1. Treat bedtime like a wind-down

We used to do bottles, diaper changes, and even playtime right up until bedtime. I thought it made sense: wear her out so she’d sleep longer.

But here’s the thing—babies don’t “crash” like adults. They ramp up. And when we overstimulated her right before bed, she went into overtired meltdown mode.

Once we started treating the last hour of her day like a slow fade—not a sudden stop—she became easier to settle.

2. Use the same sleep set every night (and nothing else)

We used to rotate through a drawer full of swaddles and blankets. Honestly? It made things harder.Once we started using the same three pieces every night—a swaddle, a quilt, and a little security blanket—she began to settle faster.

We use the Coco Moon Bundle because it includes all three, made with breathable fabric that holds up beautifully.

3. Get outside in the morning

One thing I never realized? Babies aren’t born knowing the difference between day and night. Their internal clocks need to be taught—and light is what teaches it.

Once I learned about this, we made a small change: every morning, sometime before 10am, I’d take her outside. Even if we just sat by a window.

That little burst of daylight helped sync her sleep cues.Within a week, she stopped mixing up her days and nights. Her naps lined up better.

4. Ditch the heavy layers for breathable warmth

I was layering her like we were going skiing. Onesie, footie, fleece sleep sack, thick blanket… all while wondering why she was sweaty and squirmy at 2am.

Turns out, overheating is one of the most common reasons babies wake up. They can’t regulate their own temperature well—and they’re really sensitive to heat.

Now I dress her in a simple cotton sleeper and use the quilt from our Coco Moon bundle as her outer layer.

5. Build a rhythm you don’t have to think about

I used to stress over creating the “perfect” bedtime routine—warm bath, baby massage, lullaby, the whole Pinterest checklist.

But when I was exhausted or running late, it became another thing to get wrong. So we simplified: change, feed, swaddle, repeat. Same steps. Same order. Same items.

Every single night. That rhythm helped her relax, and it helped me stop second-guessing. Now when I start wrapping her in her bundle, she already knows what’s next. No drama. Just flow.

6.Let comfort objects do their job (they’re not a crutch)

I used to think giving her a lovey or blanket too early would “spoil” her sleep habits. I thought she needed to learn to fall asleep totally independently.

What I learned instead: babies crave familiarity. They need comfort cues. Her little security blanket (part of the Coco Moon set) became her favorite thing. We slept with it for a few nights before introducing it, so it smelled like us. Now, even when I’m not holding her, she holds that—and stays calm.

7. Drop the guilt—and trust what’s working

This one’s less tactical and more emotional: there’s so much noise about sleep. Sleep training vs. co-sleeping. Routines vs. on-demand. “Bad habits.” “Regression.”

What helped the most? Tuning all that out and doing what made her feel safe—and what made me feel sane. For us, that meant building a simple bedtime setup, sticking to it, and letting softness and rhythm do their thing.The bundle we use? It doesn’t beep. It doesn’t blink. It’s not high-tech or “smart.”