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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To cancel my Bednest pre-order

81 replies

BumWad · 24/04/2015 09:45

Thought we were getting a really good deal, have pre-ordered the Bednest rental £79 for a whole 7 months. Except have been reading about the death of a 7 week old which the coroner has put down to the Bednest.

I can't quite work out what has happened through reading the articles but the NCT has withdrawn all sales of the Bednest too.

www.madeformums.com/news-and-gossip/bednest-nct-stops-selling-bedside-crib-following-death-of-7-week-old-baby/37770.html

This will be a very precious baby as I have had a previous stillbirth, and so anxiety levels are at a high. Really wanted a bedside crib but the Snuzpod and Chicco Next to me don't go high enough for our humoungous bed.

Opinions please?

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 24/04/2015 12:49

It's dangerous if misused. Just as many products are.

HopefulHamster · 24/04/2015 13:07

It's such a sad story. We have a chicco next2me and wondered what others with the same bed are thinking. We use it as a cosleeper, so the side you fold down is level with the bed, but it is still quite a hard ridge. I suspect they will modify it for future versions.

Do you still feel safe using yours? My daughter is seven months now and very mobile so I feel comfortable that she wouldn't get her head stuck on a ledge (she can definitely get onto it if she wants to now, she often starts crawling out of the crib bit if she hears me on the stairs), but I'm still a little wary. We will move to her own cot in her own room soon but as I often end up cosleeping in the night I was planning to use the Next2Me while she still fit into it.

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 24/04/2015 13:09

It does sound like a tragic accident that happened in a very specific set of circumstances.

Of course YWNBU to cancel your order if you would find using the product stressful, but I imagine that it's just as safe as other cots, cribs etc if used correctly.

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 24/04/2015 13:16

I have also had a stillbirth and, TBH, peace of mind is paramount (even if others think you OTT) so, if you need to, do cancel. As others have said, using whatever you have properly is crucial. I have sued a Moses basket and a Troll crib (one with fixed sides) which I liked as I could easily reach into it but it was more solid and slightly bigger than a Moses basket and the Baby could use it for longer.

DorotheaHomeAlone · 24/04/2015 13:31

I think some of the earlier comments here verge on irresponsible. If you read the story you can clearly see that this was a case of improper use in multiple ways that resulted in a tragedy. I've used the bednest and can say for certain that this would not have been possible if this poor couple had had and followed the instructions.

I'm really very sorry for your loss and for the anxiety it's causing you in relation to your second child. If you need to I would really recommend talking to someone about it. The honest truth is that you can take sensible precautions but you can't keep any baby (let alone child) 100% safe all the time. If you go in with this attitude you will drive yourself nuts and it won't be good for your future dc in the long run.

Uhplistrailer · 24/04/2015 13:38

As many others have said, wasn't it that the parents hadn't used it properly?

Such a sad and tragic case, but as with lots of things, if you dont use it correctly, it will be dangerous.

When I bought my angelcare monitor, there were a few 1 star reviews saying that children had died from getting tangled in the wires. I was gobsmacked that they thought this was the fault of the product! Surely most people would realise that unsecured wires next to a cot would be hazardous. Solution- I followed the very clear instructions that stated that the wires should be tied securely down.

If you'll lose sleep over it, don't get it. But if you want it, I would go for it and use it correctly. I hear they're very good.

eurochick · 24/04/2015 14:29

Wizard please check your facts before posting. There is no judge commenting here and the coroner did not make that recommendation.

bruffin · 24/04/2015 14:45

What I don't understand if the manufacturer says "do not tilt more than 5cm" then why is the bed capable of tilting more than that in the first place.

SpinDoctorOfAethelred · 24/04/2015 14:49

Please be very, very careful with using a normal cot and just tying it to the bed. The mattresses can slip about very easily creating a gap.

SlippinJimmy · 24/04/2015 14:54

I used a trollcot, it was lovely and sturdy. You can attach it to the side of the bed but I never quite got the hang of it so just had it pushed up next to the bed with the side up, it was still easy enough to lay him back down after feeding in the night.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy Flowers

noblegiraffe · 24/04/2015 14:57

A terribly tragic story, but I used a bednest for my DD2, and I think I would be happy to use one again. I couldn't quite see how the accident had happened but if what people have posted about an incorrect mattress is true then that is more understandable.

bronya · 24/04/2015 15:04

I have a Snuzpod. It goes up really high! There are other high co-sleepers too. We didn't go for the Bednest because it looked too flimsy for me with a toddler around.

ollieplimsoles · 24/04/2015 15:04

HopefulHamster

After researching for ages on which cot to buy, we have bought the chicco Next 2 me cot for our baby due in October.

My blood ran cold when I saw this absolutely awful story and I had to think whether a co sleeper cot was the right thing.. we had decided to keep it and just make sure we are extra vigilant, even though this wasn't the cot involved in the incident.

I agree with other posters that one baby is too many and just to be so so careful with everything you buy for them, my baby cousin got tangled up in the handles of a moses basket and died :(

Primaryteach87 · 24/04/2015 15:05

Okay, only you can decide and it's fine to cancel just because it makes you frightened. Two things to bear in mind

  1. baby was lying on her tummy
  2. it's a problem specifically with the option to leave the side half down. She v tragically got her head over the side and could get it off it so suffercated. It's a horrific accident. You could mitigate this by putting baby back down and only ever with the side fully up or down. This is not in ANY way to blame the parents. I'm thinking of them and their loss particularly today
BatteryPoweredHen · 24/04/2015 16:24

Did the coroner call for them to be withdrawn from sale or not?

That is certainly what is being reported in the 'press' (although I am loathe to dignify the daily mail with that title)

Bednest themselves have denied this is the case, but I can't seem to find a copy of the coroner's actual report to check for myself.

squizita · 24/04/2015 16:50

The coroner recommended that the bednest be changed to prevent the tragic misuse. IE it is safe used correctly.
Having said that as a mum with anxiety because dd is my first since recurrent loss ... The logic won't come into it at 1am. You'll be waking in a panic and checking and worrying. Normal reassurance won't be enough (been there for 7 months!). You've got to factor in that added anxiety. You don't need the stress.
For that reason I would suggest cancelling the order and looking at other options. Thanks We use a sleepy head to make Co sleeping safer.

ItBoilsMyPiss · 24/04/2015 16:52

The cot was second hand. Parents hadn't bothered reading the instructions. And the baby was put to sleep on her stomach. Nothing to do with the product. Just human error Sad

Amummyatlast · 24/04/2015 17:34

Agree that's any product can be unsafe if used improperly. Just look at all the deaths from the incorrect use of slings. I loved using my (rented) bed nest and would certainly use it again if needed.

BatteryPoweredHen · 24/04/2015 17:35

Ok, Bednest have now forwarded me a copy of the coroner's report which I have read.

The concerns raised relate mainly to the risk of not following the instructions, which is obviously more of a problem when the cots are sold on second hand (especially given the pics on the website do show the Bednest with the side in the 'half up' position, leading people to assume this is safe'

The coroner doesn't use the word 'dangerous' anywhere in the report, nor does she call for it to be withdrawn from sale.

I have the report in PDF format. Please PM me if you'd like me to mail you a copy.

NerrSnerr · 24/04/2015 17:55

The coroners report can be accessed here too.

www.sourcewire.com/news/86970/coroner-raises-concerns-over-bednest-bed-side-crib-following-death#.VTp1OsS9KSO

cosmicglittergirl · 24/04/2015 18:15

I have a seven week old baby and a hired (from the company) Bed Nest sitting in my room waiting to be used as I am currently co-sleeping and using a Moses basket, I was going to start using the Bed Nest next week and this has shaken me to hear of such an awful accident, however on reflection I think I will use my Bed Nest as I can see now what was wrong with the use by the couple. I do think though if it's not recommended to have the side half down or tilted in such a way then it shouldn't be able to.

bruffin · 24/04/2015 18:34

From NerrSnerr's link above

If the cot's side is not safe to be incompletely lowered or for the cot to be tilted more than 5cms then it should be questioned as to whether these should be options available at all

Which is what I said above. If an action is dangerous then the product should not be able to do it and shouldnt rely on instructions. Surely it wouldnt take much to fit something to stop the cot tiltiing more than 5cm.

GraysAnalogy · 24/04/2015 18:42

But what if that tilting is a function people use?

bruffin · 24/04/2015 18:45

The instructions say it shouldnt be tilted more than 5cm but the bed is capable of being tilted at least 8cm. The company should fit something that stops it tilting more than 5cm, not stop it tilting at all.

seaoflove · 24/04/2015 18:48

It's not a dangerous product.

If the baby wasn't put to sleep on her tummy she wouldn't have died.

But I can understand why people would lose faith in the product. Me personally, I used one with my first child, and will use it again with my second due next month.