Sass & Smalls

NDOTO SAVES THE… NIGHT: Sweet Dreams – Review & Giveaway Worldwide

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Ahhhh…. Sleep. Sweet, sweet, wonderful sleep.

Something we never get enough of – and I’m speaking on behalf of most parents I know. More specifically, I am speaking about this little person…

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto Textile Designs www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

She is smiling like there’s no tomorrow, because she is content, and… rested.

Today.

Not yesterday. Today.

Why? Because for the past 3.75 years, due to our frequent travel schedules, challenging transition between attachment parenting and self soothing, overall erratic scheduling, night wakings (and by night wakings, I mean nightLY wakings – every night), mama’s lack of sleep (turns out, someone is so tuned into her mommy’s sleep schedule, she actually picked up some of my bad sleeping habits) – we have had our share of sleep-related issues in our home.

And then… this happened.

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto 002

Our friends at Ndoto gave us the best advice and the best gift of all.

The gift of sleep. Cozy, organic (literally), peaceful sleep.

Ironically, Michal Tidhar, the brilliance behind Ndoto (and also a mom, not surprisingly), fulfilled her ‘dream’ of developing a unique textile design brand, and helped us achieve ours.

It has been our dream to put our sleep-fighting, attached-to-mommy-at-the-hip-especially-at-bedtime 3 year old, down for sleep, without the struggles, and it has pretty much taken us all 3.75 years. We have always been fans of the family bed, and we still love our nightly and morning snuggles. However, it has only recently dawned on us that much of our sleep deprivation was caused… well… by each other. Either, someone‘s foot was kicking another someone else’s eye sockets, or someone would suddenly whip her head to the side and bang right into another someone’s head, or, and more often than not, someone decides to simply turn over, which wakes all the other someones up.

We needed to find another solution. We would either get a bigger bed for the three of us, or we were to give our favorite little someone her own space at night.

So we gave it a try.

And failed.

And then we tried again.

And we failed once again.

We tried every sleep training handbook we could get our tired little hands on and every consultant we could get in touch with (and afford). But nothing worked! We just surrendered to the fact that we were going to be sleeping with our daughter until the day she gets married (and by the looks of it – I don’t even know if that is going to happen – my apologies to her future partner). This has just become our life. And I just had to accept it, right?

However, after the 1,369th day of night wakings, interrupted mommy and daddy Netflix time, and a whole lot of excuses – we decided to take the bull by the horn (or should we say, the bed by the thread?), and do something drastic. We got little mama a bed to call her own. And as a cherry on top, we dressed it up with the beautiful, ridiculously soft, high quality fabrics that is Ndoto (which, in Swahili, means “dreams” – how fitting).

And what a dream it was.

Soft to the touch, unique hand drawn patterns made of organic dyes, and a color palette that doesn’t scream “WAKE UP!” “STAY AWAKE!” “JUMP ON THE BED!” – like most of the beddings out there for kids. No. These neutral tones and modern blends succeed in their claim of providing a relaxing and delicate feel for the best sleep.

Does this not beckon for you to come take a nap?

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto Textile Designs www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto Textile Designs www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

Little mama even insisted on adding her own leaf to the scene, as all the stars in the galaxy needed protection from the rain. (Yes, who am I to argue with an imaginative 3 year old?)

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto Textile Designs www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

Manufactured in Israel and available on Etsy worldwide, these beddings have definitely become one of our once sleep-deprived family’s hidden gems when it comes to good, solid, independent sleep.

Not to mention, spritely mornings…

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto Textile Designs www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

And will you look at that? It even matches with LD‘s sleepwear! Win-win!

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto 005

We love the modern feel and the neutral styles that can absolutely fit any baby nursery or kid’s room.

 

Ndoto Bedding Set Styles www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

 

Every set includes a printed pillow case, a printed duvet cover, and a solid fitted sheet that fits either a crib or toddler bed mattress. With the 100% Egyptian cotton Jersey stretch, it’s no wonder little mama wakes up with a big smile on her face.

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto 001

Even the packaging is flawless.

Ndoto Bedding Set Packaging www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

There is even a fort kit for kids to enjoy and tire them out errr… I mean, inspire imaginative play!

Ndoto Fort Kit www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

As I write this, LD is getting snuggly in her new bedding while I am beside myself in wonder. All it took was a box of dreams and a little touch of faith – and now we are all one big, sleeping, family with a whole other set of dreams to follow.

Night Night, Sweet Dreams Ndoto Textile Designs www.BABYSTYLISTA.com

But you know us – we would be up all night, tossing and turning, if we didn’t give our wonderful readers a chance to win a set of their own!

*****IT’S TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY*****

We partnered up with our friends at Ndoto, for a fabulous, luxurious, and may I add… necessary giveaway of a special gift of sweet dreams to one stylin’ winner! To enter for the chance to win, simply fill out the form below!  For further contest rules, refer to the Terms and Conditions within the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest closes March 5th 2015 – at 11:59PM! The winner will be revealed March 6th 2015! We all want our Valentine Sweethearts to get a beautiful sleep, don’t we? Good Luck!

~ The LOOK:: Want it? GET it! ~ 

Bedding:: Ndoto Galaxy Bedding Set

Room Decor:: Boon Glo Nightlight with Portable Balls

Jellycat Bashful Monkey Medium 12″

Top:: Target “Cutie” Sweatshirt ~ (similar Diesel Hoodie here)

Bottom:: Roots 73 Star Leggings ~ (similar Nununu Girls’ Star Leggings here)

Accessories:: Born to Love Black Rib Visor Beanie

.sweet dreams. 

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About Deb B.

Deb Balino is the voice behind Sass & Smalls, host of the newly launched Podcast - Sass & Small Talk, and a mom of two - an artistic and quirky 11-year-old, and an outspoken, homewrecking, retro music loving, 4-year-old. A décor and style enthusiast, as well as a home systems hack creator, with a mildly concerning obsession of all things "bin-worthy", Deb enjoys sharing products, experiences, progressive ideas, and simple shifts in mindset that has helped her family navigate the beautiful chaos of parenting. Deb is also a homeschool teacher, partially by choice, partially pandemic-inspired, while advocating and caring for her parents as an active member of the Sandwich Generation. With vulnerability, and a dash of humour - she shares the reality of her world, all while keeping things as sassy as they once were before the drool, meltdowns, and potty mishaps entered the picture.

Her creative ideas, lengthy storytelling, and everyday musings have been featured on Huffington Post, Yahoo Style, BBC News, and YMC.CA

Comments

    • debalino says

      We use the Boon Glo Nightlight too and it does wonders especially during night wakings. We find night lights to be somewhat bright – so we love that we can dim it once she’s already asleep.
      Reply

  2. Bonnie Way says

    This is AWESOME! I’m so glad you found something that works!!! I’m working on getting my almost two-year-old to sleep on her own too. We just moved her from her playpen/crib into a toddler mattress (currently on the floor). I spent a couple weeks fighting her about NOT nursing at night (she gets breastmilk to go to sleep, and breastmilk in the morning, and not in between) and now for the most part, she is going down at 7 pm and getting up around 6:30 am. HURRAH! 🙂 Now I’m off to check out some nicer bedding for her… 🙂
    Bonnie Way recently posted…I Choose You Today by Deb DeArmondMy Profile
    Reply

    • debalino says

      Such a great idea to move the mattress to the floor! I think I snagged the idea of the protective rail on the toddler bed from one of your posts! It’s amazon that she’s asleep by 7p and up at 630a!!! You are obviously doing something right 🙂
      Reply

  5. Sarah at Journeys of The Zoo says

    First of all, congratulations to all of you for getting a good nights sleep and finding a solution that works for you.

    Fortunately, our kids aren’t in school so they go to bed when they want to go to bed. Only a handful of times have they stayed up really late. However, after a certain point, we tell them that we’re tired and if they want to be tucked in and/or have a book that it’s time. Letting them think it’s their idea seems to work 😉 Relieved to know that I’m still smarter than my kids. For now.

    I love morning snuggles!

    Besos, Sarah
    Journeys of The Zoo
    Sarah at Journeys of The Zoo recently posted…When Your Child Marches to the Beat of a Different DrummerMy Profile

    Reply

    • debalino says

      I LOVE that method – Letting them think its their idea! Of course it works! These smart little people need their independence and I can see it happen successfully when us parents loosen up a bit. I know i have been so anxious and stressed about it – and as soon as I just eased up on bedtime (as far as pressure on myself for doing the right things or actually sticking to her schedule during the day and at bedtime, and pressure on her to sleep successfully) – she seemed to be less resistant when it came to bed.

      I love morning snuggles too!!

      Reply

  7. Jennifer Van Huss says

    I have been VERY VERY lucky!!! My kids can't wait to go to sleep! Most of the time they stay asleep all night! This bedding however looks like something I need for DH who on the other hand, NEVER sleeps!
    Reply

  8. Kimberly says

    Our little girl is a monkey and learned how to climb out of her crib waaaay too early (around 14 months). After she could escape, she wouldn’t go to bed without a fight. We started letting her come in our room and we move her to her own room once she is asleep. It’s not perfect, but it is working for us for now.
    Reply

  10. Little Miss Kate & Co says

    Love the nice neutral colour of the bedding. We are just about to do a switch around in our house moving my toddler to a bed, and giving the baby the crib. Maybe a new bedding set would help make the transition a little easier!
    Reply

  11. Steph M says

    Our 11mo doesn’t like to go to sleep well. We aren’t really sure what to do with her right now! Some nights she’s great and drifts off on her own; other nights she screams and cries until we pick her up and snuggle her to sleep. Our oldest two weren’t like this at all!
    Reply

  13. Rebecca Orr says

    We co-slelpt with our daughter until she was 2.5 and I was pregnant with our third. My husband HATED it. She was still nursing and would nurse ALL NIGHT LONG. She would kick him out of bed. When she was 2.5, we decided no more nursing and no more sleeping with mom and dad. It was great for the first two nights (happened to be a weekend) when Daddy was home and was the enforcer! Then daddy went back to work (he was working the 3rd shift) and I became a sucker and allowed her into the bed so I didn’t have to listen to the heartbreaking tears and cries for me. So needless to say, she is now almost 3.5 and we still have tears. She has her own bed…in our room. She uses her leftover crib sheets and her brothers hand-me-down comforter from his twin bed. It’s not really her own. I bet if she had some pretty bedding of her own, she would be more willing to sleep in her bed.
    Reply

  15. Lisa A. says

    The biggest problem I have is trying to get her to go to sleep, of course. She’s a procrastinator! We will read, and read, and read until we’re both exhausted. LOL! It’s a great problem to have…her wanting to keep reading instead of going to sleep. That’s my girl! 🙂
    Reply

  16. Andrea Amy says

    My youngest son still refuses to sleep on his own. He falls asleep in our bed, we move him to his own bed but he wakes up 3-4 times a night and if he wakes up and is in his own bed he comes into bed with us. Because of this we get very little sleep. He's almost 5, and its a struggle. If he would just sleep through the night without waking then it wouldn't be an issue, but he's never slept through the night without waking so far.
    Reply

  17. Jodi Mitrovic says

    My Husband and I have recently welcomed our very first LO into the world. Living a whole 3 months and 5 days I have to admit that he’s slept with me very night. Maybe it’s because we tried so hard for him. Maybe it’s because it took so long to meet him or maybe it’s simply because he’s just so darn adorable. I know it’s bad, I know it goes against every article I’ve read and every mom I’ve talked to but I just can’t bring myself to be away from him! I even lie when I’m asked about our sleeping arrangements and I’m not even sure why! It’s my son, my family and my bed! I know without certainty this will cause us great stress in the future but I just can’t let go yet. I place him in his crib, I tell myself tonights the night but he looks so small and venerable there in that big crib all by himself and without missing a beat it’s off to bed we go! But you’re right and I know it! Even as I read your words I’m shaking my head and nodding in agreement. We are our own worst sleep issues. I’ve begged for a bigger bed (falling on deaf ears) I wake up sideways with a hand in my face and a knee in my back! Refreshed? Hardly! Thanks for a great review and giveaway! I enjoyed it very much!
    Reply

  19. Jenn H says

    we had an issue with getting to sleep at a reasonable time. it was hard for my 2yr old to wind down so we started a routine that began right after dinner (late in my house due to work hours) and that has helped tremendously!
    Reply

  20. Krista M says

    My son was having troubles going to sleep but a very strict CONSISTENT routine worked for us. No toys or anything stimulating in his room. Snack, warm bath, brush teeth, read a bedtime story, and lights out. Very calming activities which relax him & he goes to sleep like an angel now!
    Reply

  21. angela m says

    My daughter wanted to sleep with me after waking up in the middle of the night. I just kept taking her back to her room and telling she had to stay in her own bed
    Reply

  23. Dawn Monroe says

    Right now I am struggling with her going to sleep at regular bedtime. They have cancelled school 8 out of the last 10 days and now we are all out of sync.
    Reply

  25. Tina F says

    The issue I had was keeping my kids in their beds So many nights when they were first in their own beds many many many nights I had to go in their rooms maybe 15-20 times a night and put them back into their beds
    Reply

  26. Ehara Poetry says

    i have 2 son, age 7 & 5, they sleep in same room, both is very afraid to dark, they always sleep with light on. They also very afraid of ghost story, I must wait at their room until they sleep. I try change the room ligthing with sleep lamp plus glow in the dark sticker, but I still must waiting at their room..haha
    Reply

  27. Holly Wright says

    The bedtime struggles I have with my little ones is that they DONT WANT TO GO TO BED! I have to deal with this nightly, although a warm bath, book and a back rub help! My 3 B’s
    Reply

  28. Marie S says

    My little does not want to go to bed at all. she would throw everything out of the bed. she now had her good days and bad days still.
    Reply

  33. Tennille says

    I am pretty lucky that my boys are good sleepers but I knew pretty quick that if I wanted to be a good mommy (as in not a huge cranky bitchy mama) I needed to sleep well. If mommy is well rested everyone has a better day! So in order for me to be well rested I am pretty strict with bedtime rules! My boys each get stories and snuggles and love but I don’t want any BS-just go to bed!
    Reply

  36. Piroska says

    I had problems with both of my boys (hyperactive little dudes), but my last one, a girl, was a dream from the beginning. She loved bed. Bedtime. Naps. She loved stuffies and blankies. Loved to read in bed. Play in bed. Totally different from the boys!
    Reply

  37. Amy C says

    My son does not like the dark. We are still struggling with that one but we have recently received a Twilight Turtle Tunes T3. It seems to be helping a lot.
    Reply

  39. Holly Thomas says

    I have issues with my kids refusing to sleep in their own rooms. They both sleep out on the couches instead, and most of the time during the night they end up in our bed and I have to put them back out on the couch. I was hoping the older they got the better they would be about sleeping in their own room but it's not getting any better. My son had never slept in a crib, he slept on my chest for the first year of his life every single night, so I know that's what his problem is (he is now 4). My daughter slept in a crib in her own room for the first 2 years, now she's only 2 1/2 but she's old enough now where she sees that her brother don't sleep in his room so she sleeps out on the couch too!
    Reply

  40. Karine says

    Getting my nephews to go to bed is always difficult but probably because it’s out of their routines when I babysit them.
    Reply

  41. Roberta says

    where to start lol usually I start off with a bath and teeth brushing, story in bed and a snack. Mainly that works but if not we give him a show on the iPhone to watch on his bear itech. Not really a struggler lol goes to bed great. Except on the occasional cranky nights. (:
    Reply

  42. Sarh Snarski says

    I have a 3 yo son who refuses to go to sleep til daddy gets home at 11:30p, which wouldn't be an issue, but I also have a 4.5 yo son in school and they end up horsing around (yelling back and forth across the house, chasing each other, etc) and then my 4.5yo doesn't want to wake in the am… :/ No solution yet… I can't exactly duck tape their mouths. :p
    Reply

  43. Angela W says

    We can get our daughter, who is three, to sleep in a bed for a few hours but not throughout the entire night.
    Reply

  46. babystylista says

    You are SO.LUCKY. Kids who love sleep? What IS that? haha. I don't even know what life with that concept means. Haha! Sounds like DH needs some new linens 🙂
    Reply

  47. babystylista says

    That can't possibly be easy for any of you. The winding down process before bed is already tough enough – but with 2 different schedules, I can totally see how stressful this could be. Does your 3 year old also wake up the same time as your 4.5 year old school son?
    Reply

  48. babystylista says

    We had a chest sleeper too. I loved it at the time, and thought for sure we found the secret sauce to life – She was a beautiful sleeper after all! But then when we attempted to change up the sleeping arrangements – it was a long, stressful, expensive, and sleep deprived process. I had to wait until she was ready to see and enjoy the benefits of her own bed and linens to actually replace being close to mom at bedtime. Prior to that, nothing even came close. But secretly… I loved it 🙂
    Reply

  49. babystylista says

    YES. I find myself skipping the baths and going straight to a quick wash, and on those particular nights, it's hard to get her back to a calm ready-for-sleep state. I'm always just so worried about drying her skin.
    Reply

  50. babystylista says

    I know exactly how that feels about having to stay in the room until she's sleepy enough to let me go without resistance. I know for myself – I'm still not a huge fan of darkness, which is why we have the glow night lamp. It's dim enough so it doesn't prevent her from actually falling asleep, but bright enough to drive away some of the scary darkness stuff. 🙂
    Reply

  52. babystylista says

    LOVE routine. My little one actually looks at her chart and enjoys telling us what's next. And she's so proud of herself when she follows the routine – and actually corrects me when I skip a step or two 🙂
    Reply

  53. babystylista says

    STORY of MY LIFE!! Yes – I had to lay beside her until she fell asleep and it was just oozy to get out of bed. But then I missed out on some quality time with the husband and my own plans. Which meant a messy house, no books read in years, and no primetime tv for this mama.
    Reply

  54. Cynthia Cotton says

    With 4 really young kids (the eldest turns 6 today!) and all 4 of them sharing a room, bedtime is usually us lying down with the kids and passing out in their beds! 🙂 Then we usually play bed hopping through the night. Usually the 2 older ones sleep through the night though.
    Reply

  55. babystylista says

    This is EXACTLY our story. Our little one could sleep through the night so long as she's right up next to me. She could fall asleep in her own bed, but still had the tendency to wake up and beckon for one of us to come and tend to her, namely me. We needed to find the solution to get her to stay in her own bed and not wake up every time she stirred. Sigh. I hope your nights get better…
    Reply

  57. babystylista says

    Darkness. Ugh. That's even tough for me. And night lights don't work? Have you tried the Boon Glo night light with the white stand and the three illuminated balls? It changes color and your little one can take it off the stand and it glows neon green. We love it, and it works really well to keep the room as bright or as dim as you want it to be, without any heat emitted. I have the link above.
    Reply

  58. babystylista says

    Isn't it interesting to have two different types of sleepers – both raised in the same house with the same types of routines? My daughter is like me as well – and we both think the days are MUCh too short!
    Reply

  59. babystylista says

    Isn't it beautiful? We love that we can use this for her, and then if we even have a second or third child and it turns out to be a boy – then we can still make such great use of it! Plus it's so easy to coordinated with everything! 🙂
    Reply

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