still hear the same warnings each night which Rita says helps to "avoid any pre-bed tantrums."

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