Back To Sleep

Sleep Must Have: Weighted Blankets for Baby & Parents

Weighted blankets are proven in clinical studies to alleviate stress or anxiety and help promote a deeper, longer sleep. The reason why? Weighted blanket therapy can help increase Serotonin and Melatonin levels overnight. Sleep is the holy grail for new parents and babies alike. Parents want babies to sleep well because a good night’s sleep is imperative to baby’s health and development. Of course, we as parents want babies to sleep because parents also – sometimes desperately – need sleep. Weighted blankets can be game changers for your household slumber. We’re excited to tell you about two weighted blankets – one for parents and one wearable swaddle / blanket for baby – that will help the whole family get the sleep they need.

First up: baby and the Nested Bean Swaddle. Because of the clear benefits, Nested Bean identified that babies tend to sleep better in your embrace or with your palm on their chest. They also understand that this is obviously not always possible so Nested Bean created a one of a kind, award winning swaddle for babies – the Zen Swaddle. The Zen Swaddle simulates the pressure from your touch with lightly weighted pads on baby’s chest and sides.

There are two options for the Zen Swaddle – The Zen Swaddle Classic is one layer of fabric, which means it is perfect for warmer months. At a very affordable price, you can have many of them, so baby won’t miss one night of sleeping well! The Zen Swaddle Premier has a double layer construction, which makes it perfect for cooler months. The Classic Swaddle features traditional baby light baby colors, while the Premier has more of a modern touch. The Swaddle is longer than most swaddles, making it most cost effective, as it will last your baby well into 6 months. They are 100% cotton and machine washable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.

But, the best part of the Zen Swaddle? Parents who’ve tried the Zen Swaddle report their babies fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer within 1 to 3 nights. Win win for everyone! (Head over to Nested Bean to purchase a Zen Swaddle and receive 15% off with the code GUGU15.)

Next up: parents. Super, super important note that we have to stress here first – the weighted blankets shown here are intended for adult use. Do NOT use these blankets when you have an infant in the bed with you, especially a child under 20lbs.

The Weighted Blanket from Brookstone uses the same comforting pressure as a loving hug to elicit sensations of calmness and relaxation. Evenly distributed weight provides optimal coverage and a safe, snug feeling for any individual.

Meet Our Safety Expert: Alison Jacobson AKA Safety Mom

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

Gugu Guru is so thrilled to have Alison Jacobson, AKA Safety Mom, as our resident safety expert. You’ll be seeing a lot of Alison this month for Baby Safety Month and specifically our annual Back to Sleep event where Alison will give her input on some of the products that we have featured.

Corporate spokesperson, blogger and speaker, Alison Jacobson has dedicated her life to educating parents about issues that affect not only themselves, but everyone in their family. Alison is the mom of four children, step-mom to another four and care giver for her husband with Multiple Sclerosis and son with intellectual disabilities. Alison also understands personal tragedy. In 1997 she lost her first son to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It was from this tragedy that she developed her passion as a family safety and wellness advocate.

Her ability to connect with people in a down-to-earth, uplifting and engaging manner while providing important information has made Alison a popular guest on many national television shows including CNN, Fox & Friends and Good Morning America. Through her appearances, blog and articles, she reaches millions of parents every month with advice on how to raise self-confident kids in a healthy, happy and safe environment.

Alison’s tackles some of the most serious issues facing parents including the leading causes of accidents such as drowning, falls and topple over accidents, SIDS risk reduction, cyberbullying and home safety. She is also a sought-after speaker. Her topics include managing family chaos and raising successful, emotionally intelligent kids.

Over the years Alison has worked as a spokesperson for some of the world’s leading brands including COX Communications, Toyota, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Proctor & Gamble and Sylvania.

Alison resides in Connecticut with her husband and her “safety kids.”

Colgate Mattresses: Meet The Makers

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-Sponsored Post-

Buying a crib mattress is one of the most important things you will ever do in your baby’s life. Since that is the place that they will sleep, grow, and develop, it’s essential to know where your mattress comes from and who is making it. We’re big fans of Colgate Mattresses and excited to share a little bit more about the company today. Since July is a celebration of America, we thought it was fitting to explore a little more about Colgate Mattress, since they are a made in America brand.

We’ve featured Colgate for Back to Sleep, Innovative Sleep Products, and as a Nursery Essential for Mother’s Day

In 1955, Sol Wolkin and his wife Anne took over the Colgate Mattress Factory in Atlanta. Their first factory was in a small,4,000 square foot building on Ponce de Leon Avenue near the old Atlanta Crackers home baseball stadium. Anne was the backbone of the business, running the entire office. Colgate expanded several times on Ponce de Leon Avenue before relocating to its present 60,000 square foot location in historic Cabbagetown, Georgia. Colgate was founded on the values of integrity, loyalty, and honesty, and Anne and Sol passed these principles onto their three children, Alan, Joan, and Richard, their five grandchildren, and their four great-grandchildren. Sol and Anne’s memory lives on, as do their family and business values.

Did you know Colgate are pioneers in crib-mattress making? Colgate was the first to create light weight mattresses, which makes lifting the mattress to change the sheets a much easier task than traditional mattresses. Colgate mattresses are cleverly designed to accommodate baby as she transitions to the toddler phase with a simple flip of the mattress. One side is firm and supportive for infants while the other is slightly softer for toddler comfort. Colgate is committed to the health and safety of babies, and introduced the use of organic materials in crib mattresses, such as coconut coir, organic cotton and other plant-based materials. Furthermore, Colgate was also the first to manufacture a foam mattress, manufacture a dual-firmness mattress, and manufacture a mattress using organic materials.

Colgate is legendary for their commitment to exacting manufacturing standards of crafting safe crib and toddler mattresses. Colgate uses only the highest quality components, hand assembled right here in the USA because, as they say, “while many crib mattresses may look similar on the outside, we know it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” Colgate is a family owned and operated business, and has a deep dedication to baby’s sleep safety. They offer over 25 different crib mattresses, each held to the highest safety standards.

Thank you to Colgate for making this sponsored post possible.

Sleepytime Find: ergoPouch

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-Sponsored Post-

Melbourne, Australia-based ergoPouch was founded in 2009 by Alina Sack. As a mother, Sack drew on her own personal experiences of sleep deprivation to come up with innovative products designed to help babies and kids get a better night’s sleep. The award-winning ergoPouch collection includes premium quality baby swaddles, sleeping bags and sleep suits available from birth to 6 years. All ergoPouch products are made with natural fibers including Organic Cotton, Bamboo and Merino. ergoPouch products offer great functionality and versatility with swaddles that can easily transition to a sleeping bag, and sleep suits that convert from bags to suits with legs for easy use from bassinet to stroller.

You can find ergoPouch on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can buy any of the ergoPouch sleep items at Babies R Us.

The organic natural fibers that make up the ergoPouch are breathable and skin friendly, which keeps baby at an even and controlled temperature, unlike with polyester. ergoPouch offers a range of tog (warmth) ratings available to suit every temperature and every season, so you can pick the suits perfect for your baby at all times of the year. The .2 tog Ergococoon swaddle is designed to be easy to use and difficult to escape from! The simple zip up design will keep baby snug and securely swaddled without the need for complicated wrapping. For babies 0-4 months, the Ergococoon swaddles with arms in to contain natural startle reflex, and at 4-12 months transition from swaddle to sleep bag (arms out) with armhole poppers. The two way zipper makes diaper changes super easy, too!

ergoPouch Baby Sleeping Bags come in a range of fabrics and tog ratings to suit your little one – if you’re transitioning out of your ergoCocoon you might try a jersey sleeping bag. Made with organic cotton they have the same super soft feel as the ergoCocoon and come in size 8-24 months only. For a more luxurious feel, the organic cotton sheeting Sleeping Bags are made with 600+ thread count and organic cotton fillings. They have unique stretch inserts on the sides and shoulders to allow babies to move more freely and comfortably while they sleep.

For ages 2 years through six years, the award winning ergoPouch Sleep Suit converts from a Sleeping Bag to a Sleep Suit with legs using zippers – making the transition from crib to stroller or car an easy one. Like the Ergococoon Sleeping bags, ergoPouch Sleep Suit Bags are a safe way to keep baby warm without the need for extra blankets, which can place baby or child at an increase risk of SIDS. This is also a perfect choice for older babies and toddlers who like freedom of movement, with grip pads on the feet for little walkers. The Sleep Suit Bag is made from a skin-friendly organic cotton outer layer with a breathable cotton filling.

Thank you to ergoPouch for making this post possible.

Back to Sleep Day 19: HALO Bassinest

by Gugu Guru 3 Comments

On our final day of Back to Sleep, we present the HALO® Bassinest® – one of THE most popular products on Gugu Guru registries. The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is the only bassinet that swivels to bring baby to you for close and safe sleep. This means your little one can sleep as close to you as you want – even right next to you in bed – and still sleep safely in his own separate space. Read on to find out if this product is a fit for your lifestyle and/or baby registry.

From the 360 degree swivel to the retractable side wall with lock, the HALO Bassinest is chock-full of smart features that make tending to baby in bed easy (score for nursing mamas!) Other features for gadget geeks include its Soothing Center that offers 3 lullabies, 3 soothing sounds, 2 levels of vibration, nightlight and a nursing timer (yes, you read that right.) Also handy? The floor light to help you see without disturbing your baby and the storage caddy to keep baby’s essentials organized.

Breathability is of the utmost importance when it comes to baby’s sleeping arrangements for both temperature regulation and also for reducing suffocation risk. The sidewall panels of the HALO Bassinest are constructed of mesh fabric for maximum visibility and breathability. This means that it’s not only easy to keep an eye on baby, but you can also rest assured that if baby rolls, the panels of the sidewalls are fully breathable.

Recovery from c/s surgery can make any movement painful and difficult – including lifting your baby, or having to get in and out of bed to take care of him. Unlike stationary and attached bassinets, the Bassinest Swivel Sleeper’s 360-degree range of motion allows mom to tend to many of her baby’s needs without having to get out of bed. And when she does have to get in or out of bed, the swivel design allows mom to gently reposition it to accommodate her – so getting in or out of bed can be done easily and with minimal discomfort.

Note: all sleep tips are independent to all the products featured in Back to Sleep and Kim West is not endorsing these products unless otherwise indicated.

Back to Sleep Day 18: NüRoo Swaddle

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We just love the innovative, practical (grows with baby!) swaddle from NüRoo that we are featuring in today’s Back to Sleep product spotlight. There is SO much to love about this three-in-one swaddler that grows with your baby, but what we love the most? Its compression fabric recreates the familiar, comforting in utero snugness and eases your baby’s transition from the womb. Pretty cool, huh? Read on to find out if this swaddle is a good fit for your lifestyle and baby registry then enter to win one.

With a pocket for baby and velcro wings, the NüRoo Swaddler takes user error out of swaddling. Place baby in pocket, position arms as desired, secure velcro across baby’s chest.You can even use as an arms out transitioner. Simple, safe and no challenging wrapping to figure out. The NüRoo swaddle is also the only one with three distinct sizes built into one swaddle so that every stage of baby’s growth, the swaddle fits them perfectly, without any excess material – a suffocation hazard.

You can use the NuRoo Swaddle the day your baby is born, so be sure to wash and pack it in your hospital bag. It supports the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, is used by leading instutitions and approved for use in the NICU with pre-term infants.

The NuRoo’s swaddle signature fabric has the ability to pull sweat and moisture off baby’s skin, passing it through the material and releasing into the air to keep baby comfortable and dry. The breathable, moisture wicking properties help regulate baby’s body temperature. This assists in weight gain by limiting brown fat stored in baby burns by working to cool down or stay warm.

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57eac53b2505ed265f5cd785

Note: all sleep tips are independent to all the products featured in Back to Sleep and Kim West is not endorsing these products unless otherwise indicated.

Back to Sleep Day 15: Cloud b

by Gugu Guru 4 Comments

We have lots of heart for today’s Back to Sleep sponsor: Cloud b – and that might be because the brand’s adorable, award-winning Sleep Sheep has a lot of heart for newborns (heartbeats, that is). Sleep Sheep is the ultimate sleep-aid for your babe. It is a cute, cuddly, little lamb with a hidden sound machine that plays white noise to soothe your child into a restful, relaxing sleep.

If you’re on the go with baby a lot, whether it’s down the street or “across the pond”, it’s important to create a familiar, comfortable sleep environment for your baby to promote good sleep habits. Whether it’s at home or on a travel crib, Sleep Sheep’s velcro tab allows for easy attachment. Also important for travel is that Sleep Sheep is easy to clean – just remove the soundbox and through in the washing machine and dryer.

To an infant, there’s nothing as comforting as a mother’s heartbeat and the Cloud b Sleep Sheep is the perfect stand-in, especially when baby is at daycare. Sleep Sheep features a heartbeat setting that mimics the comforting sounds of the womb in addition to three white noise options.

The Sleep Sheep is scientifically proven to promote sleep. This is important for all babies but especially premature babies, who spend a fraction of time in deep sleep compared to their full-term counterparts. A study of 20 newborns found that infants were more likely to fall asleep within five minutes in response to white noise. And, preemie or not, little ears are more sensitive, so Cloud b products are kept within recommended sound levels.

Note: all sleep tips are independent to all the products featured in Back to Sleep and Kim West is not endorsing these products unless otherwise indicated.

Back to Sleep Day 14: Colgate Mattresses

by Gugu Guru 2 Comments

It’s Day 14 of Back to Sleep and today we’re featuring Colgate – The Crib Mattress Specialist® and the brand’s super innovative EverTrue™ Diamond Crib Mattress. The EverTrue™ Diamond is a 6” thick, dual-firmness foam crib mattress that’s high-tech and offers advanced safety, health, and comfort features. The dual firmness design grows with your child; it provides the extra firmness infants need for proper development on one side. The reverse side offers toddlers the added comfort their little bodies prefer using Diamond-channel gel memory foam. Read on to find out if this mattress is a fit for your family and/or baby registry.

The Diamond features plant-oil infused eco foam and ultrasonically welded side seams. This mattress meets and exceeds all federal and state requirements for flammability and chemical composition and has earned the GREENGUARD® Gold and Certi-PurUS® certifications ensuring no harmful air emissions.

Colgate combined the brand’s exclusive SecureCore Technology® with a breathable honeycomb mesh spacer, to provide unprecedented airflow. These unique components adapt to each child’s sleeping position, provide increased air circulation, instant pressure relief, and continuous support where your child needs it most. The cover is made of Celliant®, the world’s first biologically responsive fabric, which helps to regulate body temperature and improve overall sleep quality.

EverTrue™ Diamond is proudly handcrafted in the USA by Colgate, a family-owned and operated business dedicated to baby’s safety since 1955.

Note: all sleep tips are independent to all the products featured in Back to Sleep and Kim West is not endorsing these products unless otherwise indicated.

Back to Sleep Day 13: ErgoPouch

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It’s Day 13 of our Back to Sleep event and it also happens to be the official last day of summer, which makes it seem especially fitting to be showcasing today’s featured product the Winter Sleep Suit from ergoPouch. The ergoPouch Sleep Suit is a safe way to keep baby warm without the need for extra blankets. You can use the Sleep Suit in the crib as a sleeping bag, then convert into legs using the zippers. Read on to find out more about this innovative sleep garment.

All ergoPouch products are made from skin-friendly, natural fibres, including Organic Cotton, Merino and Bamboo. The 2.5 TOG Sleep Suit is designed for Winter temperatures and is made with an Organic Cotton sheeting outer layer and 100% cotton filling.

ergoPouch uses natural fibers for the fillings of its products specifically to improve breathability and temperature regulation. The ergoPouch Winter Sleep Suit may keep your baby snuggly warm but it is highly breathable and also, impressively, antibacterial. When it’s chillier, the garment has long cotton fleece sleeves and fold over mitts for warmth.

The simplicity of converting from Sleep Bag to Sleep Suit using the zippers is what earns our No Fuss badge on the ergoPouch Winter Sleep Suit. This feature makes the transition from crib to stroller or carseat an easy one for parents. The suit fits easily into a stroller or baby carrier. Not to mention that the zippers provide easy access for diaper changes – always a blessing, especially when on the go.

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 57e19b8b59841f132800c9e9

Note: all sleep tips are independent to all the products featured in Back to Sleep and Kim West is not endorsing these products unless otherwise indicated.

Back to Sleep Day 12: Owlet

by Gugu Guru 6 Comments

With unintentional suffocation the leading cause of injury death among U.S. children under the age of one, it’s no wonder parents often have trouble getting a good night’s sleep during baby’s first year. So, on the twelfth day of Back To Sleep, we are featuring a company that has an amazing mission when it comes to safe sleep: Owlet. Owlet is a device worn like a sock on your baby’s foot designed to alert you if your baby stops breathing. With the Owlet monitor, parents and caregivers can rest easy knowing there is an extra set of eyes watching over baby.

While Owlet is certainly cutting edge, this is actually a “smart” device you don’t really need to be a gadget geek to appreciate. The Owlet device uses hospital technology called pulse oximetry, miniaturized into a snuggly Smart Sock that your little one wears to bed at night. The base station collects vitals data from the Smart Sock via bluetooth to the base station located on the parents’ night stand. Then parents can remotely monitor vitals within the smart phone app.

If you’re a working parent and especially one that may leave baby at daycare, you can have peace of mind that Owlet is monitoring baby, providing peace of mind. Owlet is the only monitor that uses hospital technology designed to alert if your baby’s heart rate or oxygen fall outside of range. Plus if both parents work both of you can access your child’s information on the Owlet app from your respective smartphones.

Owlet was founded by a team of passionate parents who wanted to bring themselves—and other parents around the globe—peace of mind. The co-founders of Owlet, all of whom are young fathers, have learned firsthand what it is like to lose sleep worrying about their babies. As parents, the team at Owlet feels that they are their own target market – all have young children and all have experienced the stress of coming home that first night and the hundreds of the feelings and emotions that come with it. The Owlet team is built around this knowledge and passion for helping others.

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 56608c746336361092420500

Note: all sleep tips are independent to all the products featured in Back to Sleep and Kim West is not endorsing these products unless otherwise indicated.

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