👃Sleep Sprays👃
You may have seen my post earlier about my lavender reed diffuser 😅 or you might have seen sleep sprays marketed as a “miracle solution” for helping little ones fall asleep… but do they really work? I get asked this question a lot so thought I’d do a post on it!
I would like to point out that, in the depths of sleep deprivation, I saw an ‘influencer’ post about this spray which made her daughter sleep through the night. Needless to say I rushed out to Boots, bought it and sprayed it all over my son’s bedding and clothes before he fell asleep. Did he sleep through the night. Of course he didn’t 😅
The short answer for this post is that they are not a replacement for good sleep habits or routines.
Many sleep sprays contain lavender or chamomile, which may have a mild calming effect, but research is limited and results vary from baby to baby. Some children may notice a slight relaxing effect, while others may not respond at all.
What actually works is consistent nap and bedtime routines, predictable sleep cues, age-appropriate wake windows, a safe sleep environment and opportunities to self-soothe.
Sleep sprays can be a nice addition to a routine and I love the smell of lavender which is why every now and then I pop a diffuser in my boys’ rooms, but they’re never the magic solution. Building healthy sleep habits is what truly helps your baby settle and stay asleep.
If you do use a sleep spray, make it part of a consistent wind-down routine — don’t rely on it alone.
