What to Expect’s 2025 Sleep Award Winners Include Everything From Swaddles to Sound Machines

Many caregivers swaddle their baby at night in hopes of preventing flailing arms from interrupting precious sleep. But swaddling can be tricky — especially when you're exhausted — which is why many parents turn to specially designed swaddle blankets with time-saving features like zippers or snaps.

According to the What to Expect community, the best of the bunch is the SwaddleMe Original Swaddle — an affordable, user-friendly option that’s also a back-to-back winner in the What to Expect Sleep Awards.

Using it is simple, open the swaddle’s “wings,” place your baby on top with their legs inside the bottom pouch, wrap one wing snugly around your baby, followed by the other, and fasten using the large Velcro tabs. You can adjust the wings for a secure, custom fit — ideal for even the wiggliest sleepers. The bottom zipper makes those late-night diaper changes much easier.

Another bonus: the roomy leg pocket gives your baby plenty of space to kick, which parents love. Many also note how well the swaddle holds up, even after frequent washes — a huge plus given the inevitability of overnight blowouts and spit-up.

Just remember: stop using any swaddle as soon as your baby begins to roll over.

Once your baby has graduated from a swaddle, the Halo SleepSack is a popular next step. 

Winner of Best Sleep Sack for the last three years running, the Halo SleepSack functions much like the brand’s popular SleepSack Swaddle (also a top contender for Best Swaddle). Your baby’s arms slip through the openings at the top, while the zippered “sack” keeps their body cozy and contained. Unlike a traditional swaddle, however, Halo’s SleepSack doesn’t hold down your baby’s arms. This is a crucial feature once your LO is able to roll over, making swaddling no longer safe. 

Also known as a wearable blanket, Halo's SleepSacks are soft and lightweight, offering plenty of room for little legs to move. It’s available in sizes that fit babies up to 24 months, making them a favorite well into the toddler years. And with a wide variety of cute prints and patterns, they’re as stylish as they are functional.

Another big plus: the reversible zipper makes middle-of-the-night diaper changes quick and easy.

There's a reason why tons of parents say the Hatch Rest 2nd Gen is a nursery must-have — and why it’s a repeat Sleep Awards winner. This nifty night light projects a wide array of colors, which you can customize using either the buttons on the machine or the intuitive app through your phone. Did we mention it plays a variety of different melodies and white noise, so it doubles as your sound machine?

What to Expect parents love the many relaxing color options and the calming, pre-programmed sounds like white noise, rain, lullabies or even the dryer to help lull baby to sleep. You can also set a timer for how long the light should stay on, in case you worry about it waking your baby up.

When your child is a little older, there are even more light functions to take advantage of, such as preprogrammed "time-to-rise," "nap time" and "bed time" settings, which you can turn on by touching one button or launching them from your phone. There’s also an LED digital clock display at the bottom of the machine, making it a great alarm clock during the toddler years.

The Hatch Rest Go has won over parents for its sleek, streamlined design. A compact, portable sound machine, you can clip it onto your stroller for walks or the strap of your diaper bag for impromptu naps. It’s small and lightweight to go wherever, whenever, even packed in your suitcase for trips without taking up too much room. In fact, What to Expect’s Commerce Content Director Liz Buxton never leaves home without it! One community member adds, “it’s portable, I can put it on the doorknob, attach it to the crib, stroller, car seat — anywhere! And the sounds are amazing.” 

It’s essentially a mini version of the Hatch Rest (sans light!), playing up to 10 different soothing sounds — including rain, ocean and hushing — without having to connect to an app, Bluetooth or WiFi. All you have to do is press a button.

Aside from its simplified functionality, it wins in the aesthetics department, too. Available in five neutral colorways, the durable exterior is constructed with recycled plastic that’s drop-proof and water-resistant. The battery is also pretty powerful, lasting all day (though parents recommend plugging it in at night to replenish its charge). 

Sometimes, you need more than white noise, and this soothing device offers a solution that many parents find transformative for their child's sleep. (It’s also one of our favorite newborn toys). While primarily a sound machine, it combines a gentle, twinkling light show with 25 calming melodies and ambient sounds, such as soft ocean waves, in a sea scene complete with a turtle, crab and octopus. It’s a surefire recipe for relaxation. 

The product includes a seashell-shaped remote control with a 12-foot range, allowing parents to conveniently manage settings without disturbing slumbering little ones. Just note that you shouldn’t attach this to a car seat or crib, as it will create an unsafe sleeping environment. Instead, position it on a nearby nightstand where the baby can see it through the crib rails.

A baby monitor can feel like one of the more important purchases you'll make for your little one, as it allows you to keep an eye on them outside of the nursery. And even with so many baby monitors out there — new ones drop on the market every year! — What To Expect parents still vote the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitoras the best of the best.  

This high-tech option keeps an eye on your little one — and much more. Yes, it’s on the pricier side, but it delivers a crystal-clear video feed right to your phone, plus a video history feature that lets you look back on what may have disrupted sleep (or just relive adorable moments). The built-in sleep analytics, along with sound and motion alerts, are parent favorites for good reason. 

It also offers flexibility with three stand options: wall-mounted, floor stand or a portable flex stand, so you can set it up to fit your space and routine.

Wi-Fi video monitors aren’t ideal for travel — connections are neither stable nor secure. Not to mention, most video baby monitors that rely on Wi-Fi won’t work in a hotel room, since those types of connections typically require you to sign in first. That’s where HelloBaby’s monitor can come in handy. 

Dubbed the best travel baby monitor by the What to Expect community, this device has all the features you’d want in a high-tech video baby monitor: night vision, two-way communication, room temperature monitoring, remote pan-tilt-zoom functionality and the ability to play a selection of lullabies. Setup is quick, and using it? Even easier. You can even add a second camera if you have to keep an eye on multiple kids. 

Offering your little one a pacifier at bedtime can help soothe them to sleep, as well as reduce the risk of SIDS, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (Just keep in mind that nursing moms might want to wait a few weeks until breastfeeding is established before introducing one.)

Many experienced parents say that the Philips Avent Soothie (a multi-repeat winner in the What to Expect Sleep Awards) is the only pacifier their baby would take. The one-piece design meets the AAP’s recommendation, but also makes it easier to clean: Parents say it’s free from the nooks and crannies that gather gunk on other pacifiers. 

You'll be spending many hours feeding, snuggling and soothing your baby in a nursery glider or rocking chair, so picking the right one is important. And most parents in the What to Expect community recommend Storkcraft for comfort and functionality.  

The Storkcraft Glider has been a popular choice for years (it’s won the Best Glider crown for the past two years), because of its smooth motion that gets babies ready for dreamland. Parents say the lush padding is supremely comfortable, and they love spending hours in this chair with their feet comfortably propped up on the matching ottoman that moves in rhythm with the chair. Although the chair offers great quality, the price is on the lower side for a nursery glider. Also nice: the side storage pockets, easy-to-clean upholstery and over 20 color combinations, from neutrals to pastels.

For three consecutive years, What to Expect parents have voted Delta Children as the brand behind their favorite crib, thanks to standout features like midcentury modern looks and a multitude of convertible styles. These cribs can typically accommodate three mattress heights and, once your baby outgrows the crib, you can remove the sides to transform it into a toddler bed, sofa or day bed to take you from the newborn to the toddler and even pre-tween stages with ease. In other words, you can use it for years and years, something that can't be said for most easily outgrown baby gear. Parents also note that these hold up great over time, thanks to a sturdy, well-made frame that’s actually pretty easy to assemble. Our favorites include the Heartland, Essex, Emery and Milano.

Voted the best crib mattress once again, Newton impresses parents with its unique, fully washable and waterproof designs. One What to Expect parent notes that this "has come in handy on many occasions," which we’re sure you can imagine after experiencing nighttime blowouts. 

Parent voters also appreciate that the interior is spring-, foam- and coil-free. Instead, it’s made of a special polymer that allows the mattress to effectively circulate air, which many parents say gives them peace of mind. And although it’s an expensive option, you might like hearing that Newton offers a 100-night free trial with a full refund if you aren’t pleased with the purchase. It’s also available in a waterproof model and mini crib size.

Although you can buy most crib mattresses as long as they meet the AAP’s safe sleep standards of providing a firm surface and fitting flush against the interior edges of the crib, it’s clear that the Newton crib mattress is a favorite for going above and beyond.

What to Expect parents consistently praise Burt's Bees crib sheets for their exceptional softness (seriously — voters mention it nearly everytime) and stylish prints. Winning its sixth Sleep Award, these 100% organic cotton knit sheets are lightweight and super soft, ensuring baby sleeps comfortably. Beyond comfort, these durable sheets withstand frequent washing without losing their luster, and come in chic colors and patterns that rival our own bedding. A key benefit is their secure fit, preventing corner-popping or bunching, providing a safe sleeping surface through every movement.

These crib sheets are also available in bassinet and mini crib sizes in case you want to use the same sheets throughout baby’s first year.

Graco's ultra-versatile playards have been parent favorites for generations because they’re so versatile. When your baby is a newborn, the Pack 'n Play is a safe place for your infant to sleep — consider it a crib that you can take on the road to hotels or even Grandma's house down the road. Then, as your baby grows, the Pack 'n Play is an unbeatable playpen, as well as a spare sleeper, ready when you need it (and easy to store when you don't). In fact, parents love how easy it is to set up and break down.

Pack 'n Plays are also genuinely easy to travel with: They set up in less than a minute and fold at the push of a button. You can conveniently store toys or wipes in the mesh pouch on the outside of the playard, too.

Carter's has long been a parent-loved brand because they make cute, affordable baby clothes that actually hold up, especially when it comes to their pajamas — specifically the Sleep & Play bodysuits. These PJs come in adorable colors and patterns, without the fancy price tag. Plus, they’re made with quality materials that stand up to frequent washes and everyday messes.

But the real MVP feature is the two-way (“double”) zipper, which runs from ankle to chin. It makes diaper changes quick and easy — no pulling clothes over your baby’s head or wrestling with snaps. Getting dressed (and undressed) is a breeze.

Parents also love that Carter’s sizing is accurate, which isn’t always the case with baby clothes. No wonder these PJs have won a Sleep Award four years running!

Overnight diapers are an important piece of the “sleep through the night” puzzle, and parents agree: Pampers Swaddlers Overnights offer solid protection, safeguarding bedding against any leaks and keeping baby dry from dusk to dawn. Plus, they're so popular with What To Expect parents, they’ve won the Best Overnight Diapers award five years in a row!

These overnights are hypoallergenic, soft and breathable, which are all the things you want from something that clings close to your baby's sensitive skin. Parents also love Pampers' wetness indicator; a yellow stripe will appear to let you know it’s time to change your baby as a result of the pH level of urine. To top it off, the stretchy fasteners on each side offer a comfy custom fit that moves with them all night long. 

When it comes to hydrating baby’s skin throughout the night, parents agree the Vicks 3-in-1 Humidifier is key. Why? This multi-purpose machine isn’t just a cool mist humidifier. It’s also a night light (cycle between seven different colors) and even provides cough and congestion relief as a vaporizer (key during the winter months).

Perfect for small nurseries, the 0.6-gallon tank features adjustable mist control to tailor humidity levels. It can run for up to 24 hours on the low setting and automatically shuts off when the tank’s dry. And thanks to the whisper-quiet Ultrasonic Technology, baby won’t be woken up while it’s running. But the feature parents tell us is their favorite? No filters.  

If baby has a cold — or if their room is dry — this humidifier will fill the area with cool mist for up to 24 hours to help them breathe better and make the space more comfortable. Parents like that it’s easy to clean, which is important because humidifiers should be cleaned very frequently (as often as every three days) to avoid mold buildup. And it’s easy to fill; just detach the top, fill it up, and put it back in place. The night light offers a range of hues, and many parents note that this humidifier is almost silent when running.

Bathtime is a great way to wind your child down for the night, and a quality baby bathtub makes this experience even better for you both. That’s where the Angelcare Baby Bath Support shines. Made for newborns (though you can fit those up to 6 months or 20 pounds), it cradles baby comfortably in the mesh and supports their neck and head before they’re able to sit up on their own. 

Parents love the mesh that allows the water to cover baby, and that it dries extremely well when hung up after bathtime. Many note how well it supports their child, especially in those early days. And they love the affordable price for this item that is only used for a few months. Plus, there’s no setup needed, so you can simply pop it in the tub or sink, and then hang it to dry with the included hook.

Lathering on some gentle, soothing baby lotion not only helps baby feel relaxed, cozy and sleepy, but it also keeps their sensitive skin from feeling dry and itchy throughout the night. Parents in the What To Expect community turn to Aveeno Baby for a wide range of baby care items from sunscreen to shampoo, particularly because of how well it works on sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Its lotion is no exception, as it features soothing ingredients like oatmeal for natural moisturization and dimethicone, which protects the skin barrier. Parents rave about the gentle formula and how it helps prevent itching and rashes (an uncomfortable feeling that can wake your baby up throughout the night!). Voters also note that it gets absorbed into their skin quickly, so there’s no sticky or oily residue left behind. 

Psst: Fragrance-free is best for little one's with particularly sensistive skin, though voters also appreciate the addition of lavender and vanilla in the Calming Comfort option. 

When it comes to viral baby gear, it’s easy to see why the Baby Shusher has amassed such a cult following. It’s small, lightweight and battery-powered, offering a simple timer function (15 or 30 minutes), so it turns off on its own. You can also adjust the volume. Parents say it’s worked magic during middle-of-the-night tantrums and colicky crying fits. One community member even shared she uses it as a NICU nurse.