Baby Hammocks?

[moominfilly]

Does anyone have any experience of using a baby hammocks with a newborn?

We currently have ours in a moses basket, but she doesn't settle well as the space is too open for her. During the day we put her on a cushion in the moses basket and she sleeps soundly as she is cocooned, or she has to be held to fall asleep.

Just wondering if the baby hammock provides a more cosy environment and mimics being in the womb more, and if they are safe etc?

Have been looking at the Amby Nest or the Miyo Baby Hammock.

[Bellenden Belle]

Just a thought - but have you tried swaddling? I'm still waiting to pop so can't give any firsthand experience but lots of people have raved about it to me and so it might be a good place to start.

[moominfilly]

We have been swaddling, but it doesn't always work every time!

[hellosailor]

When swaddling are you using a regular cellular blanket or something thinner and stretchier like the miracle blanket? If you haven't tried the miracle blanket then it's definitely worth a shot, there is a thread on here about it and the miracles it works! It is much snugger than swaddling with a regular blanket..

Otherwise our daughter seemed to like the security of feeling a sleep positioner around her, there are a few on the market. We got one similar to this from JoJo Maman Bebe.

edited to say that I'm sure this is obvious but sleep positioners are used to keep babies on their backs in their sleep in the early months! But also have the benefit of being snug.

[amyw]

re the miracle blanket, how do you get the babies arms into the little arm bits!!??

[hellosailor]

you get the arm flap, and you fold it round the arm like a shawl and then tuck the remaining material of the flap under the baby's back, and then do exactly the same on the other side, or at least, that's what we did! do you see what I mean or should I think of another way to explain it?

there's a video clip of how to do it here

[Belle]

I have one for sale from mothercare if anyone wants it - used for my first son, was great though he grew out of swaddling quite quickly so it hasn't been used v much.

[melbourne groover]

I had my daughter in an Amby hammock virtually from birth. She would not be put down for the first few weeks (obviously not ideal) but within a week of having the hammock was sleeping in good chunks. She was in it until about 7 months, was brilliant for travelling and she had a beautiful rounded head!

I would highly recommend them, seemed like a lot to pay but you can resell or get second hand.

[hellosailor]

there is someone selling one in the family classifieds at the mo if anyone is looking for a second hand one..

[jennyh]

My daughter slept her best in the moses basket when she had a large blanket rolled up like a sausage around her sides and head. Obviously you dont want to leave a blanket in the basket when the baby is able to unravel it but we found it very effective up until about 3 months. We used a cellular blanket so that if she did manage to work away a little edge she would still have holes to breathe through. We also swaddled and that worked a treat too until about the same age when she became too wriggly!

Good luck!

[Saffron]

Swaddling didn't work with our daughter, but she did like the Amby Hammock. They are expensive new, though have good resale value. xx