A positive baby sleep environment is an important cornerstone of sleep training that’s often overlooked. When we think about infant sleep, it’s easy to get distracted by books, schedules, and training methods.

Not to mention, if your baby is unhappy with his current accommodations, it’s totally easy to miss. Our babies can’t tell us that they’re hot or cold or can’t stand the incessant hum of the TV downstairs. The only clue we have is continuous crying and disrupted sleep.

In this post, I’m going to help you create the perfect sleep environment your baby wishes he had. We’re going to talk about why positive sleep environments for babies improve their sleep habits and how you can (easily) create one in your home.

Are you ready to finally get more sleep? Let’s get started!

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• How to Get Your Breastfed Baby to Sleep Through the Night
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The New Mom’s Guide to Creating the Best Sleep Environment for Babies

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions. 

What is a “Positive” Baby Sleep Environment?

Chances are, your nursery already contains the beginnings of a great sleep environment. If not, it’s so easy to create one.

A positive baby sleep environment is simply a quiet, cozy place that encourages your baby to fall asleep, stay asleep, and achieve restorative rest.

Location doesn’t matter so much as consistency and environmental factors.  Meaning, even if your newborn sleeps in your walk-in closet, as long as he sleeps there consistently, and it meets the recommendations below, it can totally be a great sleep environment.

An ideal baby sleep environment usually focuses around five factors: temperature, sound, lighting, sleep surface, and safety. Below we’re going to go over easy ways you can optimize these factors to help your baby sleep.

Why Your Baby Needs a Positive Sleep Environment

There’s a lot of misconceptions to how and where your baby should sleep. You’ve probably already heard the advice, “your baby should be able to sleep anywhere.”

The idea behind this concept is to discourage touchy sleepers. Unfortunately, laying your baby down in any old place can actually hinder his sleep. 

Just think about it. How do you, as an adult, sleep when you’re surrounded by bright light, distracting noises, and uncomfortable surroundings? You might eventually fall asleep, yes, but that kind of environment doesn’t promote the restorative rest you need to rejuvenate. 

A baby is just getting used to life outside the womb. During this terrifying new stage of life, consistency and structure will help him adapt better. Laying your baby down in a dark, comfortable place allows him to predict this new routine and fall asleep easier. 

RELATED POST: 7 Things that are Ruining Your Baby’s Sleep

A Bad Sleep Environment Can Cause Disruptions to Sleep

Just like adults, babies tend to sleep fitfully when they’re uncomfortable. So, not only can a poor baby sleep environment prevent him from falling asleep, but it can cause him to wake up more often and feel less rested.

Cue the cranky baby. 

Here are just a few signs that your baby’s sleep space could use some improvement:

• Baby is overheated or cold
• He wakes up every hour or two but not hungry
• Wakes too early in the morning
• Can’t fall asleep

5 Simple Ways to Create the Perfect Baby Sleep Environment

Temperature

Your baby’s room and body temperature should be monitored to reduce the risk of SIDS. Not only is the wrong temperature dangerous, but it can be very detrimental to your baby’s sleep. 

Just think about how impossible it can be to fall asleep in an uncomfortable climate. Adults can simply turn on a fan or move their foot out from under the covers. Babies don’t have this option.

If they’re bundled up too much, their only chance of a reprieve lies in crying. It’s up to us to ensure that baby is in a comfortable climate that promotes the best sleep.

You’ll need to do a little bit of detective work to see if your baby is overheating or cold. 

Many babies have cold fingers and toes. The most accurate way to check is to feel baby’s chest. If his chest is chilly, that’s a sure sign that you need to adjust the thermostat or add some layers. 

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Signs of overheating are a little more obvious. Keep an eye out for the most common symptoms:

• Sweaty palms and pits
• Heavy breathing
• Heat rash
• Flushed face
• Damp hair

Now that you’ve established whether your baby is hot or cold, you need to adjust either his clothing or the room temperature to optimal baby sleep environment standards.

RELATED POST: How to Swaddle a Baby That Hates Being Swaddled

Room Temperature

Ideally, your baby’s room should fall between 68-72 degrees.

Speaking from personal experience, constantly monitoring the temperature in your baby’s room is downright exhausting. If you have the capability of installing a smart thermostat like the Nest, I would highly recommend it. Otherwise, a digital thermostat that is either synced with your phone or in sight of your baby monitor is a great alternative. 

Clothing

Figuring out the exact combination your baby needs can require a little experimentation. Some babies are very sensitive to warm materials, such as flannel or fleece. Others need their feet uncovered during the night. 

Below is just an example of what worked with my own daughter. My daughter ran a bit on the overheated spectrum, so light layers and a cool room temperature worked best for her. You need to experience a little trial and error before you find out what’s right for your baby.

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Lighting

As your baby develops, his circadian rhythm will too. A baby’s circadian rhythm is essentially the biological clock that regulates his sleep cycle. This cycle is stimulated by different environmental factors, but namely sunlight and temperature.

You can help your baby develop his circadian rhythm by simulating a dark environment for his naps and nighttime sleep. 

Figuring out the degree of darkness you need to invest in can take some trial and error. For some babies, a pair of curtains or shades is more than enough to create a peaceful baby sleep environment. However, other babies are very reactive to sunlight.

My daughter, for example, wakes up at the first hint of sunlight. I’m convinced that if I didn’t have two levels of light blockage in place, she’d still be a 6AM waker. 

If you throw up some shades and your baby is still waking up or having trouble falling asleep, try investing in some blackout curtains. They are very inexpensive on Amazon (or Costco) and they work great. If you don’t have the money for faux blinds or blackout curtains, you can also tape opaque construction paper to your window. 

RELATED POST: What to Do When Your Baby Wakes Up Too Early

Nightlights

A fear of the dark doesn’t generally develop until the toddler years. So, if you don’t need a nightlight in your nursery, it’s totally okay to skip out on one. 

Many moms use a nightlight for those late-night feeding sessions. When you select a nightlight, try to avoid blue-tinted bulbs. Blue light waves actually suppress melatonin production and can hinder your baby’s sleep.

A Final Note on Melatonin

You’ve probably heard about melatonin, the miracle hormone that helps your baby fall asleep.  Some parents believe that you should let your baby nap in sunlight to help him produce melatonin during the day.

This technique has a major flaw: your baby’s main priority during nap-time is to rest. Day time rest is essential to your baby’s mental and physical development.  Sunlight actively suppresses melatonin production, which can disrupt this rest.

As long as your baby is safely exposed to sunlight during the day, his circadian rhythm will develop with time. 

Sound

Sound is another essential player in the development of your baby’s circadian rhythm.

To fall asleep, your baby’s sleep environment should be quiet and peaceful. This tells his little developing circadian rhythm that it’s time to go to bed. 

A quiet space will also help your baby stay asleep. Your newborn may be able to sleep through anything and everything now, but once the 4 month sleep regression hits, you will probably have quite the opposite experience.

This sleep regression marks the permanent transformation of your baby’s sleep cycles. Approximately 45 minutes after your baby falls asleep, he’ll transition into deep restorative sleep. During this transition period, he is much more susceptible to waking up. If there’s a fair amount of noise surrounding your baby’s nursery, he may not be able to continue napping.

Now, if you’re starting to worry that your home requires absolute silence, don’t!

I’m talking about disruptive, jolting sounds such as the television, dog barking, yelling children, or fireworks. If disruptive sounds are infiltrating your baby’s sleep space, it might be a quick fix. Most sound enters a room from the gap underneath the door. Installing a toe kick or weather stripping can be a quick fix. 

White Noise Machines

If your baby is still having trouble sleeping, the solution might be to add noise.

White noise machines emit a steady, low frequency sound similar to radio static. These sound waves dull the louder, more disruptive noises in your home.

White noise machines come in several varieties. Personally, I loved the Skip Hop Owl Night Light. I used it as a night light for the duration of my breastfeeding days and still use the white noise function for my two year old. 

Sleep Surface

The comfort level of your baby’s sleep surface actually makes a huge  impact on the quality of your baby’s sleep. Your baby’s sleep surface should be flat, firm, and completely devoid of all blankets, pillows, or toys.

Having said that, your baby’s mattress should also be comfortable. Discomfort can be an issue particularly for older crib or portable crib mattresses. Check the structure of the mattress to ensure that there are no lumps or framing digging into your baby’s back. Just like us, lumps and bumps can cause backaches, making great sleep impossible.  

Safety

Great sleep starts with safe sleep, for you and your baby. A safe sleep environment not only ensures that your baby is able to sleep with security, but you can sleep more confidently.

Some of the concepts we’ve already discussed above (flat sleep surface, ideal room and body temperature), but there are a few other safe sleep guidelines you should keep in mind:

• Baby should sleep on his back
• Ensure that your home is cigarette smoke-free
• Room share for the first 6 months at least
• Independent sleeping is safer than bed-sharing
• Remove all loose bedding, including blankets, bumpers, pillows, stuffed animals, and loose-fitting sheets
• Make sure there are no strangling hazards near the crib, such as cords, strings, or wires
• Remove excessive clothing (bibs, hats, or loose swaddles) before bedtime

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What’s Your Experience with Sleep Environments for Babies?

Hopefully by now you feel a little more confident about optimizing your baby’s sleep space.

With a few quick changes to your baby’s room, you can dramatically improve his sleep. Plus, if you’re reading this before your baby is born, you’re way ahead of the curve. 🙂

If after all this, you’re still experiencing sleep troubles, feel free to check out the rest of our baby sleep posts and download a free copy of our sleep schedule bundle.

There’s a sleep troubleshooting worksheet included that I think you’re going to love.

There are so many nuances to infant sleep that even experts don’t understand. If you have any experience creating the perfect baby sleep environment, I know the rest of our moms would love to hear from you. We need all the inspiration we can get!

Have fun creating an awesome sleep space, Mama! Good luck!

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As a kid, I loved firework shows. The louder, the better. Of course, back then it didn’t occur to me that, located somewhere within the same 5 mile radius, was a new mom pulling her hair out because her baby wouldn’t sleep.

If you’re the mother of a baby or toddler, you’re probably feeling alternating excitement and dread for your baby’s first Fourth of July celebration. Sleep is a very precious commodity during early motherhood and you’d like to protect it at all costs.

If you’re looking for some smart tips on how you can help your baby sleep through the fireworks, you’ve come to the right place. I used the tips below to safeguard my daughter’s sleep on her first Fourth of July with great results.

It’s a holiday, mama! The last thing you want to do is spend baby’s first Independence Day stressing about every firework shooting off. So, let’s get to it!

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5 Smart Tips to Protect Your Baby’s Sleep During Holiday Fireworks

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

Before we get into the most effective strategies helping your baby sleep through fireworks, let’s talk about baby and fireworks safety.

 If fireworks are blasting off right by your baby’s window, you’re probably wondering, “Can fireworks hurt my baby’s ears?” Assuming your baby is safely tucked away, the answer is most likely no.  Having said that, it really depends on the proximity of the fireworks, your baby’s age, and how many decibels the firework is emitting.

However, if your baby is outside watching the fireworks, make sure he’s at least 20 meters away or in a place free from vibration, and wearing protective ear muffs. 

Now that we’ve reviewed some safety measures, let’s focus on protecting your baby’s sleep. 

Get Baby Used to Fireworks Beforehand

It’s a good idea to get your baby at least used to the sound of fireworks before the big ones set off at night. Familiarity can alleviate some of the shock and make the fireworks far less disrupting. 

If your baby or toddler is old enough, you can simply set off a few small fireworks. Do your best to make a game of it, highlighting how pretty they are and ooing and awing at the “cool sounds.” If the event is absolutely terrifying to your toddler, try not to sweat it. Just casually move on to another activity.

If you have a newborn, even small fireworks will probably be too stimulating. You may want to set them off while baby’s inside just to acclimate her to the popping sounds. 

Before introducing your baby to fireworks, make sure you keep your baby a safe distance and with age-appropriate safety guidelines. 

Put Baby to Bed Before the Fireworks Begin

This is my go-to strategy for not only preventing a baby from waking up from fireworks, but for thunderstorms or late-night card games. Try to ensure that your baby is in a deep sleep for at least an hour prior to the beginning of the fireworks show. 

This step might take a little preparation, depending on your baby’s typical bedtime. For example, if you typically put your baby down for the night at 9PM, and the fireworks begin at 9:30, you may want to gradually move your baby’s bedtime to 8 or 8:30 the week before.

Use a White Noise Machine

If you don’t have a noise machine, you need one. Trust me. 

Not only will this little device help your baby sleep through fireworks, but it will protect your baby’s sleep from impromptu visits from the mailman (doorbells are never louder than when a newborn is in the house) or accidental fire alarm set offs.

A white noise machine emits a gentle sound wave (white noise) that dims down the surrounding noise your baby hears. Sometimes that white noise sounds like a radio static, other times it’s rainfall or ocean waves. 

Amazon sells basic models for $20 but I’m a big fan of the Hatch Baby Sound Maker because it multi-functions as a night light and an alarm as well. If you don’t have time to buy one, a fan, air conditioner, or a radio playing static will do in a pinch. 

Here are a few general guidelines for using a sound machine to help your baby sleep through fireworks:

• Acclimate your baby to a sound machine at least a few days beforehand. If that’s not possible, integrate it during his naps.
• The louder the sound machine, the better. You will need to gradually adjust your baby’s ears to the sound. Start at the lowest setting and work your way up. Ideally, by the time Independence Day rolls around, he’ll have no trouble with the highest setting. 
• Keep it running through the night.You never know when your neighbors will discover that they still have a few fireworks left! On that note, you might want to keep it running the 3rd and 5th too…

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Don’t Skip a Nap

You might be tempted to skip your baby’s nap before the fireworks, either from a desire to “tire him out” or because the festivities make your day too busy.This can actually hurt your cause. 

If your baby doesn’t get good sleep during the day, he may become overtired at night.

Just think of those times when you’ve gone to bed super late. Was your sleep restless? Your baby’s experience will be similar. If he’s wired before he goes to bed, he’s much more likely to wake up during the fireworks show. 

RELATED POST: 7 Things that Might be Ruining Your Baby’s Sleep

Give Your Baby a Minute to Resettle

Even if you employ all the tips above, a particularly loud blast might wake your baby at some point. When this happens, wait for a minute or two before running in. He may just be fussy because he doesn’t appreciate the interruption to his sleep, not necessarily out of fear. Wait a minute or two to see if he resettle himself. At that point, if his cries intensify, you know that he needs you for comfort. 

If you do need to comfort your baby, try to avoid fear-instilling language like, “Oh, you poor baby. Did the big fireworks scare you?” Instead, simply acknowledge his fear in a calm, quiet voice, and reassure him that he’s safe. 

Do You Have the Secret Sauce for Getting Your Baby to Sleep Through Fireworks?

If you’re stressing about the upcoming firework show, I sincerely hope that these tips help. It’s hard to predict how a baby will react to fireworks, so try not to take it personally if you run into a few hiccups. Your goal is simply to ease him through this new event and you’re doing a great job.

Now, it’s your turn. I’d love to hear about any strategies you’ve tried that have (or haven’t) worked. Let us know in the comments below!

Have a great 4th of July! 

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While most baby gear is eventually cast aside, a wooden high chair promises authenticity, quality, and lots of memories.  

A couple weeks ago, I received the Hauck Alpha Chair. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve always loved the concept of wooden children’s furniture, but I’ve been burned by the selection at the big box stores.

You know what I’m talking about, right? This furniture is priced exceptionally well and looks beautiful, but it breaks apart the moment your toddler wiggles the wrong way.

If you’re considering purchasing the Alpha Chair, I’m guessing you have two main questions: 1. Is it worth the investment? And 2, will it function as well as its more expensive competitors?

For the last two weeks, I’ve put the Alpha Chair through the gauntlet only a rambunctious toddler can dish out. In my Hauck Alpha Chair review, I’m going to share my experiences and dive deep into its pros, cons, and features.

The Alpha Chair will be an important investment for you and your child. Let’s look at the details together and decide if its right for you.

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The Hauck Alpha Chair Review: At a Glance

What is the Hauck Alpha Chair

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

About the Company

Hauck is a multi-generational, family-owned business that prides itself in creating eco-friendly baby gear. Originally founded in Upper Franconia, Germany,  Hauck has been in business for over 8 decades. They started out making bassinets and now offer a complete line of baby gear, including playpens, baby gates, cribs, and high chairs.

Personally, I love that this manufacturer displays so much passion for their products. It tells me that I can trust them with my money and my child.

About The Alpha Chair

Hauck designed the Alpha Chair with your child’s needs, present and future, in mind. Constructed with sustainable beechwood, the Alpha Chair is highly versatile, sturdy, and offers a sleek, minimalistic approach to baby furniture.

Quick Facts for Hauck Alpha Chair

Weight Capacity: 90KG or 198LBS	Age: 36 months to 10 Years w/o accessories
Dimensions: 22.2inx18.8inx31.5in	Price: See Baby Earth for Pricing

The seat, without any accessories, is usable from 36 months to about 10 years. The Alpha Chair is compatible with quite a few accessories:

• The Newborn 2-in-1 Bouncer- The bouncer attaches directly to the top of the chair, allowing the Alpha Chair to be used by newborns. This is actually a very handy accessory for when you’re eating dinner and trying to manage a newborn.
• The Feeding Tray and 5-Point Harness- Once your baby has begun solids (about 6 months), he can start sitting in the chair with this accessory. There’s a good chance that you won’t use the feeding tray for too long, since the chair is table height. However, the 5-point harness will be necessary for any child under 36 months.
• Seatpad- It’s machine-washable and extremely helpful if your baby needs just a little more comfort.

This Chair is Right for You If…

If your priorities lie in quality, style, and sustainability, this wooden high chair is a good fit for you.

We’ve all seen the more popular (and admittedly less expensive) plastic high chairs at the big box stores. I don’t know about you, but I’m a little tired of buying baby gear that essentially becomes junk a few months later. A wooden chair offers beauty and authenticity, plus a piece of furniture your child can save for their babies.

The Alpha Chair also draws budget-conscious consumers. Priced at about $100 less than one of its main competitors, the Alpha Chair allows parents to invest in wooden furniture without the daunting price tag.

Do Not Buy This Chair If…

You don’t want a semi-permanent piece of furniture, you have limited space, or you plan on tossing it in a few months.

The Alpha Chair is meant to be a statement piece that stays in your house for a long time. So, if your priorities lie in portability or budget, it might not be the right fit for you.

The Hauck Alpha Chair Review: My Experience

Now we’re going to get into the meat of my Hauck Alpha Chair review: how difficult it was to set up, how those pretty design features held up against my crazy toddler, and if I’d recommend it for you.

Overall, I did really enjoy the Alpha Chair and I think you will too. However, there are a few disadvantages that we’re going to go over that I think you should take into account.

Assembly

Either from faulty instructions, lack of hardware, or cheap design, assembly is where many baby gear manufacturers seem to fall short. I had peeked at a few reviews of the Alpha Chair prior to receiving it, and this seemed to be its chief complaint.

So, my experience? Flawless assembly.

I put the chair together in under 20 minutes,  with a toddler stealing my parts and contractors hammering away in the next room. I thought the assembly was ridiculously easy.

Every bolt and dowel fell into place perfectly, every tool you needed to put it together was already included, and the instructions were detailed yet easy to understand.

Most impressively, the chair was completely solid once I finished, despite my very limited assembly skills.

Aesthetics & Quality

If you’ve ventured into big box stores, you’ve probably seen adjustable wooden high chairs similar to the Alpha Chair. While these chairs might look amazing, it doesn’t take long to discover that they’re made from cheap composite board and a wood veneer thinner than your fingernail.

European Beech Frame

The Alpha chair is an actual piece of furniture that you can admire. The frame is solid European beech. Beechwood, a very popular species used to craft furniture, is durable and scratch-resistant.

Sturdiness

Its large width and A-shaped legs distributes the weight to the base of the chair, making it incredibly study as well. My daughter uses the Alpha Chair as a step-stool (NOT it’s intended use), and the chair hasn’t toppled yet. I’d say that’s quite impressive.

Comfort

There is one downside to design of the chair, however. The rigidity of the seat. While the back bar is curved and angled to promote proper posture, it’s also very rigid.

At this age, most kids won’t care too much about the comfort level of a chair. Afterall, they’ll only be able to sit in for five minutes at a time anyway. Still, if you think the lack of comfort might be an issue with your child, you might want to invest in the seat pad.  

Ease of Use

For the purpose of creating this Huack Alpha Chair review, I received the chair without any accessories. I tested the seat and footplate adjustments and assessed how easily my toddler used the chair.

Versatility

The Alpha Chair is marketed as an adjustable wooden high chair that grows with your baby. The seat is adjustable to three different heights and the footplate to five different heights. Adjusting the chair is very easy and requires no time at all.

Table Height

Most high chairs or children’s chairs stand at an awkward height, either too high or too low to allow your toddler to eat at the dinner table. I loved that the Alpha Chair easily slides up to a standard-height table.

Smart Design

There are so many intuitive features that make this chair easy for mom and baby to use.

The weight distribution, generous width, floor pads (a godsend if you have hardwood floors), quick assembly, hefty hardware, and perfectly angled back all attest to a carefully planned design with real-life use in mind.

Portability

The Alpha Chair’s lack of portability can be a major downside, depending on your lifestyle and square footage. The Alpha Chair wasn’t really designed with portability in mind. You won’t have the ability to fold it and it’s a little too wide to store in a closet.

Having said that, the chair is modern and sleek; you want it to be out on display. If you do need to hide it, the chair can easily slide under the table until dinner time.

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Value

When compared to its main competitor, the Stokke Tripp Trapp, the Alpha Chair is a great buy. Even bundled with all of its accessories, the Alpha Chair is priced $50-100 less than the Stokke Tripp Trapp.

Having said that, there are a few other budget-friendly wooden high chairs on the market that are comparable and even less expensive than the Alpha Chair, depending on what features and design aesthetics you prefer.

Overall, I’d rate the Alpha chair as reasonably priced. I do wish that the base model came with the safety bar and crotch belt like some of its competitors, but that should not be a deal-breaker.

You can buy the Alpha Chair by itself or bundled with any of the accessories I mentioned.

If purchasing for a newborn, your best bet would be to purchase the Ultimate Bundle from Baby Earth. It includes the Alpha Chair, newborn bouncer, feeding tray, and 5-point harness. Baby Earth also sells the Alpha Chair by itself or bundled exclusively with the seat pad or tray.

Hauck Alpha Chair Review Conclusion: Would I Recommend It?

The Alpha Chair is an investment that will age with your child and be treasured well into adulthood.

For a wooden chair, I think the Alpha Chair is a great buy. It’s less expensive than its direct competitors and does not sacrifice quality to get there. I found it extremely sturdy, easy to clean, and beautiful.

It definitely has my stamp of approval!

Purchasing furniture for your baby can be difficult with the vast selection available. Hopefully my Hauck Alpha Chair review has helped make your decision a little easier.

If you’d like to take the plunge and purchase the Alpha Chair for your baby today, just click the link below.

But before you leave, can I ask a question? Have you used the Alpha Chair or another wooden baby chair? I know that other parents would love to read about your experiences. Let me know in the comments below!

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Sunburn just kind of sneaks up on you, especially with babies and toddlers. You’re enjoying the perfect day at the park, dozing off to the cool breeze and partly cloudy skies, when you notice that your baby is suddenly lobster red.

If your baby is suddenly afflicted with a nasty case of sunburn, don’t be too hard on yourself. Babies and toddlers can burn with just 15 minutes of exposure, even on a cloudy day.

Now that it has happened, it’s important to treat the burn quickly and effectively to prevent unnecessary discomfort and scarring.

Today we’re going to talk about the best sunburn relief for babies and toddlers you can use. These products and natural remedies are safe, effective, and will have your baby’s skin back to its silky-smooth self in no time!

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Treating a Sunburn in Babies and Toddlers: What it Is, Prevention, and Best Remedies

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

What is Sunburn and How Damaging is it to Your Baby?

We’ve all suffered from sunburn at some point in our lives. Whether from a long, fun day at the beach or a little too long on the tanning bed, sunburn has become a natural part of our lives. So, it’s easy to dismiss how damaging it actually is.

A “sunburn” is actually a form of radiation damage. Your cherry-red skin is an inflammatory response to dead or dying skin caused by this radiation damage. And that annoying peeling we’ve all had to deal with after a particularly bad sunburn?

That’s the result of DNA damage in our skin cells. Our body recognizes that damage and evicts that skin cell rather than allowing it to turn into a cancerous cell later down the road.

How to Tell If Your Baby is Sunburned

We’ve spent twenty something years withstanding the rays from the sun. Babies, not so much. A baby’s response to sunburn can be very dramatic.

These short-term side effects of a sunburn will most likely surface within the first 6-12 hours of damage:

• Redness
• Blisters (A sign of 2nd degree burn)
• Light fever
• Swelling
• Discomfort

In just a minute, we’re going to focus on the best sunburn relief for babies and toddlers. Having said that, there are some long-term side-effects that you should really be aware of.

On the lesser scale, the sun blisters your baby develops from a severe sunburn could become infected and cause scars. More alarmingly, researchers have also found that sunburn also can increase your baby’s chance of developing melanoma later in life.

How to Prevent Sunburn in Babies and Toddlers

If you weren’t on the anti-sunburn bandwagon before, I’m sure you are now! There’s good news, though: there are so many things you can do to prevent sunburn next time. So, before we get into sunburn relief for babies and toddlers, let’s take a brief look at some prevention strategies.

Limit Exposure to Sun

Babies 6 months and younger are most susceptible to the short-term and long-term ailments I mentioned above. If you have a newborn, don’t even mess with sunblock; just keep him out of the sun! The sun is most dangerous between 10AM to 4PM. During that time, keep your baby in a shaded area, away from harmful rays.

Use a Mineral-based Sunblock

After 6 months, you’re free to use sunblock.

Most experts recommend using a sunblock with at least 15 SPF. Personally, I use a mineral-based sunblock with 50 SPF.

Mineral-based sunblocks ensure that your baby’s skin won’t become irritated by harsh chemicals. You can find mineral-based sunblocks at your local box store pretty easily; They usually advertise active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Having said that, I prefer to buy mine on Amazon because it’s usually more cost-efficient.

We love the Aveeno Baby sunblock. The active ingredient is zinc oxide and my daughter has never had a reaction from it. My only complaint is that it’s so thick that sometimes it’s hard to spread. But honestly, the protection is worth it!

(EDIT: Aveeno sells a sunblock stick now!!)

Use a Sun Hat

A sunhat serves a dual purpose: it blocks harmful UV rays to your baby’s fair scalp (which I’m assuming does not have sunblock on it) and it protects your baby’s eyes. When choosing a sunhat, make sure that’s it has a wide brim and it’s made out of a light-weight material.

Portable Shade

If you’re planning an epic day at the beach, it might be time to invest in a baby tent or umbrella.

I especially love baby tents. They’re perfect for unexpected nursing sessions, a private area for your baby to play, or an impromptu nap.

Beach umbrellas also work in a pinch as well. Anything to protect your baby from direct sunlight!

Sunglasses

Just like your baby’s skin, his eyes are extremely susceptible to UV damage as well. Over time,  UV damage can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration. So, buying a pair of ridiculously cute sunglasses should be on your todo list this summer.

Ideally, you’ll want to find a pair that is shatterproof and offers at least 400nm of UV blockage (or 100% UVA/UVB protection). There are plenty of excellent sunglasses on Amazon that meet these requirements!

8 Effective Products for Sunburn Relief for Babies and Toddlers

Now that you know how to prepare for your next beach excursion, it’s time to treat the problem at hand: your baby’s painful sunburn.

When you’re trying baby sunburn remedies, you’re focusing on three things: hydration, soothing his inflammatory response, and healing his damage.

Cool or Tepid Water

Water can be an effective sunburn relief for babies and toddlers if used correctly. First, make sure the water is actually cool or tepid. Too hot or too cold will sting. Ice in particular can cause further damage to his wounds.

Second, you can either use a compress or wet rag, or give your baby a cool bath. Both are effective and can ease some of your baby’s discomfort.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera gel should be one of the remedies that’s always in your cabinet. You’ll use aloe vera gel for burns, bites, stretch marks, and everything in between. According to multiple studies, aloe vera contains anti-inflammatory properties that make it a great option for baby and toddler sunburn relief.

For the most effective baby sunburn treatment, make sure you apply chilled pure aloe vera gel directly to the burn.

Tea Bath

I love tea baths because it soothes, heals, and hydrates. It’s the perfect way to calm your baby before bed to ensure a full night of sleep.

Chamomile and calendula are both excellent choices for a tea bath. Chamomile reduces stress while calendula is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Treating sunburn in babies and toddlers should be done with care, since each baby’s skin sensitivities vary. Check with your pediatrician before putting your baby into a tea bath. He’ll be able to tell you if and how many tea bags are appropriate.

Typically though, you would to start out brewing 2-3 tea bags and then pouring that mixture into your baby’s bath water. To avoid further skin irritation, make sure you perform a skin-test beforehand and use tepid water.

Coconut Oil

Much like aloe vera, coconut oil is one of those cure-all natural remedies that every mom needs in her cabinet.

Coconut oil provides a triple whammy as a baby sunburn remedy: the fatty acids in coconut oil will hydrate your baby’s skin, fight harmful microorganisms (which promotes healing), and soothes inflammatory responses.

To use coconut oil on your baby, simply hold a small dab in your hands to turn it in to liquid form (you don’t want the oil to get any warmer than that because it could feel uncomfortable to baby). After a cool compress or water, apply the oil directly to the sunburn.

Honey

Honey is also well-known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Your wiggly toddler probably won’t appreciate it if you try to apply sticky goo directly to his arm (or maybe he will, who knows with toddlers!), so try dissolving a tablespoon in warm water and apply it once it cools.

Just note that honey is strictly for toddler sunburn relief. Not babies! There’s a slight chance that your honey might contain a bacterium called, clostridium botulinum. If your baby happens to ingest this bacterium, it can cause some serious food poisoning. After 12 months, your little toddler should be safe from the bacterium’s negative side-effects.

SHORT ON TIME? PIN IT FOR LATER!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is responsible for helping several infant afflictions, such as reflux, eczema, and baby acne. It’s even known for boosting your baby’s immune system. For sunburns, it works as both an anti-fungal and antiseptic.

I love using apple cider vinegar because it can be an incredibly sneaky way to soothe sunburn in babies. Just add a couple tablespoons to your baby’s bath water and watch him play (once again, double-check with your pediatrician for exact quantities and perform a skin test beforehand).

Anti-Itch Creams

Your little one will most likely experience some itchy discomfort.

If you have a baby, you don’t have to worry about him scratching himself raw like a toddler might, but this itchiness can still cause nighttime sleep disruptions.

Before turning to antihistamines, try natural, topical anti-itch creams. Try to look for ingredients like “calendula” and “colloidal oatmeal.” Calendula is commonly found in natural diaper lotions and creams.  Colloidal oatmeal is a natural ingredient commonly used to treat eczema.

If you still have your baby’s eczema cream handy, that could be a great baby and toddler sunburn relief. Otherwise, Aveeno Baby sells a paraben and steroid-free balm and baby bath powder that works great!

Lightweight Clothing

Your baby’s skin will be very, very sensitive for the next couple days. Rough and heavy material will only exasperate his burns. Make sure that his jammies are lightweight, or something he won’t sweat in.

Lots of fluid

Your baby will need a lot of liquids while he’s sunburned. A sunburned baby will not retain liquids nearly as well. Not only will liquids ensure hydration, but it’s essential for healing.

For younger babies, try to add an additional nursing session or feeding to your day. If your baby is over six months, try giving him water in addition to his regular milk intake.

What Not to Do for Baby and Toddler Sunburn Relief

Keep your little guy out of the sun until his burn heals. Right now, the additional heat and UV rays will make him feel very uncomfortable and could do more damage. You should also avoid hot or cold baths and ice.

If your baby’s blisters pop, try treating them with a topical antibiotic. Whatever you do, don’t pop them yourself. Popped blisters are more likely to become infected and scarred.

Also, stay away from any of these products:

• Anything with petroleum in it (like Lanolin)
• Butter- There’s a rumor that butter or cooking oil is an effective way for treating sunburn in babies and toddlers. Actually, butter can trap heat against the skin, making the burn feel worse.
• Lotions with numbing agents, like benzocaine.
• Any antiseptic with alcohol

When to See Your Doctor

Baby sunburn remedies are great, but if you think your baby is suffering from severe sunburn (such as sun blisters) and seems like he’s in pain, it’s a good idea to call your pediatrician just to be safe.

Exposure to the sun can cause other heat-related problems such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, or heat rash. While a tepid bath is a great treatment for heat rash, heat exhaustion and heat stroke is a much more serious issue.

Call your doctor right away if you notice these signs:

• High fever (103 or over)
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Cramping
• Disorientation
• Irritability
• Eye inflammation

What’s Your Favorite Baby Sunburn Treatment?

When you’re treating sunburn in babies and toddlers, you’re really doing three things: soothing, healing, and hydrating. If you focus on satisfying these needs your little guy will be back to his happy self in no time.

So, that’s those are the best products and tips for sunburn relief for babies and toddlers I know of. I hope one of these remedies helped your baby. If it did, would you consider taking my 4 question survey? I’d love to know what helpful tips you’d like to see in the future!

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• What to Do When Your Baby Wakes Early in the Morning: Best Strategies to Try
• The Best Baby Essentials You Probably Didn’t Know You Needed
• 15 Easy Freezer Meals for New Moms

You and I know both know that those wee hours of the morning are important; whether you’re trying to get a few more minutes of shut-eye or get ready for work, having an early morning waking baby is just as unacceptable as it comes.

And when you share your frustrations?

Well, you may have already run into that wizened parent who simply winks and says, “sleep is for the weak” or “welcome to parenthood!”

Mama, you do not have to wake up at the crack of dawn with your baby. If you’ve got a baby waking too early for your lifestyle, there are several tips, tricks, and techniques you can try to help your situation.

RELATED POSTS:

• The Top Baby Essentials You Didn’t Know You Needed
• How to Have Amazing Sleep with a Breastfed Baby
• The Best Dream Feeding Tips for You and Your Baby
• Why Is My Baby Waking Up Every Two Hours?

Is Your Baby Waking Up Too Early? Here’s Why and How to Fix It!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

Before we get into the good stuff, you need to know what infant sleep looks like and if your expectations are reasonable.

My daughter slept through the night relatively quickly, thanks to the various techniques I employed from my favorite sleep books. What she didn’t do quickly is wake up at a decent hour.

We massively struggled with 4-6AM early wakings for the first couple months of her life. Looking back, I see that the problem was as much my fault as it was her natural, biological tendency.

Below we’re going to briefly touch on what early wakings truly are, what to expect and why your baby is waking early. It’s important to get in the right mindset so the tips we go over later in the post will be more effective!

What Are Early Morning Wakings?

Does your baby wake up at 4am? You’re not alone. Most babies waking up early typically rise between 4-6AM. This kind of waking is absolutely fixable with time and patience.

If your baby is waking at 6AM and you’d like progress to 7AM, you still may be able to extend his nighttime sleep with certain tactics. Just be aware that anything after 6AM is considered a normal, acceptable waking time for an infant.

Why Is My Baby Waking Early?

Figuring out why your baby is waking early takes a little experimentation and time. It’s more effective to change factors and schedules bit by bit, one variable at a time, to avoid more sleep issues.

If you want, you can download my baby sleep bundle and use my sleep troubleshooting sheet so you can easily keep track of your changes and narrow down the true cause of your baby’s early wakings.

In the meantime, here are just a few reasons why your baby might be waking early.

Hunger

A dead giveaway for hunger is erratic wakings.

When hungry, a baby will wake up at 4AM one morning and 5AM the next. It just depends on when her little tummy grumbles.

If your baby just started waking up early, you might be dealing with a growth spurt or milk supply issue. If you recently dropped a night feeding, the problem could be resolved by giving her more milk during the day or implementing a dream feed (if she’s under 7 months old).  

Lack of Routine

Is your little one on a pretty solid routine? If not, she’ll be much more prone to wake up whenever the urge hits her.

A schedule will help train your baby’s developing metabolism and biological clock. Ideally, she’ll eat, play, and sleep at the same time of the day. Her body will adapt much more quickly to a routine, making her morning wakings much more predictable.

Overtired or Undertired

If your baby isn’t getting enough sleep during the day, it can lead to restless sleep at night. Between 4-6AM, your baby’s body will naturally begin to fire up, thanks to his developing circadian rhythm. If his brain is wired from exhaustion, he’ll be much more likely to wake up during this time.

Likewise, if your baby is getting too many naps during the day, he’ll never be able to sleep long stretches through the night.

If this sounds confusing, don’t worry. We’ll get into how to differentiate and fix these issues a little later.

Environmental Issues

Some babies are hardwired to wake at the crack of dawn. This is my daughter to a T. If even a ray of sunlight peaks through her blackout shades, she starts to stir.

Cheerful, morning sounds can also trigger your baby’s internal alarm. You never realize how loud birds chirp or cars sound until you have a newborn…

These are just a couple common issues that may cause your baby to wake up too early. For more ideas, make sure you check out my post on things that could be destroying your baby’s sleep.

RELATED POST: 7 Things That Could Be Ruining Your Baby’s Sleep

Baby Waking Early? Try These 10 Tips!

1 Set a Morning Wake Time

My favorite baby sleep training book, On Becoming Babywise, recommends establishing a morning wake time. A morning wake time is the first waking of the day, when your baby is officially allowed to get out of bed and start the festivities. Ideally, this should be between 6-8AM and occurs within a consistent half hour window.

Why is a morning wake time important?

Your baby’s morning wake time is the pillar of your routine. It allows his metabolism and habits to adapt much more quickly to the schedule you had in mind. Plus, when your baby is waking up in the wee hours of the morning, an established wake time represents a goal to work toward.

Right now, think about when you’d like your baby to wake up in the morning.

For example, my daughter wakes up between 7:45-8:00AM. This is early enough for my daughter (who is naturally an early riser) and late enough for me (so I can work in the morning). We did not arrive at this time naturally. It was definitely a compromise between both of our needs and took several months to perfect.  

But my baby wakes up at 4AM, you say….

Right now a 7AM morning wake time might seem like a lofty goal. That’s okay! Remember, it’s a goal that you want to work towards.

In the beginning, your  5AM-er may just lay in his crib in 10 minute increments until you gradually shimmy up to 6. Then, once you’ve conquered a 6AM wake time for a while, (I’d say at least 2 weeks), you can start shimmying up to 7.

Just keep in mind that your morning wake time might change. A good, reasonable morning wake time takes your baby’s natural inclinations into account as well as your own schedule and preferences.

RELATED POST: How to Start the Perfect Baby Sleep Schedule

2 Treat 4-6AM Feedings as Night Feedings

Tracy Hogg, the author of The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems, mentions that during 4-6 months of age, babies tend to start waking up between 4 and 6AM.

This isn’t necessarily out of a physiological need, rather than their developing internal clock. She also believes that early morning wakings are reinforced by the reactions of the parents. When an early riser starts whining and his parents rush in, turn on the lights, and start his day, that wake time is reinforced.

So, how do we fix this?

Early wakings should be treated like night wakings. When your baby wakes up, feed him if you need to, but keep the lights dimmed, speak in low, soothing tones, and minimize social interactions.

3 Give Baby More to Eat During the Day

When trying to extend his nighttime sleep, it’s pretty natural for baby to wake up at 4AM starving. However, sometimes you can correct your baby waking early by introducing more food during the day.

Keep in mind that babies younger than 6 months should be feeding at least 6 times a day. If your baby is receiving less than that, you may want to add an additional feeding. Cluster feedings and dream feeds are excellent techniques to increase your baby’s daily intake!

Alternatively, if your baby waking too early is a new phenomenon, she might be going through a growth spurt. In any case, the solution is still the same: increasing daytime feedings!

4 Use Blackout Curtains

This is such a simple trick, but I’ve found it to be incredibly effective.

Sunlight is the catalyst that jump starts your baby’s circadian rhythm. Without any cognitive abilities, it’s the one thing telling his little baby body that it’s time to start the day.

If your baby is waking too early and you don’t have any shades in his room, there’s a very good chance it’s due to sunlight.

Some babies are more sensitive than others. My daughter will wake if there’s even a ray of sunlight beaming into her room. Your baby might have the exact tendency!

Experiment with blackout curtains. You won’t regret it. I’ve used several types from Target and Walmart, but I’ve always come back to Amazon. This particular brand has a 90% black out version (which is what I used paired with blinds) or a 100% blackout.

5 Break the Habit

Does your baby wake up at 5AM on the dime every day?

What could have started as a hunger feeding may have evolved into a habit. Habitual wakings can be very frustrating, but once you figure out how to break the cycle, your early wakings could be fixed!

One method Tracy Hogg recommends is the “Wake-to-Sleep” trick.  You can find the full tutorial in her book, The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems, (FYI, I recommend to all moms and just for baby waking early problems! It’s an incredible resource), but here’s the basics:

About a half hour before your baby typically wakes up, try giving him a feed while he’s still drowsy. Once you’re done, slip out of his room. Ideally, with a full belly, he’ll be able to sleep until your morning wake time. Ideally, this will disrupt his usual habitual waking.

Now, this is just a temporary solution designed to interrupt his biological clock. If you continue this pattern, his metabolism will adjust to the earlier feeding.

6 Don’t Rush In

Some moms assume that it’s time to check on baby the moment she starts making noise.

Once again going back to the Baby Whisperer, Tracy Hogg mentions that most babies start talking to themselves between 4-6AM before naturally falling back to sleep. That is, if they are left alone.

But what if your baby is crying?

There is a huge difference between fussing and crying.  When a sleep trained baby wakes up and immediately starts fussing (it’s this whiney, angry sound), that’s a pretty good indication that she’s still tired. Give her a few minutes to see if she’ll resettle. Every child is different, but when my daughter woke fussy, it usually took her about 10 minutes to fall asleep again.

Crying, wailing, or screaming is another matter. Crying usually indicates some need, whether it be hunger, a dirty diaper, or simply “get me out of here!”.

7 Adjust Baby’s Bedtime

Two factors come into play when adjusting your baby’s bedtime. The amount of sleep he needs and the wake time you’re shooting for.

The amount of sleep your baby needs depends on his age. Richard Ferber, author of Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems (and “Ferberizing”), says that babies need between 13-16 hours of sleep a day (once again, depending on age and temperament). As your baby develops, his sleep with be consolidated into about 10-12 hours of sleep a night and 3-5 hours during the day.

Take a look at your baby’s nighttime sleep.

If you’re putting baby to bed at 7PM and he’s waking up at 5AM happy and refreshed, chances are, he’s getting enough sleep. In this case, you would gradually (in 10-15 minute increments) shift his bedtime to a later time.

Alternatively, if you’re putting your baby to bed at 8PM and he’s waking at 5AM fussy and tired, that’s a good indication to move your baby’s bedtime back.

A word of advice though, do not assume that a later bedtime will result in later risings. Sometimes a later bedtime can have the exact opposite effect and could actually be the origin of baby waking too early.

SHORT ON TIME? PIN IT FOR LATER!

8 Adjust or Drop Nap Times

Babies waking up early could also be an indication that they are getting too much daytime sleep for their age. This could mean either adjusting the duration of a nap or dropping it altogether.

Babies drop a nap roughly at 4, 8, and 16 months. If your baby is somewhere close to those ages and still taking 4, 3, or 2 naps respectively, this could be the origin of your problems.

Let’s say you’ve experimented with dropping a nap and the end result is a cranky, overtired baby. If your baby still needs all of his naps, experiment with the duration. Unless your baby is down to one nap a day, his naps should be no longer than 2 hours each.

As you’ve probably already guessed, adjusting bedtimes and nap times requires patience and a lot of trial and error. Don’t give up if you don’t see immediate results! Try only one change at a time, and make sure you keep the changes consistent.

(Remember, you can download my baby sleep schedule bundle which includes a sleep troubleshooting sheet to help you out!)

9 Wean to a More Appropriate Time

Sometimes feeding your baby more during the day just isn’t going to cut it. Due to growth spurts or your baby’s current physical development, she may still need that morning feed.

Don’t worry, you’re not doomed to 5AM feeds forever.

If your baby is waking too early because of hunger, you can gradually push that feeding to a more appropriate time. Distract your baby with a pacifier or try to rock her to sleep again, anything to put off that morning feed. The idea is to help his body get used to a later feeding, so that he will sleep in longer.

Some babies will only tolerate this shift in 10 minute increments. As you can imagine, shifting your baby’s morning feed can be a little slow, but it’s well worth the effort.

10 Use Sleep Training Methods

Let’s say you’ve tried all of the methods above with no luck. Once you’ve ensured that your baby’s physiological needs are being met and the issue isn’t environmental, you might consider turning to sleep training.

Sleep training is just that: training your baby to sleep effectively. How you choose to sleep train is totally up to you. There are gentle “no-cry” sleep training methods such as the “Shush-Pat” from the Baby Whisperer, or “Cry it Out” methods from Ferber or Weisbluth.

I sleep trained my own daughter with wonderful results. However, I want to emphasize that it should be looked at as a last resort early morning wakings, for those rare situations where babies wake up during the early morning hours simply because they want a cuddle or out of habit.

Most times though, early morning wakings can be resolved once you do some experimentation and solve your baby’s issue. Just use your best judgment and remain consistent with whatever methods you choose.

RELATED POST: Sleep Training 101: All About Sleep Training Methods and How to Begin

It is Possible to Tame a Baby Waking Early in the Morning!

Dealing with a baby that wakes up too early is anything but fun. The good news is, you don’t have to commit to waking up at 4AM until your baby is a tween. Try these methods out and if baby is waking too early still, be sure to check out some of our other helpful posts!

I hope these tips helped get the creative juices flowing (or at least has given you some sort of hope!).   If it did, would you consider taking my quick 1 minute survey? It will give your struggles as a new mom a voice and help me know how to best serve you!

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• How to Have Amazing Sleep with a Breastfed Baby
• The Best Dream Feeding Tips for You and Your Baby
• Why Is My Baby Waking Up Every Two Hours?

The first couple months of breastfeeding is far from easy.

Even in an ideal nursing situation, beginner breastfeeding mamas can experience sore, cracked, or bleeding nipples. When you throw in other conditions like tongue tie, an overactive letdown, or nursing a premature baby, breastfeeding can become very difficult indeed.

As a new mom, I used a nipple shield. It ebbed the flow of my overactive letdown, helped my tongue tied daughter latch, and relieved most of the pain from bleeding and cracked nipples.

Some days, my nipple shield was the only thing that enabled me to continue breastfeeding.

Used correctly, the right nipple shield can be just the tool you need. In this post, we’re going to go over exactly what nipple shields are, how to use them, and how to choose the best nipple shield for your unique situation.

RELATED POST: The Best Organic Nipple Cream for Sore Nipples

The Best Nipple Shields Quick Comparison

	NIPPLE SHIELD	BEST FOR
	Medela Contact Nipple Shield	Universal Fit
	Lansinoh Nipple Shield	Flat Nipples
	Ameda Nipple Shields	Circular Nipple Shields
	Purifyou Nipple Shields	Sore Nipples and Preemies
	JLR Industry Nipple Shields and Milk Collectors	Overactive Letdown
	Bonus: Momma Bear Nipple Shields	Budget-Friendly Moms

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Nipple Shield

What is a Nipple Shield

At its most basic function, a nipple shield provides a barrier between your baby and your nipple.

Modern day nipple shields are usually constructed of BPA-free silicone, while only a handful are still made from rubber. Silicone nipple shields are ultra-thin, which allows more areola stimulation.

Silicone nipple shields come in two varieties: contact (also known as cut-out) or circular.

Contact has the top piece cut out, which allows for more skin-to-skin contact. A circular nipple shield has a larger silicone circumference, allowing for better adhesion.

The tip of the nipple shield can vary as well. Conical nipples are wider, resembling a flower pot. Cherry nipples mimic the natural shape of a nipple, with a wider base and a more narrow tip. While cherry nipples may appeal to smaller babies, it can be difficult fit, depending on your nipple size.

At every tip you’ll find a few holes; This allows your baby to suckle.

Who Needs to Use a Nipple Shield

Premature Baby

One study showed that premature babies that nursed with a nipple shield were able to take in as much as 60% more milk! A nipple shield, like a bottle, can help your baby nurse efficiently without the exhausting work.

However, when you’re using a nipple shield for a premature baby, it’s essential to select one with a small enough tip to accommodate your baby’s mouth.

Overactive Letdown

An overactive letdown is relatively common in the first few weeks of motherhood.

Using a nipple shield can ebb the expulsive flow of your letdown, allowing your baby to drink in peace. While most nipple shields will do the trick, I highlighted one of the best of the best nipple shields for overactive letdowns below.

RELATED POST: Breastfeeding with an Overactive Letdown

Flat or Inverted Nipples

Even if you didn’t have flat nipples before you gave birth, an engorged breast can easily cause this condition.

If pumping isn’t helping with your flat nipples, a nipple shield will be your next course of action. A nipple shield allows your baby to easily latch while elongating your shallow nipple over time.

Tongue Tied Baby

If your baby has a tongue or lip tie, his mouth movement can be severely limited. He may be unable to latch properly or only produce shallow latches. A shallow latch can cause pain for you (since baby is usually suckling and gnawing your nipple) and exhaustion for baby. A nipple shield provides a temporary solution for both of these problems.

RELATED POST: Breastfeeding with a Tongue Tied Baby

Sore or Cracked Nipples

Most of the conditions above can lead to sore or cracked nipples. Any mom that has experienced raw nipples can attest to how tortuous it can be! The best nipple shield for sore nipples puts a much-needed barrier between you and baby’s gums without aggravating the tip of your nipple with the silicone.

Pros and Cons of Using a Nipple Shield

If you’re experiencing any of the conditions above and haven’t already spoken with an IBCLC, please do! While a nipple shield is a great solution, it’s only a band-aid for a bigger problem. While there are several benefits of using a nipple shield, it should only be used in certain situations, as a last resort.

SHORT ON TIME? PIN THIS POST FOR LATER

What to Look for When Buying a Nipple Shield

Material

Nipple shields should be made from BPA-Free silicone.

BPA is a chemical that is added to several commercial plastics. Even a small dose can be harmful to adults. However, prolonged exposure has been shown to produce behavioral and neurological changes in babies. If the nipple shield you’re thinking about buying doesn’t say “BPA-Free”, it’s just not worth the risk.

All of the nipple shields we recommend are BPA-Free.

Size

Typically, a nipple shield will range from 13mm-24mm.

Ideally, you’ll want to locate a nipple shield that takes both your nipple size and your baby’s mouth into account. An IBCLC should be able to determine what size you need, but we also provide some tips below.

Cost

Most nipple shields range from $5-$15 and include up to six shields per package.

In some cases, you get what you pay for. However, some name brand nipple shields are needlessly expensive and have terrible quality, while some off-brands are fantastic.

Efficiency

Nipple shields should be comfortable for you and baby, and adhere firmly to your breast. The best nipple shield will allow for maximum skin-to-skin contact, produce a steady flow for baby, and adhere efficiently.

We only recommend nipple shields with a 4-star or higher rating.

How to Use a Nipple Shield

When you don’t know how to use a nipple shield properly, it can fall off, cause more pain, or make your baby uncomfortable.

Above is one of my favorite video tutorials on how to use a nipple shield properly. If you’re not into videos, here’s a synopsis of the steps:

• Step 1: Soak your nipple shield in warm water (ideally for five minutes)
• Step 2: Dry. Apply a small amount of water or lanolin to lower lip.
• Step 3: Push the Nipple inward (so that the shield is almost inside out)
• Step 4: Position your nipple into the shield. Roll the outer shield over your areola until it pops into place.

It’s that easy!

What Size Nipple Shield to Use

It’s important to take your nipple and your baby’s mouth into account when purchasing a nipple shield.

The best way to determine your nipple size is to actually measure the width in millimeters (if you only have an imperial measuring tape, 1 cm=10mm). Your nipple will extend about 1.5 times its regular length while your baby suckles. To accommodate this, your nipple should fit in the shield with a little bit of space all around it.

The second factor is your baby’s mouth size. If your baby is premature, he may not be able to accomodate a large, 24mm nipple shield.

How to Clean a Nipple Shield

Just like a breast pump, your nipple shield should be cleaned after every use to avoid bacteria build-up.

Luckily, cleaning a nipple shield is pretty straight forward. Simply wash with a mild soap, then rinse with warm water. Turn the nipple outward when air drying.

You can also sanitize your nipple shield once a day, in either the dishwasher, a baby sanitizer or buy boiling in water (do NOT let the nipple shield touch the pan).

When to Replace a Nipple Shield

Since most nipple shields are recommended for temporary use, you’ll likely stop using it before you replace it.

Weaning from Nipple Shields

Once your baby gets used to nursing with a nipple shield, sometimes he’ll prefer it over your nipple. There’s much less work involved for him, especially if your nipple is flat or inverted. Can you blame the little guy for giving you a hard time?

The best way to wean from a nipple shield is to avoid the nipple confusion altogether.

When you breastfeed with a nipple shield, alternate between a covered and uncovered breast (if you can). This will keep him from becoming used to the sensation of the nipple shield.

Note: If your primary use of a nipple shield is sore nipples, invest in a good nipple cream and visit a lactation consultant immediately. When I experienced nipple pain, I fought against going to an IBCLC (#poornewmom). After weeks of suffering, I discovered that my baby was tongue tied and I had an overactive letdown. Don’t hesitate like I did. Most insurances do cover lactation consultations. It’s well worth the visit!

Tips to Wean Baby From a Nipple Shield

If all else fails and you need to wean baby from a nipple shield, these tips can expedite the process:

• Bait and Switch: Latch with the nipple shield first, then switch breasts once he’s had a bit to drink. He may be a little more willing to try your breast.
• Try the bait and switch or llatching bare-breasted while baby is groggy.
• Hand-express before nursing to stimulate your letdown. This will make nursing less work for him and instantly gratifying.
• For inverted or flat nipples, try pumping or rubbing your nipples with an ice cube before nursing to elongate them.

Weaning from a nipple shield can take time, so don’t sweat it if the results aren’t exactly as you’d like them to be.

The 5 Best Nipple Shields for Breastfeeding Moms: Detailed Reviews

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from one of the links I will make a small commission at no charge to you. I only recommend what I trust. Blunders in Babyland does not diagnose, treat, or give out any professional advice for any medical conditions.

A final note before we dive into the best nipple shields…

While we will point out the design features of each nipple shield, you should know that there’s still a chance that a nipple shield won’t feel exactly right or your baby will deny it altogether once you try it.

Some moms play it safe by purchasing a couple brands, while others use trial and error.

The important thing to remember is not to give up on the first try. This is a highly specialized choice based on the preferences of you and your baby. It’s okay if you don’t get it right the first time!

Medela Contact Nipple Shield

The Best Nipple Shield for Everyone

As you explore breastfeeding essentials, you’ll begin to notice two names appearing over and over again. Lansinoh and Medela. Most of the time, the two manufacturers are close competitors, producing goods that are similar quality and price.

In this case, I believe that Medela produces the best nipple shield for breastfeeding, but at an additional cost.

The Medela Contact Nipple Shield is uniquely designed to promote a decent amount of skin-to-skin contact without compromising adhesion. It has the most diverse selection of sizes, including 16mm, 20mm, and 24mm.

The downside is the price. Each nipple shield is sold individually and without the carrying case that comes standard with most of the other choices on this list.

Lansinoh Nipple Shield

Best Nipple Shield for Flat Nipples

The Lansinoh nipple shield is a budget-friendly choice for a name brand product. For roughly the same price as the Medela nipple shield, you’ll receive a pair of shields plus a carrying case. Like the Medela brand, Lansinoh shields are BPA-free, contain a cut-out for maximum skin-to-skin, and offer multiple sizes. https://amzn.to/2W9Ydtz

While the thickness is almost identical to the Medela shield, Lansinoh’s tip is slightly more rigid. This making it a great pick for flat nipples. Over time, your flat nipples may extend through suckling. The Lansinoh nipple shield’s rigid orifice fosters a great environment for that.

In the end, this was the nipple shield I chose. I loved the included carrying case, the fit was perfect, the silicone adhered well, and my baby was able to finally latch without causing me even an pinch of pain.

Ameda Nipple Shields

Best Circular Shield

From breast pumps to milk storage bags, Ameda is another largely-known breastfeeding essentials brand that you can trust. The Ameda nipple shields are fully circular, allowing for maximum adhesion.

Ameda offers a couple sizes for their shields, 20mm and 24mm. You can purchase the shields as a single pack or double for a discounted price.

Purifyou Nipple Shields

Best Nipple Shield for Sore Nipples and Preemies

Sometimes ultra-thin isn’t better, especially if you have cracked and bleeding nipples. If your primary focus is finding the best nipple shield for sore nipples, check out Purifyou. This particular shield is thicker than the Medela or Lansinoh. Like the Lansinoh, the tip is a little more rigid, adding another protective layer.

The Purifyou nipple is best defined as cherry shaped. The base is 20mm, while the very tip is 13mm. While this type of nipple can definitely a benefit for preemies, you really need to measure your nipple before purchasing. Otherwise, this petite fit could cause discomfort.

JLR Industry Nipple Shields and Milk Collectors

Best Nipple Shield for Overactive Letdown

The best nipple shield for overactive letdowns comes from JLR Industry. One package includes two nipple shields and two milk collectors. When you nurse, attach the nipple shield to your active breast and the milk collector on the other. After your letdown initiates, the milk collector will capture any excess milk from the other side. Not only does this save you from breast pads and extra laundry, but it helps create a milk supply for emergencies.

Taking advantage of your oversupply is probably the last thing on your mind right now, but trust me, that oversupply isn’t going to last forever.

The JLR Industry nipple shield design is similar to Lansinoh, with a conservative cut-out for skin-to-skin contact and a slightly narrower nipple. Right now, this nipple shield only comes in one size, 16mm.

Momma Bear Nipple Shields

Best Budget-friendly Nipple Shield

I know the title says “5 Best Nipple Shields”, but I couldn’t complete the article without mentioning this one!

The Momma Bear Nipple Shields are a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise quality. Each pack comes with 6 nipple shields and a cotton bag. Unlike other “off-brand” competitors, the Momma Bear shields are incredibly thin (some moms think too thin). Although the design of the shield is nearly circular, the thin material allows for more areola stimulation.

Having said that, this nipple shield is not for everyone. The only size available is 20mm. The nipple tube is also considerably more narrow than other brands on this list, making it a poor choice for flat or thick nipples.

The Best Nipple Shield for Breastfeeding Moms

We’ve looked at a lot of great products, but the best nipple shield award goes to the Medela Contact Nipple Shield. This shield has the most universal fit, great adhesion, plenty of skin-to-skin contact, and it’s manufactured by a company you can trust.

Having said that, if you looked through this list and you identify with a certain condition, don’t be afraid to test out some of the other brands. While Medela is certainly the safest option, another brand could be the perfect one.

(It’s always a good idea to have a spare anyway.)

Mama, breastfeeding is far from easy, especially when breastfeeding issues are factored into the mix. The fact that you’d like to continue to nurse despite adversity is amazing. I hope this post helped you decide on the right nipple shield to ease some of your troubles.

If it did, please take a look at some of our other breastfeeding and baby articles.

In the meantime, we’d love to hear about your personal experiences with nipple shields: what worked, what didn’t, any tips you’d be willing to provide. It helps our readers and gives your experiences a voice!

Please feel free to post any of your questions below as well!

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