The Newborn Sleep Trick That Saved Our Sanity
(Including the free YouTube videos that help soothe my baby.)
Before Endy was born, I had no idea babies often sleep better with white noise.
As a first-time mom, I spent so much time researching bassinets, bottles, car seats, diapers, and everything else that seemed essential that a sound machine never even crossed my mind. It wasn't on my registry, and I would never have thought it was something we would need.
Then one night changed my mind completely.
We were still in the trenches of those first few weeks with a newborn. It was late at night, Endy was in full activist protest mode, and nothing seemed to be helping.
I was laying on the couch completely defeated while dad cycled through every soothing trick we could think of. By that point, he was just staring into space holding a crying baby while I desperately searched my phone for advice.
That's when I stumbled across a YouTube video promising it would put babies to sleep in two minutes.
At that point I was willing to try just about anything.
We turned it on, and within less than a minute, Endy was asleep.
His father Michael and I just looked at each other in joyous disbelief. After what felt like an eternity of crying, we were suddenly standing there adoring our sleeping baby. We were relieved, excited, and honestly wondering why nobody had told us about white noise sooner.
For a while, that YouTube video became our secret weapon. It combined white noise, a lullaby, and a heartbeat sound, and Endy absolutely loved it.
If you're curious, this is the video that saved us during those early weeks (I'll also share a few more of Endy's favorite calming videos at the end of this post):
After that night, I knew I didn't want to rely on YouTube forever. Playing a video for hours at a time wasn't ideal, and it drained my phone battery much faster than normal. It also wasn't very practical when we left the house.
I wanted something dedicated to the job that could travel with us, work during naps, and fit easily into a diaper bag without taking up much space.
That's when I started looking for a portable sound machine.
Why I Chose the BodyHush Portable Sound Machine
After doing some searching, I eventually came across the BodyHush Portable Sound Machine.
I'll be the first to admit there are probably fancier sound machines out there.
Some have apps, night lights, sleep tracking, and all kinds of extra features. But as two first-time parents on a budget, I wasn't looking to spend a fortune. I just wanted something portable, simple, and effective.
The BodyHush ended up being exactly what we needed.
One of my favorite things about it is how small it is. It easily fits into our diaper bag, and I can clip it onto a stroller, car seat, or even my purse when we're out and about.
For something so compact, it has a surprising number of sound options. It includes white noise, nature sounds, lullabies, and several other soothing sounds, so it's easy to find something that works for your baby.
I also love that it has an infinity play option. While it does have timer settings, I usually prefer continuous play, especially during naps and at bedtime.
The battery life has been excellent for us as well. I don't feel like I'm constantly charging it, which is always a plus when there are already a hundred baby-related things to keep track of.
As for volume, it's been more than loud enough for our bedroom and works great when we're on the go.
Why We Still Use It Every Day
There are so many baby products out there that it's impossible to know what you'll actually use before your baby arrives.
For me, a portable sound machine was one of those things I never thought much about until I became a parent.
Now it's something we use every single day.
If you're putting together a baby registry or preparing for your first baby, a sound machine is one of those items I would seriously consider adding. It may not seem essential before your baby is here, but it ended up becoming one of the most useful baby items in our home.
Sometimes the products that help the most are the ones you never knew you needed in the first place.
Endy's Favorite Calming Videos
While we love having a portable sound machine now, I know not every family wants to buy one right away. If you're in the middle of a rough night with a newborn, these are a few videos that worked surprisingly well for Endy during those early months.
The first one is the video that introduced us to white noise in the first place and gave us our first glimpse of hope during those sleepless newborn nights.
INCREDIBLE! WHITE NOISE THAT MAKES BABIES SLEEP IN 2 MINUTES - Relaxing Lullabies
Listen to the rain on the forest path, relax, reduce anxiety, and sleep deeply
❤ 8 HOURS ❤ Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Lullabies for Babies to go to Sleep Music - Playlist
Into the Misty Scottish Highlands │ Celtic Music for Deep Focus & Relaxation
Of course, every baby is different, and what worked for Endy may not work for every little one. But if you're currently bouncing a crying baby while searching the internet for answers like I was, hopefully one of these helps bring a little peace to your home.
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All content on Hearth & Harmony is provided for informational purposes only and reflects personal opinions and experience. Readers are encouraged to do their own research and make decisions that best suit their individual needs and circumstances.
