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As a lifelong insomniac, I figured I’d be able to tackle sleepless postpartum nights with ease — been there, done that, right? Unfortunately, no one has ever been more wrong in the history of the world. Many factors play into exactly why it can be so difficult to sleep when you have a newborn baby, but what I found most surprising was how challenging it was to fall back asleep after each wakeup (of which there were many).
I was desperate to get small pockets of rest when I could, but between my anxiety, hormones and adrenaline, it seemed impossible. My mind raced forward to my son’s next feeding, sending me into a panic spiral when I heard the tiny “eh” coming from his bassinet. After a few weeks of pathetically jamming AirPods into my ears all night, I came across the LC-Dolida Bluetooth wireless sleep mask at Amazon and figured it was worth a try.
Being able to pop these on was a game-changer. Not only did the mask fully shut out the night light, but I could connect to a meditation app on my phone and quiet my mind enough to fall asleep. I’ve been using them religiously for months to address my own unique baby-related lack of sleep situation, but I know they’ll come in extra handy on long-haul flights and anytime I’m struck with good, old-fashioned insomnia.
I was worried that having a big mask on my face would add to the pantheon of postpartum sensory nightmares I was experiencing, but I’m pleased to report that the soft memory foam fabric is soothing and lightweight, with just the right amount of pressure to help my face relax without feeling compressive. It’s surprisingly breathable and doesn’t mess with my various skin care products. The strap has a velcro closure that you can adjust to fit your head perfectly and when aligned correctly never tugged on my hair or moved out of place.
There are two flat hidden speakers on either side of the mask, making it possible to listen to music, meditations, ASMR or whatever will help you relax and fall asleep without disturbing anyone else in the bed or room. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your device — mine spent months paired to the Insight Timer app on my iPhone. I’m a side sleeper and have never had a comfort issue with the speakers — I didn’t really notice them, or the little charging wire that is tucked up inside the mask. The middle of the mask features the power and volume buttons, which makes it possible to adjust the settings without having to look at my phone’s bright light during the night.
The sound quality is shockingly good and the mask helps to provide a fully immersive experience, whether you’re attempting to sleep for 45 minutes or the whole night long. Like some reviewers have also noted, it’s great for blocking out sound as well. I often throw on some white noise to catch up on sleep while my baby babbles away and plays with my wife in the next room.
This mask is easy to set up, pair and use. Best of all, it charges up quickly and lasts two or three nights without having to be recharged. It’s not surprising that it has 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon and over 16,100 5-star reviews. It’s the first thing I recommend to new parents and people who struggle with sleep issues of any kind, it truly changed the quality of sleep I’ve been getting the last few months.
Check out what a few other shoppers have to say and pick one up for yourself — you’ll get the best night’s sleep you’ve had in a while. It’s worth every penny!
“When I tell you there’s not a night that passes where I don’t use this, I mean it. I charge it once for like 30 minutes, but that charge alone makes it last like 3 days. The audios great, I use it for white noise. The design is perfect, especially if you’ve gotten your lashes done and need the extra room inside. It’s so comfortable, there’s a strap in the back to adjust to your size, but the strap doesn’t grab onto your hair at all. It’s easy to connect to your phone too. Worth the buy for sure.” — KKWbella
“I love this Bluetooth sleeping mask, it’s perfect for a side sleeper! My boyfriend and I differ on how we like to sleep. He likes it perfectly quiet and dark, but I like to listen to something to fall asleep so for years I’ve been using and trying different earbuds to find one’s good for sleeping. They pair easily, charge quickly and is very comfortable to wear. I was also worried that my boyfriend would hear the music or video, but he couldn’t hear them at all! I can finally sleep comfortably again… My ears were getting pretty beat up from my AirPods.” — Stephanie R
“She says they’re comfy, don’t touch her eyes, and the speakers sound pretty decent- even on full blast. Easy set up. The bottom of the mask has a little extra loose padding\ material that you can tuck in next to your nose and cheek (normal place for any mask to have light contamination) making these perfectly dark. Worth every penny!” — Charles A. Boyer
“I absolutely love this mask! The mask did come in odd packaging that did have a bit of a smell that was not great.. but I have had this mask a year or more and love it. It is SO comfortable and if you do not like masks that sit right on your eyes, this one is perfect as the cushions help to feel less restricted and more comfortable and relaxed. The headphones feature is amazing and the sound quality is top-notch. The best part is that if you sleep next to a partner who does not want to hear the sound, they cannot hear it! The mask is easy to charge up and use and it is very durable. The bluetooth connects very easily and is extremely easy to use. I was extremely happy with the value of this mask for the price. I would buy this item again. Also would be great for flying to use to listen to music and rest your eyes. I have never liked facemasks or was able to keep them on and this one is so comfortable and designed so well that I could leave it on all night!”— Amazon customer
“These are so comfy to sleep with, even sleeping on your side. I actually sleep thru the night with them on. My husband likes to keep the television on all night. It is awful to wake up suddenly to the sound of someone screaming at the top of the lungs on the Tv. I don’t have to have the volume up to block out the sound of the Tv. Love them! Great sound too!” — Paula Clafin
Looking for more sleep solutions? HuffPost shopping reporters Tessa Flores and Erica Kam previously rounded up some great products to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
Dr. Temitayo Oyegbile-Chidi, a board member of The National Sleep Foundation, told HuffPost that, "Wearable sleep devices that can help with measuring your heart rate, breathing patterns, body movement and sometimes, even oxygen saturation to provide feedback, which may improve your sleep. In fact, some devices can track lifestyle factors that influence your sleep by allowing you to input information about how much caffeine you drank before bed and whether you are feeling stressed."
The smart phone compatible Fitbit tracker has over 4,000 5-star ratings on Amazon and can help track your sleep quality though readings such as skin temperature changes and sleep stage tracking to help you determine what kinds of factors in your everyday might be potentially influencing your sleep.
According to the Sleep Foundation, mattress toppers that are made with motion-absorbing and conforming materials like memory foam can have a moderate effect on reducing motion transfer from one side of the bed to another. This can be especially helpful if you have a partner who moves a lot during their sleep.
This gel-infused memory foam mattress topper by Linenspa has over 89,000 5-star ratings on Amazon and adds 3 inches of plush conforming memory foam to your existing mattress. This can diffuse the movements of your sleep partner while also distributing weight and relieving pressure points. The temperature-regulating gel beads infused throughout the pad can help capture and dissipate heat so you stay cool. It's available in nine different mattress sizes.
If listening to soothing white noise, ASMR or binaural beats sends you off to dreamland, this headphone band can be far more comfortable to wear than hard plastic earbuds that fall out of your ear while you sleep.
These wireless and rechargeable sleep headphones have over 35,000 5-star reviews on Amazon and offer up to 10 hours of listening per charge. The ultra thin over-ear speakers can also help block out ambient noise. The breathable soft mesh-lined band is also machine washable.
"One of the simplest ways to improve your sleep is by blocking out the light, and the easiest way to do this is by getting some blackout curtains or a sleep mask to keep the light away," Hafeez said.
Available in a wide range of colors and lengths, these machine-washable light-blocking curtains can seamlessly blend into your bedroom space while helping prevent light pollution, ambient outside noise disturbances and early sunlight from disrupting your sleep. The wrinkle-free fabric is also thermally insulated to regulate the temperature of the room and keep spaces cooler in the summer and warm during the winter.
Whether you're trying to drown out the sound of a snoring partner or disruptive outside noises, these moldable, medical-grade silicone earplugs can be an affordable and comfortable solution to noise cancellation. The BPA-free material is soft for comfort and is both waterproof and reusable. Each set comes with one case for storage and a smaller one for travel.
Singh said that cooling your space down to 67 degrees can help prepare your body for sleep and make a better external environment.
This 42-inch oscillating cooling fan by Lasko can quietly provide a powerful cooling flow even in larger spaces, thanks to the high-reaching tower design and wide oscillation. There are three fan speed settings, including an ultra-quiet nighttime setting which automatically decreases fan speed and dims control lights while you sleep. It also comes with a remote so you can control settings from the comfort of your bed.
Hafeez said that another way to minimize distractive movements throughout the night is to try out a weighted blanket.
This highly breathable and calming blanket uses evenly distributed glass beads to deliver a comfortable level of body pressure without causing you to overheat. It's made with a detachable 100% cotton cover and is available in 11 different colors, four sizes and seven different weights.
Hafeez previously told HuffPost that the tiny and overly bright lights commonly found on televisions, WiFi routers and alarm clocks might be impacting your ability to fall asleep at night. This is because they often contain blue light, which may impact your circadian rhythm, keeping you feeling awake and alert.
This variety pack contains over 100 stickers in assorted sizes to help dim between 50% and 80% of light. They can be cut to accommodate particular light sources and don't leave a sticky residue when removed.
Hafeez explained that some people can be relaxed by certain smells. For cases like these, pillow sprays or essential oils might be something useful to try.
This natural pillow spray is formulated with the therapeutic smells of lavender, chamomile and vetiver to help induce calm. Reviewers have said the spray helped them fall asleep faster.
"[Satin-like] fabric tends to be cool to the touch, staying this way throughout the night, making it a good option for hot sleepers," Hafeez said.
These silky hypoallergenic and antibacterial sheets are made using 100% premium lyocell fibers from eucalyptus, which effectively mimic the temperature-regulating quality of satin sheets. This sustainably processed material is three times more breathable than cotton and has moisture wicking abilities to help keep the body cool while also being great for sensitive or acne-prone skin. These sheets by Eucalypso are available in five sizes and seven colors.
This top-selling white noise machine for sleep uses adaptive sound technologies to offer a spectrum of comforting background noises like pink, white and brown noise. It has 32 volume levels as well as shut-off timer settings for precise and customized listening. The memory function automatically restores the previous volume, time and sounds, which include everything from oscillating fans to crackling fires and soothing streams.