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They may help kids AND adults alike get some rest.

Recently, I’ve amassed a legion of items and sought advice from both parents and experts on child development on the topic, and the results of these efforts have truly paid off. None other than universally beloved (and hero to all parents) children’s educator and entertainer Rachel Accurso, also known as Ms. Rachel, has shared her sleep tips with us, and they’re a game-changer when it comes to toddler sleep. 

She explained that it’s natural for toddlers to feel wiggly right before bed. “Taking a few moments to practice deep, calming breaths together can help their bodies slow down. Then transition into soothing activities like soft singing, reading a book and dimming the lights.” We have employed a phrase we learned from Accurso — “Smell the roses, blow out the candles” — and it always encourages my 20-month-old to do some deep breathing. She also encourages using a favorite stuffed animal to roleplay the bedtime routine. (Accurso just launched a toy that serves this exact purpose.)

Not only that, but she pointed out that having “a beloved stuffed animal or special blankie can help little ones feel safe and cozy at bedtime. These familiar items can ease nighttime transitions and make bedtime a more comforting, predictable part of the day.” Small children can have big feelings about bedtime and worry about being away from their parents at night. “Employing special phrases can help your child feel confident and comforted as they drift off to sleep,” she shared. Some phrases that Accurso recommends trying are “I know my parent is close” and “I am safe and cozy in my bed.”

Below, I’ve rounded up a selection of items that can help your kid fall asleep and then (in theory) stay asleep, inspired by Accurso’s recommendations and other parents’ suggestions. They include items that are just as helpful and sleep-inducing for adults as they are for kids. I may not be getting Shohei Ohtanhi-levels of high-quality sleep just yet, but these products have made a huge difference in my life. 

This highly-rated Warmies stuffed sloth has tons of rave reviews. It's a weighted plush toy that can be heated in the microwave for calming, soothing warmth or chilled in the freezer for a refreshing cool down. It has a real grain filling that gives the toy a comforting feel and can help to calm your toddler. It's even lightly scented thanks to dried French lavender. It's the perfect bedtime companion. One shopper said, "This was purchased for a little girl who had been in the hospital. Her aunt warmed is as directed and she found it very comforting!! Adorable and a nice weight with a lovely lavender scent!!"

Several other adult users purchased them for themselves or as gifts. One said, "This was a Christmas gift for my daughter who is 42. She loves it and uses it for cramps or just aches and pain."

Get it from Amazon for $26.42+ (available in three colors).

One item that I was sure would be superfluous has become as essential for my own sleep as it is for my child’s is a sound machine. Specifically, the Yogasleep Hushh white noise machine. There’s something about the particular sound quality of this popular and highly-rated noise machine that is incredibly soothing. I am now utterly dependent on it for a good night’s sleep — and it comes in especially handy when I’m traveling or when there’s a racket outside that needs to be drowned out. 

Nothing lulls me to sleep quite like this device. We have had one by the baby's crib since the day he was born. This powerful little machine has three different sounds to choose from: bright white noise, deep white noise or gentle ocean waves. The adjustable volume makes it possible to block out noise and disruptions. It can also emit a soft amber LED night light when you need it and is designed with a small, compact silhouette that can be slipped into a diaper or travel bag with ease. I literally won’t go anywhere without it. During the day, the second one we have is clipped to my baby’s stroller and is powerful enough to keep him asleep while wandering around the busy streets of NYC or while riding a noisy subway.

The USB charger makes it a breeze to keep the battery loaded and avert a midnight crisis. I have found that charging it for just over an hour will power it for 12-16 hours. It really is the best option of all the white noise machines out there, portable or not. Whether you have a baby or small child, or like me, simply want to block out external noise and get a good night’s sleep, no matter where you are, then you need to check it out.

Active imaginations can stoke bedtime fears of monsters and being alone, so a bit of "monster spray" can help allay their concerns and help them get some rest. This natural pillow spray is formulated with the therapeutic smells of lavender, chamomile and vetiver to help induce calm. Reviewers have said the spray helped them fall asleep faster. 

Get it from Amazon for $25+ (available in four sizes).

My son's nanny bought him this star projector for his first birthday, and it's become such an essential part of his bedtime routine that we travel with it. He loves lying in bed and gazing up at the twinkling stars and swirling lights. It's incredibly calming and meditative, and he loves getting to control the remote. It has a timer and the remote makes it possible to adjust the brightness, rotation speed and breathing rate. It also makes a great gift for people of all ages.

Get it from Amazon for $29.74+ (available in seven colors).

"One of the simplest ways to improve your sleep is by blocking out the light, and the easiest way to do this is by getting some blackout curtains or a sleep mask to keep the light away," said Sanam Hafeez, a New York City-based neuropsychologist and director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services. The same is true for our kids! Actor and mother of two, Christy Escobar, swears by hanging both blackout curtains and blackout blinds. 

Available in 32 colors and 19 lengths, these machine-washable light-blocking curtains can seamlessly blend into your bedroom space while helping prevent light pollution, ambient outside noise disturbances and early sunlight from disrupting your sleep. The wrinkle-free fabric is also thermally insulated to help regulate room temperature and keep spaces cooler in the summer and warm during the winter.

While originally designed for travel, I know several parents who use the SlumberPod canopy on a nightly basis in their own homes. I borrowed one from a friend when I was still room-sharing with my baby, but he was old enough to interact with me a foot away in the bed. Hearing a tiny "hi" next to your head at 3 am is not great for one's sanity.

Escobar swears by hers, and said, "The slumberpod has been a game-changer for our kids’ sleep while traveling. We use it for naps and nights, just putting it over whatever pack n play is provided — new environments can be so overstimulating and the slumberpod is like a little blackout tent that shuts it all out. Really helpful to get a little separation when sharing a hotel room as well."

Considered an at-home and travel essential by several reviewers, this crib tent — a Shark Tank product, by the way — offers a blackout cover that helps create an ultra-dark environment for children to fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. It’s all thanks to a synthetic blend of down and wool material that blocks out 95% of the bright light that can render kids awake later (or earlier!) than you might like.

The crib tent is also designed with safety and peak comfort beyond light-blocking in mind. It features four adjustable ventilation panels, two pockets for a mini-fan (sold separately, depending on which one you grab) to support littles who sleep hot and a monitor pocket so you can always keep watch while they rest. The best part? This tent fits over most cribs and Pack ’n Plays so you don’t have to buy a new one. Plus, it’ll come with a carrying case and two support poles for easy packing and setup.

Back when I used to do in-person therapy, my therapist had one of these by her office door to block out sound from her sessions. Photographer and mother of two, Sam Posey, also swears by the Dohm sound machine, saying her family has used it for over a decade. It has a classic fan-style white noise sound that gets super loud, which is perfect for helping keep children asleep, even if you live in a noisy neighborhood. 

Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors).

My wife and I have read this book to my son since he was born, and he loves it. It never fails to get him to cooperate during the bedtime process. The story helps him wind down and reminds him how to relax his body and calm his mind after a busy day. The rhyme structure makes it easy for toddlers to focus on the story and the images are very sweet. 

Parents rave about this Canopy humidifier (myself included). It is not only effective, mold-inhibiting and aesthetically pleasing, but importantly, it's the easiest one I've ever cleaned in my life. No more tiny parts to scrub and wrangle on a biweekly basis. This humidifier effectively keeps my baby's room comfortable, especially during the dry winter season. It's been an absolute game-changer in the quality of his sleep, especially when he has a stuffy nose. It has soothing nightlight options and even has an oil diffuser, so you can add some relaxing essential oils. It's so wonderful, I'm planning on getting one for my own bedroom next fall. 

Children's book author and educator Jessie Paddock said, "Our little babe will use literally any excuse not to sleep, but since we got a Canopy humidifier when he was around three months old, I at least know dry air is not what’s keeping him awake. It did such a great job keeping things moist in an apartment known for sucking all moisture from the air. When he got his first cold, I was very assured knowing that he wasn’t going to be subject to dry air to make his sniffles worse. It’s super easy to clean — love it so much we got a second for our own room."

Get it from Amazon for $159 (also available in two other sizes).

These are removable adhesive stickers that are perfectly sized to cover the lights on your router or other lit-up devices, which can seriously mess with your and your kids' ability to fall asleep. All you have to do is peel them off and stick them on whatever lights you find bothersome or distracting, and voila! Better sleep is on the way. The stickers come in two options: those that dim the lights or those that block it completely.

Get them from Amazon: the blackout stickers for $5.49 and the dimming stickers for $1.99.

Having an extra soft, fuzzy, cozy blanket on hand can help kids feel comforted and safe. This one from Lola Blankets is as buttery as it gets. It has a cloud-like construction that feels amazing against the skin and has a soothing weight to it, without actually being weighted. The blanket comes in a range of colors and patterns and four different sizes, including one specifically made for babies, and is a must for all members of the family. Even my dog took possession of the one we have.

I've long used a Hatch sound machine in my home, and knew that my son would need one in his own bedroom as well. The red light setting saved us in the early newborn days when we were up multiple times a night. I also use the one in my own bedroom to block out noise when my wife is on baby duty in the early mornings. Escobar also uses one in her children's bedroom. 

The Hatch Baby (and it's grown up counterpart) is an essential part of bedtime routine. It's an all-in-one sleep device that can help to teach healthy sleep habits and independent sleep, thanks to light and sound pairings, music and storytime and soothing sounds to help them drift to sleep. You can customize the light and sound combinations with Time-for-Bed and Time-To-Rise notifications that can make the bedtime and sleep process more seamless and smooth. Kid or adult, everyone should have one of these.

Get it from Amazon for $99.99 (available in five colors).

If your kids are a little older, they might enjoy one of these sleep headphones and an eye mask in one. (Or, you can just pick one up for yourself.) It's great for little ones who have insomnia and difficulty falling asleep. As comfortable as they are practical, these headphones are a must for anyone who has trouble sleeping. They saved my life in the early postpartum period when sleep was impossible. Not only did the mask fully shut out the night light, but I could connect to a meditation app on my phone and quiet my mind enough to fall asleep. I’ve been using them religiously for months to address my own unique baby-related lack of sleep situation, but I know they’ll come in extra handy on long-haul flights and anytime I’m struck with good, old-fashioned insomnia.

The soft memory foam fabric is soothing, breathable and lightweight, with just the right amount of pressure to help my face relax without feeling compressive. The strap has a velcro closure that you can adjust to fit your head perfectly, and when aligned correctly, it never tugs on my hair or moves out of place. There are two flat hidden speakers on either side of the mask, making it possible to listen to music, meditations, ASMR or whatever will help you relax and fall asleep without disturbing anyone else in the bed or room. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your device — mine spent months paired to the Insight Timer app on my iPhone. I’m a side sleeper and have never had a comfort issue with the speakers — I didn’t really notice them, or the little charging wire that is tucked up inside the mask. The middle of the mask features the power and volume buttons, which makes it possible to adjust the settings without having to look at my phone’s bright light during the night. 

Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in 12 colors).

This innovative projector could potentially make the witching hour easier and decidedly less fraught. It's a projector and music player loaded up with over 30 minutes of stories and songs alongside softly projected images. It has a soothing, soft-glow nightlight and finishes off every presentation with 15 minutes of calming music to help your child wind down, before automatically powering off. It's easy for kids to use and designed to be durable, making it worth the money.

You could also try this top-selling white noise machine that uses adaptive sound technologies to offer a spectrum of comforting background noises like pink, white and brown noise. It has 32 volume levels as well as shut-off timer settings for precise and customized listening. The memory function automatically restores the previous volume, time and sounds, which include everything from oscillating fans to crackling fires and soothing streams.

This playset was created by Ms. Rachel to let toddlers rehearse bedtime routines with soft, hands-on accessories — helping make nights feel familiar instead of frustrating. As Accurso mentioned, role-playing bedtime routine can help familiarize kids with the process, making them feel empowered and safe. This Frankie stuffy comes with a sleeping bag, five felt accessories, a sticker sheet, a chart and a learning card, so you can go through every step of the bedtime routine with your toddler. They'll love modeling bedtime with Frankie as they brush his teeth and hair, read him a story and tuck him in.