Tag: sleep
Grobag Baby Sleep Bag Review
Last week we were sent a Grobag baby sleep bag to review by The Gro Company. Baby sleep bags have been made by The Gro Company since 2000 and today an astounding 95% of parents in the UK choose to use baby and toddler sleep bags for their little ones.
We received an all year round 2.5 tog sleep bag for toddlers aged 18 – 36 months old. With a 2.5 tog sleep bag it’s recommended that your baby’s nursery is between 16 to 20 degrees Celcius. The free nursery thermometer that comes with every Grobag has been helpful for keeping an eye on the temperature in Imogen’s nursery.
Imogen is tall for her age so I was really impressed with the length of the sleep bag we received. It’s suitable for a child up to a maximum length of 98 cm. There is also a good width on the sleep bag which allows Imogen to move freely in the sleep bag during her sleep and when she’s awake in her cot bed.
Imogen’s Grobag fastens at the front with a zip that has a thick cotton zip guard to ensure it never rubs on her skin. There’s a popper at the bottom of the Grobag to safely ‘lock’ the zip so a curious toddler can’t open their Grobag.
The design of Imogen’s Grobag is Treetop Tales. It’s a crisp white on the back of the sleep bag with colourful circles and friendly characters on the front including a giraffe, owl, snail and chick. It’s bright and cheerful with rich colours that will suit all nurseries.
Some of the unique features I love about the Grobag baby sleep bag:
- Imogen stays cosy and warm throughout the night so there’s no worrying about whether she’s too hot or cold
- There are no covers or blankets to kick off which gives us peace of mind during the night
- The Grobag opens easily for any night time nappy changes
- 100% cotton fabric is used for the outer and lining of the Grobag
- The Grobag allows Imogen to move freely during her sleep and when she’s awake and playing in her cot bed
Grobag baby sleep bags have won many awards over the years and the Mother and Baby Awards 2011/12 Gold Award for Best Nursery Product.
Grobag sleep bags come in a range of sizes from 0 – 6 months up to 6 – 10 years. There’s also a range of three tog ratings so you can ensure your child is in the right Grobag for the particular season and temperature of the room.
You can find out more about Grobag baby sleep bags online at The Gro Store.
A sleepy toddler ready for night time slumber in her Grobag sleep bag.
Grobag baby sleep bags are recommended by FSID the Cot Death Charity and meet the British Safety Standard.
Disclaimer: I was sent a Grobag baby sleep bag for the purposes of this review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Top 5 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep
As a parent I count my blessings each time I get a full night’s sleep, it’s enough to make me want to jump out of bed with joy in the morning. If my toddler doesn’t wake me then I’m usually lucky enough to sleep through the night. But on occasion when I just can’t drift into a slumber, whether for reasons of stress or just a plain old inability to sleep, I turn to natural foods to assist.There are some simply brilliant foods to help induce Zzz’s. These foods contain tryptophan which converts to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming chemicals. Serotonin promotes calm and melatonin helps to cause drowsiness and lower body temperature for a restful sleep. The perfect package for shut-eye.
I recommend trying one or two of these foods 90 minutes before you plan to close your eyes so your digestive system has time to process what you eat before slumber. It’s always a good idea to avoid caffeine and alcohol at least four hours before sleep and don’t go to bed when you’re either hungry or full as this will contribute to a disrupted night’s sleep.
Top 5 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep
1. Bananas
High in serotonin and melatonin, bananas also contain potassium and magnesium which is a muscle relaxant.
2. Oatmeal
A small bowl of oatmeal contains melatonin and complex carbohydrates which can help more tryptophan get into the brain. Topped with some warm milk this is a healthy source of comfort food and if you’re slightly peckish it will keep those hunger pangs at bay.
3. Almonds
A handful of almonds contains tryptophan and magnesium to relax muscles.
4. Low-fat Cottage Cheese
Low-fat cottage cheese contains tryptophan and is a lean source of protein that will help keep your blood sugar regulated throughout the night.
5. Flaxseed
Known for their mood lifting properties. Sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of flaxseed on a small bowl of oatmeal or on a portion of low-fat cottage cheese.
If you feel like a warm drink before bed a cup of chamomile tea can help to promote calm thanks to chamomile’s natural soothing properties. If you want something a little richer a glass of warm milk contains tryptophan and calcium, known to reduce stress and stabilise nerve fibres.
Take your pick from these Top 5 Foods and see what works best for you.
Most importantly, don’t stress about not sleeping. Having a regular routine before bed will help to get your mind and body in the mood for sleep. A warm bath with some relaxing aromatherapy oils and reading a good book before bed contribute to winding down and preparing for rest.
Baby Sleep Aids
A good night’s sleep is essential for the health of the whole family. You need a restful sleep to regenerate your mind and body. And a peaceful night’s sleep is crucial for the development of your baby.
Thankfully there are some incredible baby sleep aids that really work.
Top 3 Baby Sleep Aids
It has been found that babies will go to sleep more easily to the soothing sounds they heard when in utero. The comforting noises heard daily from their mother’s womb and her heartbeat are reassuring to a newborn.
Ewan the Dream Sheep is one of the most effective baby sleep aids.
Ewan the Dream Sheep replicates the soothing sounds of a pregnant mother’s womb and heartbeat. The sounds have been combined with household, musical and natural sounds at low bass frequencies of 125hz to produce pink noise which is the type of noise babies predominantly hear when in the womb.
Research has shown that babies are comforted by certain aspects of the womb. So a pink ambient glow is the natural choice for Ewan the Dream Sheep’s tummy.
The Grobag Egg Thermometer and Night Light is a simple to use thermometer that changes colour according to the room temperature and acts as a warning if the room is too hot or cold.
It also provides baby with a soft and comforting glow at night.
The Grobag Egg Thermometer and Night Light uses a digital thermometer and permanent backlit LCD readout. It is conveniently mains powered so you don’t need to worry about batteries running out.
The Gro Anywhere Blackout Blindfits directly onto the window glass using suckers which gives it the closest fit possible to block out light.
Gro-Anywhere Blackout Blinds can be used vertically or horizontally and will fit most shaped windows.
Gro Anywhere Blackout Blindconveniently pack into a handy travel bag and are the ideal way to help children to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings when travelling or on holiday.
Each hem can be shortened for a proper fit and fitting takes just minutes. The Gro Anywhere Blackout Blinddimensions are 198cm x 130cm.