Your baby's sleep is as good as your own. If your little one cannot sleep, neither can you catch even a wink. Imagine yourself staying up, doing just about anything to get your baby to pipe down (prepare food, replace diapers, change clothes, do some baby talk) and not knowing all along that all that your little one demands is the right combo of naptime essentials. Check out the following nap time essentials that can help your little baby and you get the comfortable, straight and valuable good-night's rest that you deserve.

• BLANKET. Like the security blanket of Linus in “Peanuts,” your little baby's blanket is associated with positive feelings of warmth, confidence and safety. The blanket is also a great protector against chills and possible cases of hypothermia. If the room temperature is sweltering, however, ditch the blanket and check if your baby's back is wet with sweat.

• PILLOWS AND BUMPERS. Pillows provide protection and support for your little one's delicate head. These are usually made of cotton, foam or some synthetic material. Choose one that is not too fluffed up to avoid suffocating your baby. Bumpers are often referred to as long cylindrical pillows, or more commonly as hotdogs. These hotdogs secure the hard corners and edges of your baby's cribs in order to provide your little one with soft and injury-free surfaces to bump on.

• CRIB. Sleeping right beside your baby is sweet, but is not practical. If you or your spouse smoke, all the more sleeping with your little one is not recommended. To give your baby and uninterrupted bout of sleeping, tuck him gently inside a crib.

A crib is really just your baby's bed. What makes it different are protective railings which prevent the baby from falling over. Other models have rollers for added mobility. Modern ones can be later converted to cots or junior beds so if you are planning to use the crib with a long-term vision in mind, select the best and most durable item you can find.

• MATTRESS. If pillows and bumpers have to be soft, the exact opposite applies to the mattress. Resembling the cushion of your bed or of your sofa, the mattress must be very sturdy in order to support the weight of your little angel and to keep him from the horrific stories of choking to death. There are a number of styles that you can choose from: foam, natural fiber, spring interior and even anti-allergy ones (for babies with a propensity to asthma and other conditions).

• SLEEPING BAG. No, you are not camping, but a lot of moms are finding sleeping bags quite handy. If you tuck your baby inside one, you will find that picking him up for regular feeding and then putting him back to sleep is much easier and will generate fewer tantrums and outbursts.

To select the right sleeping bag, consider the size of the item as well as the type of fabric used. Something too small might squeeze the baby and something too big might pose the risks of suffocation. Avoid quilts as the heat generated is enough to roast your baby alive.