NOW CLOSED Tesco Loves Baby bedding tester review thread: non-testers - win £100 cash by sharing your top tips for getting babies to nod off

[AlexMumsnet]

This thread is for the MNers who are putting the Tesco Loves Baby range of bedding to the test. We'd love to hear what you think of the item you've been trying with your baby. We've provided a few questions to get you started but please feel free to add your own comments - the more detail the better!

Every tester who adds their feedback on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win £100 cash (to hopefully spend on Tesco Direct's Baby & Toddler range!).

We'd also like testers to add a review of the item they've tried here.

Please remember to tell us what item(s) you've been testing in your response

~ What was your overall impression of the product?

~ What did you think of the quality? Have you washed the item? How did it cope with being washed?

~ And how about value for money? You can find out how much the item you've been testing costs here

~ If it came up in conversation, would you recommend this product to a friend?

~ Now that you've tried a product from the Tesco Loves Baby range, do you think you'd try any others? If so, which one(s)? You can see the whole range here

If you're not a tester, the team at Tesco Direct would still love to hear from you - for a chance to win a separate £100 cash prize please share on this thread any tips or advice you have on the topic of baby bedding, and getting babies off to sleep more generally - what do you find your LO finds most cosy? Any sure fire winners for getting them to nod off? Please share this on the thread and you'll be entered into the prize draw.

Lastly, Tesco Direct are offering a special discount for all MNers - save £10 when you spend £50 on Baby and Toddler ranges for First Time Shoppers when you use code TDX-7GRT - ends 12/05/13 Link here. See T&Cs below*.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draws

MNHQ

• eCoupon code TDX-7GRT entitles you to save £10 when you spend £50 or more on baby & toddler ranges.
  This eCoupon applies to first time shoppers only.
  This eCoupon is valid on orders placed on or before 23.59 on 12/05/2013.
  Normal eCoupon terms and conditions apply.

[stephgr]

Non- tester
When my children were babies, I tended to wait until they looked really drowsy before putting them down and I never left any lights on. I think darkness really helps. We dimmed the lights in all the rooms before turning the light off in the baby's room.
With regard to bedding, make sure that your baby's mattress is firm and is flat against the sides of the cot. My babies had blankets which we
tucked around the cot mattress but the blankets only ever went up as far as their chests.

[SmokedMackerel]

Non tester - I always found my baby slept best in a cosy sleeping bag.
Dh used to play music and dance with them in a darkened room when they were tiny babies. I was dubious of his choice of lullaby music (usually something with a thumping beat) but they would drop straight off. He has been in charge of bedtime ever since (though now he reads a story, and there is no dancing!)

[hunhun007]

non-testers - top tips for getting babies to nod off

We use natural music for calming down, the favorite seems to be the sounds of the ocean
Also black out blinds are the must during day time, the best are the one portable which can be fitted everywhere

[amazinggrace2001]

Sounds crazy but I found the sound of hoovering was always a good way to get my babes to sleep. I just left it on rather than doing any actual hoovering though!

[AndHarry]

Non-tester.

I've always used sleeping bags for my children and they're so useful - we have travel ones for when we're travelling at bed time so they go straight from the car seat into bed and stay warm.

Both my babies have been fed to sleep so I'm no expert :o but I would say that a simple routine is important. Ours is tea, bath, story, bed.

[mumsbe]

The best way to get baby to sleep is to develop a good routine from day one a nice relaxing bath story and then bed. Always speak in a soft voice keep the ights low and baby will soon realise that this is bedtime. My daughter also liked a song to help her sleep if she was struggling to sleep

[BadMissM]

A nice relaxing bath with baby bedtime bath, or lavender oil in the bath, then wrap them up in a warm towel, massage with bedtime lotion or baby cream with a little lavender oil... a nice feed in a dimly lit room, a story, and a cuddle!

[BadlyWrittenPoem]

My tip is to use sleeping bags because then they don't kick their covers off plus you don't have the worrk of them getting under the covers by accident.

[RubySparks]

First child was an easy baby, put down to sleep and he went to sleep, second child not so much! She always used to fall asleep in the car so would sometimes do that. Otherwise it was cuddling, walking, singing, playing familiar music soundtrack of 'brother where art thou' and later sitting by the bed, rubbing her temples going 'wobble' 'wobble'....

Finally stopped night feeding at two and a half and she settled better after that! Main tip is be lucky with the baby you get as clearly we had no dea what really worked!

[wibblyjelly]

We are quite lucky with ds. I give him his bottle just before bed. If he is still awake when its done, I just put him I to his cot. We aren't quite when dh and I are downstairs, making dinner, so maybe he finds the noise soothing

[kateandme]

on the baby bedding front i think it helps to go by the weather and the warmth and comfort of the baby.being too hot is always a no no and too cold also as bed.gage it by yourself and the knowledge you have of your baby,be confidient in knowing whats right.
just aways remeber on the comfort front or on the going to sleep front they need to no they are safe,when you feel it they often always feel it too.whether that being relaxed,contented,safe.your teaching them all the time,how to feel how to react so at night this is especially true as darkness and the silence brings feelings up in most of us never mind tiny babes.

[kateandme]

baby loves settling with us on the sofa before bed.like us we adults sit down for a relaxing session in front of the tv or just together with some soft music.the baby loves doing that too.just getting more settle for the night.this is usualy after a lovely bathtime session.
when they go to bed i always think if you can get them off with silence first then thats great but equally that can come later if needs be and some soft music can often help.if they have been unhappy or restless just sitting by and stroking them foe a little while can stop them screaming as soon as you leave the room like you usually do,this few minutes sitting by them can help them feel comforted.

[Bubbles85]

Soft cuddly freshly washed bedding for a much better sleep :)

[ThePearShapedToad]

None tester. Best things I've found are storing all the bed linens with scented soaps (eg lavender) so they have a subtle scent when it comes to making up the cots / beds, and then also scented lavender pounches in the bedroom only. Therefore the scent is associated with sleeping only and rest

[Crazybit]

My tip. Start from a very young age at getting them used to nodding off themselves, instill a bedtime routine with something familiar ( maybe a blanket, have a stash of these in case they get lost) but try them in different places, such as a travel cot sometimes etc so you will not have problems with them sleeping in unfamiliar places.

[nicholab85]

Non tester

My bedtime tip is ROUTINE! I have never had a problem with my kids..from birth i did bath and pjs at 7 bed at 8..now they both go to bed at 8 and wake up as late as 9-30 if i let them!

[manfalou]

A Non tester but for us swaddling baby was a MUST. He loved it and knew it was sleep time as soon as the was wrapped up. He then moved onto the 'Swaddle up 50/50' which let us wean him off of swaddling by unzipping one arm free and then another a couple of nights later. Its a great shape and whilst its still quite snug around the torso the legs have lots of wriggle room. Would recommend to anyone as they're not based on age either, they're based on weight so you know you're getting the right size for YOUR baby.

[MoogDroog]

Not a tester, but my top tip for getting babies to nod off is white noise. Magic! We downloaded a few mp3s of hoovers and washing machines and bam! sleeping baby!

[Maggietess]

Tip for getting babies off to sleep- my 10 month old has really taken to his Eric Elephant cuddly toy this last month. He will now go happily to sleep as long as he can snuggle down with Eric under one arm and the corner of his blanket under the other. So try a teddy or comforter for older babies, they like snuggling up with something.

[littlemonkeychops]

I'm a non-tester.

What does your LO find cosy?
Bith my Dds have been summer babies and we co-sleep, in summer they just have a sheet and in winter they have sleeping bags.

Any sure fire tips to send them off?
Breastfeeding to sleep for 18 months, then snuggling down to bed with a couple of stories. Co-sleeping is also great for getting a lot of sleep.

[ratbagcatbag]

None tester.

For us it's all about routine, getting her bathed then bottle and then sleep works.
Keeping dd cosy she definitely prefers sleeping bags, she throws herself around at night so the sleeping bag doesn't get tangled around her.
Finally a lullaby vtech projector works if all else fails.

[MummyBtothree]

I prefer to use a baby sleeping bag for my 13 month old son as he then doesn't wake up because he has kicked his covers off.

[florencebabyjo]

I am a non tester! I used to put my baby in his basket right next to the washing machine. The spin cycle used to send him off every time!

[CalamityJ]

Non tester who uses a muslin which I've slept with for a few nights to stroke her face and cover her eyes to stop her looking around and get distracted. It's like she's been drugged! Who knew Mummy smells were so soporific?

[lancasterkaren]

I have 3 little girls 4, 3 and 6 mths. I can swear by putting them down in cot and gently patting their chests in a rhythmic fashion for a couple of minutes. gently singing or soothing tones. Always gets mine to sleep!