I wish I had known about the Sleep Sheep when my boys were babies, or truth be told, I wish I’d had one myself as a baby. I discovered the Sleep Sheep a few years ago when shopping for bedtime-themed gifts for a pregnant friend. I’m always looking for the latest magic tool to help baby sleep better, so mommy can sleep better too. I found the adorable sheep, oh my goodness you have never seen a cuter sheep, and thought it was surely comforting enough to have a soft woolly friend to bed with, but no! They are more than just cute and cuddly. These sheep project soothing “white noise”—you can choose between Mother’s Heartbeat, Spring Showers, Ocean Waves, and Whale Songs—to comfort and lull baby into a deep sleep.

My friend loved the sleep sheep, and even better, so did her baby. I then bought two for my friend Beth for her twins, and she swore by these cuddly wonders. Both sheep were attached to the crib sides and apparently the babies grew so attached to the calming sounds that she used to take the sound box out to take in the car when they traveled. An aural pacifier!

Cloud B. now has a whole line of calming friends called the “Soothing the Senses” collection. Each cuddly creature soothes a different sense: the turtle has calming lights, the Labrador has a calming aromatherapeutic scent, and the bear cub has calming vibrations. The sheep is still my favorite, and while I buy him mostly for new moms, I also think he—or one of his pals—would be a great gift for a stressed friend.

Available at Cloud B for $45.