Ask almost any seasoned parent what they miss most about the baby years, and chances are they’ll mention the little things.

The way your baby melts into your arms after a warm bath. Tiny fingers wrapped around yours during bedtime cuddles. Those quiet moments when the rest of the world seems to disappear, leaving only soft pajamas, sleepy smiles, and one last goodnight kiss.

Of course, not every evening looks like that. Some nights are filled with diaper blowouts, skipped naps, overtired tears, and wondering how someone so tiny can have so much energy. But even on the busiest days, a familiar bedtime routine can bring a little calm to the chaos for both babies and parents.

A warm bath. A gentle massage. Fresh pajamas. A favorite bedtime story.

Those everyday moments become more than just part of the bedtime routine. They become some of the memories you’ll treasure most.

Having baby care products you can feel good about simply makes those moments a little easier to enjoy. That’s exactly what the NOW^® Baby collectionis all about. Made with clean, functional ingredients and without harsh chemicals or common allergens, the collection helps parents care for their little one’s delicate skin while creating comforting daily rituals. Most of the products are EWG Verified®, providing another layer of assurance that parents can trust they are free of harmful chemicals. Even better, the products are gentle enough that the whole family can enjoy them.

Whether you’re shopping for your own growing family or looking for the perfect baby shower gift, here’s why it caught our attention.

Tiny Skin, Big Responsibility

If you’ve ever kissed your baby’s chubby little cheeks or rubbed their tiny feet after bath time, you’ve probably noticed just how unbelievably soft their skin is. It’s one of those things every parent falls in love with almost instantly.

That softness is also what makes baby skin a little more vulnerable. Since it’s still developing, it can dry out more easily and become irritated by everything from cold weather and frequent diaper changes to bath products that are a little too harsh.

As parents, we spend enough time reading labels on everything from snacks to sunscreen, so it’s refreshing to find a baby care line that takes a simpler approach. The NOW^® Baby collection features nourishing, plant-based ingredients and leaves out many of the ingredients families often try to avoid, like parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and sulfates. It’s the kind of collection that lets you feel good about what you’re putting on your baby’s skin without overcomplicating your routine.

Splish, Splash, and Sweet Memories

Bath time is about so much more than getting clean. For many families, it’s the first step in winding down after a day of crawling, exploring, playing, and discovering the world. Warm water, gentle bubbles, and a peaceful atmosphere help signal that bedtime is just around the corner.

The Gentle Baby Shampoo & Wash (Calming Lavender) makes bath time feel relaxing from start to finish. Made with calendula extract, chamomile, aloe, and organic lavender oil, it gently cleanses baby’s hair and skin without leaving it feeling dry. If your evenings already include a calming bedtime routine, the light lavender scent is a lovely finishing touch.

If your family prefers products without added fragrance, the Fragrance-Free Gentle Baby Shampoo & Wash offers the same soothing cleansing experience using calendula and chamomile extracts to leave skin feeling soft and clean. While it’s currently out of stock, it’s definitely one to keep on your wish list if your little one has especially sensitive skin.

One of our favorite things is that both formulas are gentle enough for everyday use, making bath time something your family can look forward to night after night.

After the Bubbles Come the Snuggles

Once the splashing is over and the towels come out, it’s the perfect time to give baby’s skin a little extra love. Applying a lightweight moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp helps lock in hydration, leaving those tiny arms, legs, and cheeks soft, smooth, and ready for all the bedtime snuggles.

The Nourishing Baby Lotion (Fragrance-Free) combines calendula extract with shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil to help soothe dry, delicate skin. It’s an easy choice for families looking for an everyday moisturizer that’s both gentle and fragrance free.

If you enjoy ending the day on a calm note, the Nourishing Baby Lotion (Calming Lavender) features that same deeply moisturizing blend of botanical ingredients with the addition of organic lavender oil for a light, relaxing scent that’s perfect before pajamas and bedtime stories.

The easy-to-use pump bottles are another thoughtful touch, especially when you’re trying to lotion up a wiggly baby with one hand.

The Sweetest Part of the Routine

Long before babies understand words, they understand touch.

A gentle massage after bath time can become one of the sweetest parts of the evening, giving parents a chance to slow down, connect, and soak in a few quiet moments before the day comes to an end.

The Soothing Baby Oil (Fragrance-Free) blends organic olive, jojoba, coconut, and argan oils with calendula extract to help nourish delicate skin from head to toe. The lightweight formula glides on smoothly, making it ideal for a relaxing massage after bath time.

If lavender is already part of your family’s nighttime routine, the Soothing Baby Oil (Calming Lavender) offers those same nourishing botanical oils with the addition of organic lavender oil for an extra calming touch before bed.

It’s amazing how just a few quiet minutes can become just as comforting for parents as they are for baby.

Every Diaper Bag Needs a Hero

Let’s be honest. Parenthood isn’t all adorable bath photos and sleepy cuddles.

Diaper changes happen. A lot.

And when irritation pops up, it’s nice knowing you already have something gentle within reach.

The NOW^® Baby Diaper Butter Paste combines zinc oxide with calendula, cocoa butter, vitamin E, olive oil, lanolin, and beeswax to help soothe and protect their baby’s sensitive skin. It’s the kind of product that quickly earns a permanent spot in the nursery, the diaper bag, and yes, even Grandma’s house.

Simple Products, Thoughtful Care

One of the biggest challenges for new parents is figuring out which products actually deserve a place in the nursery. That’s one reason we like how refreshingly simple the NOW^® Baby collection is.

Instead of overwhelming parents with dozens of products, the collection focuses on the everyday essentials that naturally fit into family life, from bath time and moisturizing to diaper care and bedtime cuddles.

One thing we really love is how everything works together so naturally. Instead of feeling like you need a cabinet full of different products, the line gives parents a simple routine, from a gentle shampoo and body wash to nourishing lotions, soothing baby oils, and a diaper paste that’s ready whenever little bottoms need a little extra TLC. It takes some of the guesswork out of baby skincare, so you can spend less time worrying about products and more time enjoying the cuddles, giggles, and bedtime moments that go by all too quickly.

Another bonus? These aren’t products you’ll outgrow after the newborn stage. Whether you’re caring for a baby, a busy toddler, or simply want thoughtfully made products the whole family can use, they’re easy to keep reaching for.

July Is the Perfect Time to Stock Up

If you’ve been thinking about refreshing your baby’s skincare routine, now is the perfect time.

Throughout the month of July, the entire NOW^® Baby collection will be on sale, making it easy to stock up on everyday essentials while saving a little money along the way.

Whether you’re shopping for your own little one or putting together the perfect baby shower gift, the NOW Baby collection brings together the everyday essentials parents reach for most. It’s a simple, gentle collection that helps take some of the guesswork out of everyday baby care, so you can focus on what matters most, making memories with your little one, one bath, one cuddle, and one bedtime story at a time.

The Little Moments Become the Big Memories

Years from now, your child probably won’t remember which lotion you used or which shampoo sat on the edge of the bathtub.

But they’ll remember the feeling.

The warm bath before bedtime.

The soft towel fresh from the dryer.

The gentle back rub.

The extra bedtime snuggle.

Those are the moments that quietly become the foundation of childhood.

Having products you trust simply means spending less time worrying about what’s in the bottle and more time soaking up the little moments that matter most. 

Browse the complete collection:

SHOP HERE

The post More Than Just Bath Time: Building a Bedtime Routine Baby (and Parents) Will Love appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Bedtime and toddlers mix as well as oil and vinegar most nights.  Bedtime can be a time of frustration for many parents as toddlers escape their bed and sneak out of their rooms multiple times. Below you’ll find some helpful tips to get your child to sleep in their own bed without waging World War III:

Create a Routine: Kids feel safe with routines.  Having a schedule they are familiar with lets them know what they can expect on a daily basis.  Don’t rush the bedtime process as it is important to help them wind down and relax.  After dinner have active play time to burn off excess energy.  Consider using an egg timer to ring when it is time to head to the bath.  Use bath time to transition them to a calmer state and prepare them for bed.  Allow each child to select a book to read and gather together on a bed to snuggle and read.  Include their favorite stuffed toy or blanket to be part of the bedtime ritual. After story time give kisses and hugs before tucking them in and turning out the light.

Be Strong: Toddlers  will find a myriad of excuses to get out of bed. It’s important to be strong and not give in to their wishes.  Each time they wander into the hallway, escort them back to bed and firmly say goodnight and tuck them in.  It is important to continue the process with a firm calm voice until they stay in bed for the night.

Confront their fears: Children will sometimes get out of bed due to being afraid. Fear of the dark usually starts when kids are old enough to conjure up their own imagination.  Normally, this fear will hit kids between the ages of 2 or 3. At this age, they can imagine things but they don’t yet have the cognitive ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality.  So it’s easy for a shadow of tree branches blowing in the wind to turn into a scary monster.  Once lights go out, it’s easy for a child’s imagination to run wild.  To help alleviate their fear of the dark, talk through what they are feeling and help them process what they actually see.  Redirect their focus with a happy song or story.

Reduce Stimulation: Too much television can be over stimulating for small children, especially before bedtime. Limit the amount of time kids spend watching television as well as the types of programs they tune into. Shut off the TV early and focus on family time.  Leave them with happy thoughts to ponder as they relax and fall asleep.

Review Sleep Schedules: If you’re having a continuous problem with getting your child to sleep at bedtime, review their sleep schedule.  Your child might not be tired enough to sleep. Try setting a regular time to rise each day between 6:00 and 7:00 AM; schedule naps from 10:00 – 11:00 and again from 3:00 – 4:00. Set bedtime at 8:00 PM; and see if consistency makes a difference.  If your child has a high energy level, you may need to plan for more activity throughout the day to wear them out.

Bedtime shouldn’t be just one more check on your daily “To-Do” list.  Make this time special by creating your own bedtime rituals that help your kids feel safe and secure and ready to fall asleep.  Dress them in comfy pajamas, let them sleep with their favorite toy or blanket and reduce stimulation before bedtime.  Sleep training with a toddler is a like a marathon, be ready to endure multiple false starts before they finally make it to the finish line!

About Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg & Difrax:
Vivienne Van Eijkelenborg offers her tips to expectant and new parents. Vivienne is the owner of Difrax, a Dutch baby products company that pioneered a pacifier system designed to accommodate each stage of baby’s development as well as the smart s-bottle designed to reduce colic when feeding. Difrax offers innovative, stylish, and trendy products that make the lives of babies and their parents as convenient and as pleasant as possible.

See the complete Difrax pacifier system at www.difraxusa.com. You can also follow them on Twitter and “like” them on Facebook. 

The post No More Bedtime Battles appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

How you feel in the course of your waking hours greatly depends on how well you slept the night before. A sound, restful sleep will influence energy levels, proper hormonal responses and brain function. Surprisingly, the cure to your sleeping difficulties may not be found within the sleep at all. What you do during the day has a strong influence on how you will sleep during the night. While exercise has been found to play a very crucial role in enhancing sleep, there are a lot more sleep hacking tips that will help you optimize your nightly rest so you remain emotionally balanced, mentally sharp, full of energy and productive.

Embrace Physical Activity

Most people spend a better part of their day motionless; working on their computer or watching TV. Research indicates that people who are physically active and fit are more likely to have quality sleep more often. You should exercise at least 60 minutes a day in order to create a noticeable impact on the quality of your sleep. Get out and get that heart pumping by swimming, cycling and walking.

As great as exercise is, you should be wary of activity done just before bedtime or late into the evening. Higher degrees of physical activity are known to temporarily arouse the nervous system and can cause sleep disturbances. If this happens late in the evening, you might have difficulties sustaining comfortable sleep. Exhausting yourself physically before collapsing into bed is not a recommended strategy.

The relationship between sleep and exercise is symbiotic. While exercise provides great contributions towards sleep, effective and enjoyable exercise greatly depends on sufficient sleep and rest. If you are aiming for muscle growth for instance, you have to focus on enough sleep to allow your muscles to recover and repair the tissues and cells.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Food and sleep are not mutually exclusive. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight has a significant impact on your night-time sleep. Heavy individuals have a greater risk of snoring during their sleep, which consequently increases the chances of sleep apnea.

Eat your main meal a sufficient amount of time before bed so heavy digestion is not taking place. This can be disruptive to falling asleep. It may be a good idea to eat a protein/fat mini-snack before bed, such as almond butter, so your brain has some good fuel during rest. Avoid or curb your intake of caffeine many hours prior to sleep. This is based on your personal make-up, but caffeine affects some individuals in very powerful ways. This can include chocolate, and chocolate derivatives and coffee.

Invest in your Bed and make a Routine

It is silly to spend more money on your flat screen TV when your bed is not properly supporting your sleep posture. A bed is one of the things in your house that will give back value for your investment. Personal preferences play a crucial role in the kind of bedding that you buy, but it should be at least comfortable and supportive. Your bedroom should be a haven so that you can slip into a beautiful sleep on command.

Lastly, a bedtime routine is very crucial. Ensure that you get up and sleep roughly around the same time everyday. This can be difficult, but it helps to condition your body to naturally rest at a particular time. Taking a nap during the day may also be beneficial, but not late into the evening.

*Mackenzie Kelly is a fitness model, personal trainer and fitness coach. In her free time, she writes about health and fitness to educate others. Her personal blog about health and fitness can be found at: www.mkellyfitness.com.

The post Sleep Hacking Tips appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.