27 Things To Help Your Kid ~Wind Down~
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From screen-free activities to an otter that snuggles your kid to sleep.
Posted 48 minutes ago
by Sally Dadisman BuzzFeed Contributor
I have been a BuzzFeed Shopping contributor since 2022 and I love researching a little bit of everything while, as a mom, constantly looking for ways to solve parenting challenges, refresh corners of my home, and make time for style and self-care.
Promising review: "The Hatch Baby Sound Machine has been a game changer for our bedtime routine! The sound quality is excellent, with a variety of soothing white noise and calming sounds that help create the perfect sleep environment. The adjustable night-light is a fantastic feature, providing just the right amount of gentle illumination without being too bright. I also love how easy it is to customize settings through the app, allowing us to adjust sounds, volume, and light colors without disturbing a sleeping baby. The design is sleek, modern, and fits nicely in any nursery. Whether for naps, bedtime, or helping block out household noise, this sound machine has made a noticeable difference in sleep quality for the whole family. Highly recommend it to any parent looking for a reliable and versatile sleep aid! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐" —Morgan
Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in five colors).
Promising review: "I discovered this fantastic thing from a mom friend. I was visiting her and her kids with my 18-month-old son, and it was time for a nap by the time I got to her, but I doubted he would nap since it was a foreign space to him. She had the SlumberPod and encouraged me to just try putting him down for a nap. I did, but I felt bad because he immediately started crying and seemed scared. But…five minutes later, he stopped crying and fell asleep for his full two-hour nap. I was AMAZED!
I ended up renting the SlumberPod for a trip after this, and again it worked for both naps and bedtime!! Finally, I bought one and used it this past weekend on another trip, and he slept so well in it! It’s needed at this age because without it, he’d be standing up and able to see everything. The blackout really allows him to feel safe, in his own private space, and to sleep well!" —Sharon
Get it from Amazon for $199.99.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this Hatch sound machine — it's a game changer for on-the-go naps. It offers a great variety of soothing sounds and has easy volume control. My baby sleeps so well whenever we’re out, thanks to this little device. The battery life is impressive, holding a charge for a long time. It’s compact, reliable, and an excellent value for the price!" —Alli A
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in five colors).
Amazon
Promising review: "I have a FOMO (fear of missing out) baby who does not like to nap ever. A family member had this at her house, and my daughter fell asleep instantly. I thought it was a fluke, but it happened again, so of course I bought one. It plays music and white noise with and without lights, has a remote, and can be mounted to the crib. Plus, it times out in 20 minutes, and the critters are cute! My baby loves it, and it’s been a nap time saver. Only downside is it is kind of heavy and takes 4 ‘C’ batteries, which can be expensive and kinda hard to find." —Mallory
Get it from Amazon for $34.92+ (available in two styles).
Promising review: "This has been the perfect clock for our 2-year-old who is learning how to stay in his room even if he wakes up before 7 a.m. Also super helpful for nap as it has a nap time mode that can be set for a certain time. Because it has a cute little face, it has become personified, which is perfect for toddlers. Ours is named 'Clock Bot' and is very beloved. The many light options are fun, and the red light is perfect for sleeping. Definitely recommend!" —The Smith Family
Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in four colors).
Promising review: "My 2-year-old first played with this at nanny’s house, who reported that the activity helped calm her separation anxiety. We bought one for home/car and she spends significant amount of quiet time coloring. This one is a good value and truly fun for all ages!" —Colleen Oberc
Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in four sizes and six colors).
Promising review: "We absolutely love this cotton canvas tent! It’s so cute, well-made, and perfect for the kids. The canvas feels sturdy and durable, and the tent looks beautiful in their room/play area. My kids love having their own little space to play, read, and relax. It was easy to set up and feels like great quality. Definitely recommend!" —Annie S
Get it from Amazon for $59.98.
Promising review: "I bought this as a birthday present for my 4-year-old twins. I wasn't sure how they would like it since it's not a Barbie or anything like what they've been into lately. They opened the package and were immediately intrigued. Within minutes, my girls and most of the adults in the room were quietly building with these awesome tiles. That was a week ago, and my kids have played and built with these every day since then. I love that they are learning quiet play that stimulates their imaginations, no batteries or charging required! Plus, they even love to clean them up because it's fun to get them to stick together with the magnets and make big stacks. Awesome toy that is fun for the whole family!" —Aleisha Lynn Solorio
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
Promising review: "I got this thing two years ago and it’s STILL a fan favorite. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve given my daughter a new set of stories for every holiday since and she never grows tired of it." —Hannah Garcia de Alba
Get it from Amazon for $48.45 (also available in other designs).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Purchased this for an 8-year-old who loves space and the stars. As an adult, I would almost purchase this for myself. It projects a galaxy on the ceiling of whatever room you are in. It looks great on 10-foot ceilings, but also looks amazing in our room with 30-foot ceilings. The projections are bright but easily allow a child to sleep under it. This gets used every night. The only problem we have had is that the little USB wall wart stopped working, but we were able to use a spare USB wall wart/charger in its place." —KC
Get it from Amazon for $29.74+ (available in seven colors).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "My 10-month-old has struggled so much with sleep, it’s actually ridiculous! From gas to reflux to CMPA, we’ve done it all! When I realized she has a sensitive temperament and responds well to the heartbeat/touch, I thought I would give this product a shot! She absolutely LOVES it!! I have it on the breathing and heartbeat, and she sleeps so much calmer! I used to HATE naps/bedtime, but now I feel much better knowing she feels comfortable with this stuffy! So thankful for this!" —Alyssa Walker
Get it from Amazon for $35.15(available in otter or bunny versions).
Promising review: "Amazing to calm a rambunctious 3-year-old who has sensory issues and needs a little help calming himself. At first, we placed all of the strings onto the board for him, and within a few days, he’s now doing it all by himself. He’s actually excited when we make the time to play with it during our busy day." —MLee
Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in three colors and two sizes).
Promising review: "If, like us, you are trying to cut down on screen time, this is the way to go! You will not regret this purchase, and it will give you a bit of peace of mind knowing your kiddos are having fun screen-free time. My toddler loves his Toniebox 2 and to pop on and off the different Tonies he’s collecting. Nighttime routine has also gotten a lot easier for us as we just transitioned our boy to his room and his big boy bed. He looks forward to popping on his sleep time sheep tonie to start winding down for the night. 10/10 definitely recommend." —Paola Wolfe
Get it from Amazon for $149.99+ (available in four colors).
Promising review: "This is my favorite Tonie for bedtime. The playtime is long enough to put my daughter to sleep and has enough songs that I don't get tired of listening to it!" —Freia A.
Get it from Amazon for $19.
BuzzFeeder and new mom Emma Lord owns and loves this: "I thought this was a scam and a half when my mom suggested it to me — what is a machine going 'shhhh' going to do that I can't?? — but oh, what a fool I was. This gizmo came into my home and is officially my co-parent now. My little guy was a super reflux-y, bad sleeper who was up literally every hour at night for the first three months, and it was hard to transfer him back into his bassinet. Once this little thing was introduced, it started calming him right away. There were nighttime wake-ups where I could literally just turn this on before he fully opened his eyes, and he'd let out a little sigh and go back to sleep. Absolute witchcraft. For me, it was a very handy tool for figuring out whether he was just having trouble connecting a sleep cycle and wanted to go back to sleep, or if he was genuinely hungry for a bottle (at which point the Baby Shusher wouldn't work, and I'd get up to feed him)."
Promising review: "My baby hated napping. Great sleeper, terrible napper. I heard about this baby shusher and thought it would be the dumbest thing I've ever bought, but I bought it anyway, and wow, am I glad I did. I used to have to rock my baby to sleep, but not anymore. I just wrap her up in a swaddle sack, turn on the baby shusher, put a pacifier in her mouth, and plop her down in the bassinet. Then within SECONDS, she is asleep. I know that's a lot of factors, but the shusher made the difference. She is the best napper in the world, and I typically get more than 30+ minutes out of her. I highly recommend this product in addition to other elements that help your baby sleep!" —New Mom
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
Promising review: "Even though my child doesn’t have ADHD or sensory issues, this sensory swing for kids has been a huge hit! She loves using it as a cozy, calming spot to read, relax, or gently swing. It feels like a cuddle hammock and gives just the right amount of safe security while twisting and turning.
The included 360-degree indoor swing hardware made installation super easy, and the swing feels really sturdy — supports up to 220 pounds, so I’ve even tried it myself! It works great as an indoor or outdoor therapy swing, and the quality of the fabric is soft but strong.
Whether you're looking for a calming swing, a therapy swing for sensory processing, or just a fun addition to a playroom, this is an awesome buy" —Sarah Perkins
Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in four colors).
Promising review: "My kids love love these sticker books! My 3-year-old is working on his numbers and counting, shapes, and fine motor skills while he puts these pictures together. It keeps my kids quiet, organized, focused, and so proud when they complete one. I’ve ordered almost all of them, and am delighted when there are new versions for purchase. I wish these were around when I was young, but it is still fun as an adult to help my kids with them. It’s so satisfying when the stickers are aligned perfectly, and the end picture always looks amazing with all the colors and shading. Highly recommend!" —Sharon
Get it from Amazon for $5.73.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "My grandson LOVES this! He has so much fun! Loves the colors and how it squirts the water. Really cute for a 1- or 2-year-old. Heck I think it's fun and cute! Definitely a must-have for bath time!" —Faye
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in six styles).
Promising review: "We LOVE Crocodile Creek puzzles! They are beautiful and the quality is top notch. They have many different options for designs and sizes. The 36-piece set is perfect for my three year old!" —Paige Patrick
Get it from Amazon for $24+ (available in 22 patterns)
Amazon
Promising review: "This is such a great idea for children to have. This pup helps children at a young age manage their feelings and get to know their body through breathing. My 2-year-old loves to breathe along with this pup (he can’t hold his breath for the length of the light) and my 4-year-old also loves to breathe along with it too. Being that this is an animal with a light they think it is a fun toy for them. Such a wonderful product!" —It is me
Get it from Amazon for $21.99.
Nugget
Nugget Comfort is a small biz based in Butner, North Carolina, that specializes in play furniture made out of foam cushions.
Orders are estimated to ship within eight weeks.
Promising review: "We purchased this Nugget for our granddaughter’s 2-year-old birthday. We helped her set it up into a tunnel, a cave, a slide, and an obstacle course. She is presently too little to arrange on her own. But she had soooo much fun jumping and crawling on the cushions. We ended the day creating the sofa and reading bedtime stories. I can see her getting years of use from this product."—Dana D.
Get it from Nugget Comfort for $249 (available in 28 colors).
Promising review: "Easy and mess-free coloring great for car and plane trips, dining out, etc. It says for ages 3+, but if your kid is old enough to hold a crayon, they are old enough to enjoy this. Also, have a 6-year-old who still likes the one I bought him several years ago. Seem to hold up fairly well to repeat use." —The Major Family
Get it from Amazon for $6.29+ (available in six themes).
Promising review: "These portable blackout curtains have been a game changer for helping my baby nap during the day. They block out light really well, creating a dark, calming environment even in the middle of the afternoon. I also love that they’re easy to pack and set up, making them perfect for travel or visiting family. A must-have for any parent trying to keep naps on track!" —lanie terhark
Get it from Amazon for $20.98+ for one (available in four colors and as a pack of two).
Uncommon Goods
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $21.
Amazon
Promising review: "Best sleep sacks for my toddler. I use these every nap and nighttime! Best value also, and I was nervous these wouldn’t work, but I've been buying these for several months, and he is now almost 2 years old. I definitely recommend and best value!" —Alyssa
Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four sizes and 17 patterns).
Promising review: "My family absolutely loves this book! Opening it up brought me back to my childhood. I bought one for my young daughter and also for my brother. It has been a HIT! It walks you through exactly what to do to achieve that nostalgic string-shaped cats' cradle. 10/10 recommend!!!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $12.11.
Promising review: "This bubble bath is a staple in our household! It’s super gentle on my child’s skin, tear-free, and creates tons of bubbles that last. The lavender scent is light and calming — perfect for winding down before bedtime. I also love that it’s made with naturally derived ingredients. Highly recommend for a soothing and fun bath time!" —Kelly S
Get it from Amazon for $10.39+ (available in two sizes, four fragrances, and an unscented option).
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BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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