Should I get blackout curtains for the new baby?

[salviapages]

I've hated my curtains since we moved in, the old owners left theirs and we never got around to changing them, so now I'm pregnant I'm using it as an excuse to actually get around to getting new curtains. The baby will be in with us for the first 6 months or so then we hope to transition them to their own room.

So - do we get normal curtains, or blackout? I was thinking blackout at first so that when they sleep they won't be bothered by too much light and we can encourage good sleep. But then I heard someone talk about disrupting the baby's circadian rhythm and it being better for them to sleep in the light if it's day, and sleep in the dark when it's night, and this will set them up to sleep through the night better. So now a small decision feels like a big one! What do I do?

Blackout curtains 100%

But then I wouldn't ever get anything else for a bedroom, regardless of who sleeps in there. If you don't get blackout curtains, you'll have a baby waking at 4am each day thinking it's play time.

I personally love our black out blinds and I bought the same ones for baby's room when he moved in there at 6 months.

We did always have him sleeping in a light room during the day though. They should generally be in the same room as you anyway so we would put him to sleep in whatever room we were in with the blinds open and still had noise etc in the background then at night we'd have the blackout curtains closed and keep it quiet except for his white noise and he's always been a brilliant sleeper since day 1

Blackout curtains. Or a blackout blind and normal curtains (I have this) so you have a choice.

babies can sleep in the light, it’s how they fall asleep in the car seat or pram. But it is helpful to have blackout curtains on a sunny summer evening when you want them to be down by 6.30pm, etc.

Absolutely blackout. I cannot stress this enough.

BUY THE BLACKOUTS

Also, for the first 6 months (when circadian rhythm is being established) baby won't be sleeping in their room, because all sleep needs to be with an adult in the room and you don't wanna spend 4-5 hours a day sitting in the dark.

100% blackout, and a blackout blind too. We had a pelmet also to stop any light at the top. Baby slept brilliantly and was never awake before 7am

We always had blackouts for our three until we had new windows installed when they were 3,7,9. We couldn't be bothered to put them back up and with a week it two the kids slept to their normal times as before. We never worried about blackouts if we were away from home when they were tiny and looking back it made no difference! If I was having another baby now I'd not bother with blackouts.

Blackout curtains all the way! They will help you to sleep as well(assuming these are for your room as you mention baby being in with you). If you want a nap with baby in the day either leave them open or draw them partway, or baby can nap in whichever room you are in.

Blackout, it also makes it easier for you to nap while they nap, if our daughter fell asleep in the living room I’d generally stay awake as it was light, if we were in the bedroom I would close the blackout (in our case roller blinds) and sleep really well until she woke up.

I didn't need blackout blinds for the first 5 months or so because my baby was always asleep before I put him down. Once I started putting him down awake then blackout blinds were absolutely essential to help him fall asleep.

Ok I'm going against the flow. We never had blackouts, and when my dc were small we lived in the far north of Scotland where it never really got dark in June/July.

I didn't want to end up with children who wouldn't sleep without blackouts, for example in a holiday home, or with grandparents. So we did the same bedtime routine regardless of the time of year and with a little cc at around 9-11 months they were all good sleepers.

Now they're grown up (nearly) and still sleep anywhere.

Blackout blinds and curtains in every bedroom. You do not want to be woken up at 5am by sunrise an hour after your baby has dropped off.

Nether, get blackout blinds. We got some called Zebra blinds I think it was?. They do not let even a crack of light in.

DS has always been an amazing sleeper from a tiny baby and I swear it was his blinds that did it.

I have blackout curtains, the light still comes around the edges but I'm fine with that as I just want most of the bright light kept out.

I like them for me so replaced the really thin ones I had in babys room with blackout ones. I just prefer the privacy of blackout - you can also get blackout thermal curtains which help with the heat - just food for thought with that option too.

My baby was borin winter so wasn't really an issue until she was older and she could sleep anywhere, as long as she was on me, that was just a phase many small babies go through.
I did like having a night light, so I could see her easily in her moses basket.

Thanks all, I'll get blackouts!

Depends when your baby is born.

If it is a summer baby you definitely need the black outs. If later in the year e.g. autumn or winter you can get away with out them.

My DD is now 3 and autumn born. Only now is she questioning lighter evenings and trying to go to bed late.

If you have black out curtains and you want it to be lighter you can….open the curtains

to summarise, yes get the blackouts!

Blackout curtains anal a blind!

my 2 year keeps waking up at 4am saying “getting up time now”. The wooden blinds and curtains let in too much light (sneaks in around the edges!).

my other child has blinds and curtains and never did this in the summer.

just waiting on the new black out blinds to go up.

You can get portable blackout blinds that have suckers on them which stick to windows if you want to try it out before committing. Great for travel as well.

Yes yes yes yes yes. I left it until about 7 months and she almost instantly started napping for over an hour instead of 35 mins. For the first 6 months it doesn't matter as they'll nap where ever you are. When you start putting them in their room for naps darkness is AMAZING