Are Blockout Blinds Good for Babies?
Sleep training your little one isn’t the easiest of tasks and finding the right solution(s) to work for you and your little one can be tricky, but we are here to make this milestone a little easier to reach. Let us introduce you to the world of blockout blinds!
Reasons to Have a Blockout Blind for Baby's Room
Blockout blinds can come in a variety of forms, but their main purpose is to block out all light from a room, to encourage your little one to sleep, even on the brightest of days. There are many reasons why parents and babies benefit from installing or using blockout blinds for baby naps and these include sleep training, quick settling and no commitment. Let’s look into these in more detail.
Sleep Training
Blockout blinds help neutralise the bedroom as there is no light for your baby to see the decor or surroundings which stimulate their mind. Naturally, your baby will find it easier to sleep.
Encouraging your baby to sleep in a dark room can kickstart your baby’s internal body clock or circadian rhythm. Pairing blockout blinds for a baby's room with a white noise machine is another way to get your little one to sleep. White noise masks environmental noises and it can help them sleep deeper and longer. But blocking out the bedroom is essential for bedtime and early mornings, as babies sleep multiple times throughout the daylight you will find that the daylight signals for them to be awake, which can be confusing and, in turn, find it harder for them to fall asleep.
Quick Settling
If you have started using blackout blinds for baby naps, you will find it easier to get your little one settled for their nap. As they have gotten used to the sounds from the white noise machine and the darkness of the room, they have mastered the art and acknowledged that it is time for a nap.
Your baby, when they reach 4-6 months old, they have the ability to link sleep cycles. If they are at this age and they wake up from their catnap of 40 minutes or so, and the room is dark, it is more likely that they will drift back off to sleep and start their next sleep cycle. As opposed to being in a light room, your baby is more likely to start looking around to see what can stimulate their mind.
No Commitment
The best thing about ergoPouch blockout blinds is that you don’t have to be fully committed to using them. From an experienced parent, we found them a godsend, and therefore we would encourage you to purchase them. However, if you are not certain, why not give them a try and see if they work for you and your family. If they don’t, they are easily removable.
Blockout Curtains VS Stick On Blockout Blinds
Some parents prefer the look of a blockout curtain rather than stick on blinds, but they aren’t the most practical option. As the blockout curtain isn’t flush against the window, it allows room for the light to peek through, and with that, your children’s bedroom is no longer a dark, peaceful space for them to drift off into Dreamland. Instead, it can confuse your baby into thinking that it is time to wake up.
On the other hand, stick on blockout blinds lay flush against the window allowing no room for light to peer through and disturb your baby’s sleep.
Best Blockout Blind for Baby Room
One of the quickest, cheapest and most efficient tools for getting your baby to sleep is installing blockout blinds for baby naps. But which what blockout blind is best?
Being parents ourselves, we have tried and tested many types of blinds and curtains. The blockout blinds that helped the little ones in our family drift off are the reusable blockout blinds from ergoPouch. Why?
- ergoPouch blockout blinds are reusable.
- They completely cover the window, creating total darkness by ensuring no light to peer through.
- Easy to apply to any window and they are just as easy to remove.
How to Know Your Baby’s Bedroom is Pitch Black
The hand test! If you haven’t heard of the hand test, don’t worry. It is exactly what it sounds like. If you are looking to test if your baby’s nursery or bedroom is dark enough for the deepest of periods of sleep, then simply turn the light off. With your other hand, you will want to wave it around in front of you as far as possible. If you are able to see it straight away, the room is still too light.
Top Tip: After a couple of seconds, your eyes will adjust to the darkness, so make sure you are testing your immediate reaction.
On the Road: Blockout Blinds for Baby Naps
Some of you parents might be wondering about the impact blockout blinds have on babies and asking yourself, will they become dependent on blockout blinds? What if we need to travel? What about napping in the stroller? Others might want their little ones to be trained to sleep around noise and light because it is more realistic and natural for their surroundings.
If you find that you’re at home with your little one, this is the simplest technique to encourage your little one to sleep. It is not a given that you have to use a blockout blind every time your baby needs to have a nap, but blockout blinds are more of a tool that you can use if your little one is restless and won’t go to sleep. Whereas, if you are in the car and your little one is tired, they may naturally start to close their eyes without a blockout blind.
It is important to remember that all babies are different, they grow and develop at varied rates. Therefore, we advise you to try and test blockout blinds to see if they work for you and your baby.