Baby Gear
Inside The Sleep & Self-Care Routine Of Busy Entrepreneur & Toddler Mama Gabriela Babila
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Nicki Sebastian
Oct 29, 2020
Kids and their sleep woes are a hot topic pretty much as soon as our littles are born. Less discussed are the sleep issues that parents face—also pretty much as soon as our littles are born! Thankfully, the latter topic was the chief inspiration for the latest gadget by Hatch, the makers of the beloved all-in-one device for kiddos, Hatch Rest+. The company’s newest device is called Hatch Restore and it’s all about helping adults sleep better and longer (amen!).
In research that inspired the creation of Hatch Restore, Hatch found that 72% of the 2,000 adults surveyed said they were lacking in both the amount of sleep and quality of sleep they were getting, with the average adult receiving only 65 nights of full, uninterrupted sleep a year. On the other 80% of nights, these same adults reported an average of 90 minutes lying awake, unable to go back to sleep.
And this is why Hatch Restore was born. The multi-functional device includes a calming bedside reading light that cues the body for sleep, recorded meditations that encourage relaxation, a variety of soothing sleep sounds to keep you asleep longer, and a sunrise-like alarm to help users awake naturally before a gentle audio alarm kicks in. The sleek bedside device can be easily controlled by an app on your phone (or, if you’d prefer to be phone-free, from the Restore itself).
To dive even deeper into the importance of rest—especially for taxed-out parents—we caught up with L.A.-based mama of one and founder of Matana Organics, Gabriela Babila, on her own sleep and self-care routine as a busy entrepreneur and toddler mom. Take a look below, as Gabriela and her adorable 2-year-old Natanya show us their cozy resting spots, just in time for the often sleep-disrupting end to Daylight Savings Time on November 1st (mark your calendars!).
This article is brought to you by Mother x Hatch.
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- First up, meet the cuties—Matana Organics founder Gabriela Babila, and her 2-year-old daughter, Natanya.
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On the bedside table: Hatch's Restore, designed by a team of sleep experts to address the most common issues that a shockingly large majority of adults across the country deal with.
Restore—which can be controlled with or without a corresponding app—combines a bedside reading light that encourages relaxation, a sunrise alarm to help users awake naturally, soothing wind-down content (including meditation prompts), and an array of sleep sounds (from white noise to rain) to keep you sleeping longer and more soundly.
Each of these aspects can be personalized for your unique sleep routine, making it perfect for parents trying to capture those pre-baby Zzzz's.
Hatch Restore, $129.95, Hatch.
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"I’m the type of person who requires 7-8 hours of sleep to feel more energized and rested. My
last year of college I suffered from really bad insomnia that reminded me how important a night
routine was and how much stress and anxiety greatly impact sleep. I was able to overcome this
by incorporating a few things before bedtime. I would have my last meal by 7 p.m. (no sugar),
read a book or watch TV to get my mind off the day, and drink a sleepy time tea. I also
honed in and started practicing yoga frequently to help with anxiety and stress. Incorporating
these few things not only helped with my sleep but I felt healthier."
Hatch Restore, $129.95, Hatch.
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- "Having a baby completely changed my sleep routine. The early weeks were rough, my daughter—like most newborns—had her days and nights mixed up. She would snooze all day and be completely up at night. So, I had to encourage and find ways to keep her awake more during the day in order to sleep through the night. I would expose her to lots of daylight, keep her up after feeds, do tummy time, and create a nighttime routine for her. At 11 weeks, I decided it was time to sleep train. I wanted more structure but also, I so badly needed uninterrupted sleep (she woke up every 3-4 hours). She responded amazing to sleep training and we finally had a nap schedule and a consistent bedtime routine. This not only helped with my daughter’s overall mood but a well-rested and energized mama."
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- "Because we decided to sleep train early on, we never found ourselves resorting to co-sleeping. I moved her from her bassinet to her crib at 4 months and to sleeping in her room at 5 months. Her room was right across from our bedroom, which made it easy and less nerve-racking. The transition wasn’t bad at all because all her naps were always in her room and she really gave us all the signs she wanted to sleep in a crib (her bassinet got really snug). So, when we moved her to her own room she slept even better and hasn’t slept in our room since. The most challenging time was her 8-month sleep regression, which also occurred when we moved houses. For 1 month straight, she cried for 30 minutes to an hour when putting her down for bed—I don’t miss those days! We tried everything to help soothe and calm her down, but there were so many developmental and environmental changes occurring for her that only time passing was the solution. Thankfully, we never caved in and brought her to our bedroom and rode it out until she finally stopped and really got use to the house and her new room."
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- "We have not transitioned her into a toddler bed yet and the thought of it makes me anxious. Like most babies or toddlers, any change can be really tough and hearing all the horror stories of toddlers getting up out of bed every 2-3 hours to go to mommy and daddy’s room sounds like we’d be back to square 1. Although that might not be our case, I just think we’re not ready to transition yet. She also hasn’t given us signs that she’s outgrown her crib (she’s never tried climbing out—yet). So, for now, we’ll enjoy the crib days and try to prepare her the best we can when it's time to transition."
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"My sleep ritual consists of a nighttime skincare regimen that includes double cleansing, moisturizing, and applying any oils or serums to make my face and body feel refreshed the next day. I also enjoy a cup of hot tea and will either read or practice a few breathing techniques to wind-down. I use the Hatch Sleep app to turn on my reading light or one of their meditating programs to follow along. Creating a wind-down routine has helped me immensely, as most of my days are chaotic and I find it hard to quiet my thoughts."
Hatch Restore, $129.95, Hatch.
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"When she’s asleep I use this time to watch TV or catch up with my husband. We’ll go through our calendar or things to do during the beginning of the week and go to bed around 9:30 to 10 p.m. On Sabbath, we usually stay up later and will spend time talking to family or friends who came over for dinner that night. On weekdays, my bedtime routine is pretty structured but on weekends I try to go with the flow or whatever my mood is."
Hatch Restore, $129.95, Hatch.
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- "When I’m well-rested, I am energized, patient, communicate more effectively, I'm motivated, and have an overall positive mood."
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"When I’m not-well-rested I feel drained, drink more coffee, I'm moody, not focused, and not as outgoing or cheerful."
Hatch Restore, $129.95, Hatch.
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"Her bedtime routine is simple and has been the same since she was a newborn. An hour before bedtime she will either play or watch a show. I also use this time to offer her one last snack before bed. Usually that’s a banana, toast with almond butter, or a smoothie, nothing that is high in sugar or too heavy. We start her bedtime routine by giving her a bath. She will typically play in the bath and brush her teeth towards the end of her bath. After, I lather/massage her with calendula cream and put on a clean nighttime diaper. We then follow this with two bedtime stories and she’ll drink 1 to 2 oz. of milk. I will then turn on her Hatch Rest+ nighttime program,
snuggle her one last time, and put her into her bed. She usually takes 10 minutes or less to fall asleep. Her Hatch Rest+ is key to keeping her asleep through the night and I love that she is now catching on to the colors changing from night to morning."
Hatch Rest+, $89.99, Hatch.
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Natanya playing with Hatch's Rest+, a much-beloved, all-in-one device that serves as a clock, audio monitor, sound machine, a nightlight in 10 soothing hues (including a rainbow option), and has time-to-rise controls that parents can set to gently cue your child for naptime, bedtime, and it's-okay-to-wake-up-your-parents time.
Hatch Rest+, $89.99, Hatch.
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When your Clover Baby PJs match the wallpaper.
Hatch Rest+, $89.99, Hatch.
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"Yes, Daylight Savings Time is not fun for most of us who have little ones. The week of I try to make sure Natanya gets as much sleep now before the whole household’s sleep gets disrupted. I leave her nighttime routine the same, the only difference is adjusting her schedule slightly later. I will let her sleep longer during naptime, so that way we’re able to push her bed time. I rely heavily on her naps during these changes, as she will most likely be cranky adjusting to this change. Incorporating a naptime program on her Hatch Rest+ has made it easy to signal naptime, but also helps keep her asleep. Talk about a life saver!"
Hatch Rest+, $89.99, Hatch.
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"Before becoming a mother, you have so much time to yourself that you hardly realize the things you’re doing for yourself is actually self-care. Things I enjoy to do for self-care include going to the gym, listening to a podcast, my nighttime skincare routine, eating my favorite foods, date nights, and baking. All things I did frequently and would make me feel happy and healthy."
Hatch Rest+, $89.99, Hatch.
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- "Although the things I enjoy doing for self-care have not changed, finding time to do it has. Being a mother it’s so easy to get caught up with the daily tasks that you hardly remember to even take care of yourself. However, early on I knew that in order to be the best mother I had to feel my best. So, every day, I make an effort to do something that I enjoy and helps me feel good. Even something as small as applying a face mask, applying my favorite oils, and nourishing my skin or eating my favorite acai bowl in my car before walking into the house (I know I’m not alone). I try to prioritize whatever time I do have to care for myself because I deserve it."
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"I have a daily morning and night skincare routine (for both face and body) that helps me feel good and like I’m caring for myself. I also like doing my hair and putting on makeup at least once a week. I notice it not only improves my mood, but also I feel more confident. Now that certain restrictions have been lifted in L.A., I love getting a mani/pedi, eyelash extensions or lifts, and an occasional head spa (the ultimate treatment for hair and scalp). Doing these little things really help make a difference on my mental health and being able to be the best mama. Because a happy mama = a happy baby."
Matana Organics Stretch Mark Oil, $25, Matana Organics.
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"Towards the end of my pregnancy I learned to value quality alone time and self-love. So much so that at 1-week postpartum I pushed myself to leave the house and get a mani/pedi (true story). I’m aware that not all moms have the opportunity to leave the house the first few weeks, but I took advantage of my support system. And I highly encourage all new moms to integrate a support system during the fourth trimester to take care of their needs. It can be grandparents, in-laws, friends or family members, a postpartum doula, night nurse, and, of course, your partner. I know this can be scary at first, but trust that others will take good care of your baby and don’t feel guilty about caring for yourself—you deserve it."
"This is why I started Matana, to encourage and introduce safe and effective products that remind us that moms need some love and spoiling also. Our Sitz Bath is the perfect introduction to taking time for yourself as a new mom. It not only helps heal and soothe everything ‘downstairs,’ but pushes us to take a few minutes to ourselves to relax and rest. I can’t stress enough how essential it is to implement self-care in the early days, it will set you up for success in the future and you won’t regret it."
Matana Organics Stretch Mark Oil, $25, Matana Organics.
Matana Organics Postpartum Recovery Sitz Bath, $18, Matana Organics.
Matana Organics Citrus Body Scrub, $34, Matana Organics.
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- "I love trying new products, but my current go-to’s include Sakara’s Beauty Water Drops I use every morning, my NuFace Trinity (I've been trying to be more consistent), exfoliating 3 times a week with our Citrus Body Scrub (talk about smooth and glowing!), comfy matching loungewear (I'm loving Morgan Stewart Sport sets), baking or cooking a new recipe (mama Chrissy Teigen knows her stuff!), or— my favorite—dancing with your little one is not only free, but is sure to make you smile."
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- "I love that the topic of self-care is everywhere. Self-care isn’t just a trend but an essential part of getting through the day—especially for moms. As mothers we are constantly thinking of things for our families or household that finding time or even remembering to do something for ourselves can fall to the back burner. And self-care doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do it alone. You can get lunch with a girlfriend you haven’t seen in a while, go on date night with your partner, or phone a friend without the kids interrupting every 5 seconds. There’s no one-size-fits-all and that’s the beauty of it—creating moments that make you feel better in order to be your best self."
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- "I love working out and since the pandemic it’s been hard feeling motivated enough to work out from home. Since I haven’t been as active, I have been struggling to unwind and get sleepy. Some things that have helped me is finding activities to do in the backyard with Natanya during the day so that I keep my body moving. I also love a good tea before bedtime. But the real game changer has been my Hatch Restore. During my unwind program I can meditate or practice breathing techniques before bed that help me get sleepy and prepares my body for bed. It also has soothing sound options (light rain is my favorite) that help keep me asleep through the night."
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- "My experiences becoming a mother and my own mother inspired and developed this new-found passion and purpose, which is clean beauty. Clean beauty isn’t just non-toxic living, but making healthier choices that your children can model and impact your household and their environment positively. I had a desire to share this with other mothers and become a support system with products that they could trust were safe and effective. Matana is now 1-year in and have 3 products all inspired by friends and my own experiences as a mother. All of which make maternity and postpartum skincare fun, sexy, and luxurious. We’re currently working on launching a body butter and anti-inflammatory lotion next year that we’re really excited about. I love the creative aspects of what I do, but what I love the most is seeing mothers who love and use our products and watching them blossom from pregnancy to motherhood. It’s really such an honor being a part of their self-care journey."
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- "Most definitely, mama needs her sleep just as much as baby. Productivity and optimizing your time are probably the most important things for any entrepreneur. But in order to be your most productive self and make the best of your time you have to be well-rested and sleep! I think we’ve all been victim of working late at night or not prioritizing sleep, but it’s not the healthiest choice. We perform better as humans when we’re well-rested. Sleep is important for babies and children as they grow, it’s important for athletes for muscle recovery, and it’s important for entrepreneurs because it increases our energy and productivity. So, while we all may pretend sleep and rest isn’t important or as the famous quote says, 'I’ll sleep when I’m dead,' the reality is that your performance will be impacted and you won’t be your best. Which is why it’s so important to rest."
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- "In the beginning, I didn’t know how to cut off work and would be on my phone until I fell asleep. It wasn’t until my husband spoke up about my screen time that I realized I should be using the evening to spend more quality time with my family. I now cut off my screen time and limit work after dinner and use that time to watch TV with family, go outside with Natanya, and really be more present during her bedtime routine and have quality time with hubby once she’s down."
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- "This is a hard one considering I’ve always worked from home and it’s even more challenging since the pandemic. Lately, it’s been feeling like a mix of home and work life can become stressful at times. What I’ve tried doing is being more present during the weekends and nighttime. It allows me to disconnect from my phone, work, and everything else going on in the world. It’s extremely hard being a mother during these times and juggling work and home life while the kids are going stir crazy. The only advice I can give is to find times to disconnect from work and things that might cause stress in your life. There’s enough on our plates and if we can’t mentally check out we’ll eventually burnout."
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- "It’s such a real thing and I don’t think it’ll ever go away. I embrace those feelings, let it sit for a few minutes, then remind myself I’m doing my best. The fact we care enough to feel guilty or question our decisions only means we’re great moms and truly want the best for our little ones. It’s okay to have mom-guilt, don’t beat yourself up too much, shake it off, and keep pushing. If there’s anything my daughter has taught me is to be more forgiving with myself and that’s something I’m consistently working on."
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For more on Gabriela and her family, be sure to follow her on Instagram at @matanaorganics and @gabrielababila.
To shop the Hatch Restore and Hatch Rest+ featured in this article, head over to Hatch.co.
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