To get rid of the sleepyhead

[Bostonbullsmumma]

Given the recent coverage on sleep positioners and the US findings is anyone else getting rid of theirs?
I presume the sleepyhead is included but I will be sad to see it go or AIBU?

[RoryItsSnowing]

Sleepyhead mattress is completely flat though, so is that not ok? I'm not planning on getting rid as it works such wonders!

[furryelephant]

I've been googling so much to try and find out if there's similar studies about it! It wasn't included in the article that I saw, but I am worried now. My DD is in the sleepyhead grand for the hour she lasts in her cot but it does fuck all for her anyway. It's just so expensive that I'm reluctant to give up yet unless it's not deemed safe. Everything on their website suggests it's safe however nothing is as safe as completely empty cot etc. One of those decisions that's down to the parent I guess.

[Bostonbullsmumma]

I'm really hoping I have read it wrong. I thought it may be included due to the edging which is higher and not completely flat.

[allthecheese]

I literally just bought mine (and started a thread in Pregnancy about this). Done a lot of googling and it really isn't that clear. I'm still going to use it at the moment.

[ineedwine99]

We're in the sleepyhead grand and we're keeping using it for now at least, she moves so much she can re adjust herself and she's so comfy in it

[Heatherbell1978]

It's not included. A statement has been issued saying Cocoonababy and Sleepyhead not included (BBC News). It's things that wedge the baby into position.

[nutbrownhare15]

I bought the Grande as I felt that by 8 months the sids risk had largely passed. I waa aware there was a small potential.risk. Wouldn't use the deluxe though.

[Smashpumpkin]

Heatherbell1978 Thank you! I have been looking for this information all day

[EnglandKeepMyBones]

The Sleepyhead is only approved (by sleepyhead) for supervised use so I would imagine that they won’t claim it’s safe to use overnight. (I only read this this morning on a Facebook group I’m on which was discussing the same thing).

[Amd724]

I’ve been wondering the same thing. I was about to go out and by the Babymoov and then I saw Mothercare took it off their website. I was actually going to buy it tomorrow! I’m thinking of buying a Sleepyhead instead, as she’ll be going straight into her cot rather than a Moses basket due to the room we have. I’d really only use that Sleepyhead when she’s napping in the living room with me, but who knows if I’d need to run to the toilet while she’s sleeping.

[ForgetAboutSleep]

I'm interested about this new(?) statement about Sleepyhead being approved for supervised use only... obviously if the adult is asleep it isn't really supervised. I'm sure it was sold to us as the only nest that was suitable for overnight sleeping. Very confused now and we were about to buy the Grande this weekend!

[ForgetAboutSleep]

Sorry England that sounds like I'm getting at you about the 'new' statement - I'm not, I've seen it a lot recently and wondering where its come from all of a sudden.

[BriechonCheese]

Really interested in this. My DSis has asked for one for her baby on the way and something about them made me feel off.
Had they previously not included the statement about supervised use?

[ForgetAboutSleep]

Yet their website says 'cosleeping, crib transition and bed transition' which wouldn't all be supervised

[paia]

Hmm. I have used the sleepyhead for 6 month old DC from birth and it's been fab. Can't see myself stopping using it now, though probably won't buy the grande - but only down to cost.

[Littlecaf]

The safe sleeping guidance from the Lullaby Trust recommends a clear cot, so no bumpers, etc. I've always took this to mean no sleep positioners, sleepyheads, poddle pods etc. as well as traditional bumpers or pillows etc.

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/

[TammySwansonTwo]

I would absolutely get rid of it personally.

Have you seen how they market it in America? Same product, different name and they make it clear it's not to be used in a cot, or as a cosleeper. In a cot the risk is higher as babies have managed to roll off devices and get stuck between the bars and the cushion and suffocated. And we must remember that suffocation and SIDS aren't the same thing so that's even a separate concern.

This is about the Dockatot (same product, different name for American market): www.babybargains.com/dockatot-review-not-recommended/

[Danceswithwarthogs]

I posted earlier about babymoov cosy dream. A very kind MNer directed me to their website and statement saying that they've never been sold in America or implicated in a case of sids, paediatrician approved for babies that can't roll...

I'm still thinking of using mine for first couple of months and perhaps to reduce wobbling around in the pram when supervised (as leaving them long periods in carseats is a no-no now too) because it was so good for dd2

It might be worth checking the advice on official website?

[Bostonbullsmumma]

I took it out last night and baby slept really badly! I guess it worked better than I realised!! I appreciate that John Lewis are saying it's not a sleep positioner but it just seems to fit the description which I find very confusing. What makes the sleepyhead different??

[ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual]

We use a sleepyhead and I’ve also been concerned about this. Like you OP though whenever I’ve tried to take it away because I didn’t think it was actually helping, it turns out it was helping more than we thought!

I think really the only 100% right answer to this is that they shouldn’t be used. Lullaby Trust has always advised against (at least while I’ve been researching anyway) and now this new research seems to back up their stance. That being said, with all these things it’s up to parents to evaluate the level of risk they’re prepared to take, and that’s what’s going round my mind at the moment. Unless you’re following safe sleeping guidelines to the absolute letter (which I know many parents do) then everything we do is subject to a risk vs benefit calculation.

Reasons why I’ve previously not always followed safe sleeping guidelines to the absolute is that I have a baby who will wake constantly - constantly - and I wasn’t safe to look after him and his brother during the day, meaning I’ve perhaps been more prepared than others to not follow some of the advice, and it might end up that the sleepyhead is one of those situations. It’s difficult.

[ineverbakecakes]

Is it worth the risk? Even if the chance is tiny how would you feel if your baby was in the tiny percentage that resulted in a tragedy? Personally I'd get rid of it and cope with a few sleepless nights.

[ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual]

It’s not a ‘few sleepless nights’ though is it? My ds2 hasn’t slept for more than a couple of hours now for 5 months. Chronic sleep deprivation is damaging and it’s really minimising to say it’s a few sleepless nights, actually. Quite apart from anything else, I was a danger driving when ds2’s sleeping was at its worst.

Parents don’t ever take a risk with their tiny children for no reason.

[ForgetAboutSleep]

Update from the Made for Mums website:

Are baby sleeping nests and pods safe?
You may have seen recent reports about the safety of baby sleep positioners, which implied that this may also include 'anti-roll' products and baby 'nests'.

In October 2017, the American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) reissued a warning urging parents not to use these products as they may cause suffocation.

Here at MadeForMums we spoke to the Lullaby Trust to get clarity on the definition of sleep positioners. The Lullaby Trust told us:

"It is our understanding that sleep positioners are straps or wedges that hold a baby in place.”

As baby nests and pods don't strap or wedge babies in place, they don't appear to fall under the sleep positioners highlighted in the FDA report.

However, The Lullaby Trust also states that pods and nests do not meet the safe sleeping guidelines that it promotes – although this is not connected to the FDA warning.

“The evidence shows that the safest way to sleep a baby is on a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in a cot or moses basket and we would not recommend any sleep surface that does not conform to these guidelines,” the Lullaby Trust told us.

According to the Trust, the fact that pods and nests have mattresses with raised, padded sides mean that they don’t meet the “flat” requirements of the guidelines. However, the Trust also acknowledges that there’s no evidence they are unsafe.

Like so many issues in parenting, there's no definitive answer right now, as there just isn't enough research.

So we always recommend you follow manufacturer instructions and check out the safety tips on co-sleeping, or the The Lullaby Trust's guidelines for sleeping safely and the NHS guidelines on how to reduce SIDS.

[Smashpumpkin]

ForgetAboutSleep Thanks for the update.

[SleepingInYourFlowerbed]

I used the Babymoov Cosydream and was horrified when I first read the news. But then I read the Babymoov statement and I think it's really unfair how it's being reported because clearly the journalists don't actually understand which ones are the dangerous ones.