Emerald Baby is now offering a blog where you can read articles for your ‘Baby At Bedtime’. We welcome you to offer your ideas, suggestions, comments and experiences with others. A new article will be posted frequently to start the discussion, however, wherever you take the discussion as it deals with ‘Baby At Bedtime’ is most welcome!
Tis the Baby Gift Season!
Whether we’re getting the nursery ready ourselves or know someone who is getting ready for a little one that’s on the way or has recently arrived, we know we have to do some shopping!
We automatically think of baby blankets 
, stuffed animals , burp cloths and even nitelites…
Here are some items you might not have thought about…for your own little one or to give as a gift…
1. A Baby Bracelet 
2. A Matching Mom Bracelet 
3. How about personalizing those burp cloths? 
4. A Crib Mirror 
5. A Nursing Stool 
There are so many items to choose from and shopping online will let you explore what’s out there and give you some great ideas!! As always, we welcome your ideas and comments as well.
EmeraldBaby.com wishes you and your little ones…Sweet Dreams!
A Tisket, A Tasket, Give a Baby Gift Basket!
Giving the gift of gift baskets is one of the earliest forms of gift-giving. The story of Moses in a basket carries with it the symbol of hope and more traditional symbols include those of spring and new beginnings.
When it’s time to start thinking about gifts for moms-to-be, whether it’s a shower, a holiday, or when the little one comes into the world…think about giving the gift of ‘A-Little-Bit-of-Everything” to mom’s who want to make sure they have what they need.
From blankets to stuffed animals, the list of must-haves for a newborn can be quite long. When you give the new mom a gift basket, she’s getting a little bit of everything and she’s also getting another storage basket that is perfect to add to a nursery or changing table shelf. 
Some baskets can be personalized for a boy or girl too! 
Some baskets have an adorable stuffed animal that could soon be your little one’s newest and ‘bestest’ friend! 
Don’t forget the obvious…Gift Baskets are so much fun to give and receive! So…have fun with it!
EmeraldBaby.com wishes you and your little ones…Sweet Dreams!
Tips for those Middle-of-the-Night Wake-Ups!
We all know that waking up in the middle of the night is part of motherhood. Since we know it’s going to happen, at least for a little while, here are some tips to help prepare for it and have things go as smoothly as possible.
1. 
If your little one is on formula, have the formula measured and in the bottle ready to go. When they wake up, add hot and cold water to the right temperature and you’re ready for the feeding.
2. 
We’ve mentioned it before…but it’s worth mentioning again…layer the crib or bed with waterproof pads and sheets. If your little one has wet through, pull away the top sheet and pad and you have another dry sheet underneath all ready for them! No more changing sheets in the middle of the night!
3. 
Stock up on night-light bulbs. If your little one wakes up in the middle of the night and their comforting night-light has gone out, they may get scared and start crying. Having extra light bulbs ready to go will help to quiet and comfort them quickly.
4. 
Keep water in a sippy cup in their crib or within reach. Little ones get thirsty in the middle of the night and having a full sippy cup of water handy will help keep spills to a minimum when they reach for their water.
5. 
Stock up on their favorite blanket. If your little one has a favorite, can’t-sleep-without blanket, you may want to keep a couple more on-hand. If one is in the wash or just not within reach, you can reach for another to give your little one that extra comfort they want.
EmeraldBaby.com wishes you and your little ones…Sweet Dreams!!!
Bedtime and the Baby ‘Essentials’
We’ve discussed essential oils and the benefits of their different aromas, but now that stuffy, running noses are more frequent as the colder months approach…here are some tips and tricks for helping to make your little ones a little more comfortable as they drift off to sleep…
Essential #1 – A Humidifier. 
If you don’t already have one, make the investment in one now. The moisture that fills their nursery will help make breathing so much easier. Especially if they have to breathe out of their mouths all night!
Essential # 2 – Eucalyptus Essential Oil. Eucalyptus oil can be compared to menthol and it works on the receptors in the nasal mucosa. This is what often helps to alleviate nasal congestion and can give some relief through the night.
Essential #3 – Lavender Essential Oil. The calming and soothing affects will help to ease your little one into a sweet slumber. Lavender can ease anxieties and if your little one is having difficulty breathing, alternating some lavender with the eucalyptus will help to calm them.
Essential #4 – Lullaby Music. Distracting their discomfort with some music will help to soothe and relax them so they can drift off to sleep faster. The best part…there are so many different kinds of music to choose from!
EmeraldBaby.com wishes you and your little ones…Sweet Dreams!
Sweet Dreams with Twilight Dreams
Getting your little one settled in for sleep time will include lots of different bedtime routines. We’ve discussed so many but there’s just nothing like snuggling with a bedtime story.
Not only does reading with your little ones help to calm and settle them for sleep, there are so many benefits as well. Here are just a few to think about…
1. It’s one more way to introduce them to and awaken their senses of hearing, seeing and touch.
Hearing - through our voice
Seeing through vibrant colors
Touch – through textures, even smooth and shiny textures like board books.
2. It’s a way to connect that varies from feedings and diaper changes. It allows us to ‘do’ something else with our little ones that comforts and nurtures them. 
3. It’s a way to not only introduce them to a book, but it’s a great way to introduce them to the world. It allows you to help them expand their mind and help them start to make sense of the world. 
A great gift for your precious little ones and something fun too, is to start collecting Emerald Baby’s precious series of childrens books. The vibrant colors and variety of illustrations will bring so much to story time.
Add Emerald Baby’s latest board book, Twilight Dreams to your child’s book collection. 
If you don’t already have it, the first board book in Emerald Baby’s series is Soft Kisses. 
One more way to make bedtime - special time.
Emerald Baby wishes you and your little ones…Sweet Dreams!!
Try a Bedtime Baby Foot Massage!
What better way to get your little one relaxed, calm and ready for sleep than to give those cute little feet of theirs a massage!
Here are some great tips and ideas…
1. Whether your little one is two months old or two years old, a foot massage can be the perfect way to connect with them and help them feel nurtured and taken care of.
2. You can use lotion or oil. You can even try some scented oils. Read over our previously posted blog; “‘Your Baby’s Nose Knows”.
3. 
Instead of using your whole hand or palms, you can use just your thumbs for soft, direct, controlled pressure.
4. 
Try to stay calm as your giving your little one a massage. That way your baby won’t get distracted by any tension or anxiety your feeling. Those emotions will surely get passed on to them.
5. 
Dim the lights and have the baby lullaby music playing so the transition from massage to bed is smooth. (If you haven’t yet, put a dimmer on your nursery wall switch…easy to do and you’ll use it ALL the time!)
6. Make sure both you and baby are comfortable. Use as many soft and snuggly blankets as you need. 
As always, have fun with it!
Emerald Baby wishes you and your little ones…sweet dreams!
Put Some Spring in Your Baby’s Room
A change in the season is a perfect time to change up your little ones room, even if it’s just little bit. Spring is here and what better time to celebrate than with bright, sunny decor for your little one’s room! Your mood is probably lighter and brighter so why not pass that on to their room as well! Try these tips and ideas…
1. Always think soothing and relaxing.
2. Never think busy or over- stimulating.
3. Always think simple – like simple shapes and simple borders
4. Never think really bright ANYTHING.
You can add some spring artwork to change up the scenery. 
You could try some different lighting or a new lamp. 
You can even invite in a new stuffed animal friend! 
Have fun with it and remember…Emerald Baby wishes you and your little ones Sweet Dreams!
Try Interactive Bedtime!
Here’s another way to make bedtime fun for your little ones. Try some variations on your routine with these suggestions…
1. Grab some books that have pictures and objects and ask some learning questions instead of reading out loud. How many objects are on this page? What color is the ball? Where’s the nose? This is a great way to work with them. 
2. After a few books… sing a song. The alphabet song; Twinkle Twinkle, and a classic favorite….”Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes’. This is almost guaranteed to get a few giggles, especially if you wiggle the ears and toes as you go. 
3. Pull your framed pictures off the wall or dresser and point out family members, or the eyes and ears in the photos. Use their own face in the photo! 
Have fun with it!
Emerald Baby wishes you and your little ones…Sweet Dreams!
Through Your Baby’s Eyes
Whether your little one is still in a crib or perhaps transitioning to a toddler bed with their crib mattress, have you thought about checking out their nursery from THEIR perspective?
In order to really determine if your baby is looking around and seeing what you think they are seeing, try kneeling down or squatting down to their level and taking a close look around.
Where’s the nightlight? Can they even see it or is it blocking their line of vision, or being blocked, leaving them in the dark anyway? OR, is it glaring in their eyes when they look in that direction?- Where is the bed or crib location? Are they tucked so far in the corner of the room that when they look around they only see blank walls. Perhaps there is a picture of an animal whose eyes are staring right back at them possibly startling them in the middle of the night. Try calming wall decor like this from Emerald Baby .
- What’s the room temperature? Warm air rises, so, how warm is it at your child’s level in the room. Standing where you are in the room, it may feel fine. Once you kneel down, now how warm and comfortable is it? Consider a ceiling fan for reverse circulation or a small space heater.
Are they sleeping with stuffed animals? Do they have a few stuffed animals so their crib feels cozy or do they have so many animals that their crib or bed is cluttered? If you think your little one is a little cramped consider rotating a handful of those stuffed little friends .
Bath…then Books…then Bedtime
Little ones respond well to routines. Bedtime can be the trickiest time of all and probably the best time to set up a routine and stay with it.
Try these tips for a smooth bedtime ritual.
1. Get them excited! Yes! First, have those bath toys ready to go so it’s not “Time for Bed”, but, “Time for Bath”. From bubbles to toys to a floating set of the alphabet, the start of bedtime becomes fun and educational.
2. Get them prepared. As your toweling them off you can let them know they’re going to bed soon and it’s “Time for Pajamas”. They may have favorite pajamas or you can let them choose between a couple sets. They’ll feel like they’re part of the decision.
3. Get them relaxed. Yes, now it’s time to snuggle up with them to read stories, look at pictures and point out different objects along the way. Depending on the size of the book, you may have to go through two, three or even four books. That’s okay just set a limit and stick to it.
4. Get them sleepy. Now it’s time to snuggle them in bed with lots of hug and kisses. Will they go there willingly every time? Probably not , but now you have a routine and the longer you stick with it, the sooner they know this is what to expect.
Start a new collection of books with the first in Emerald Baby’s Precious Series! The collection of twelve books has begun with Soft Kisses!
