Is buying a second Sleepyhead sensible or wasteful?

[SunshineAndFizz]

DC1 got loads of use out of her Sleepyhead - slept in it every night (inside her Next To Me and then in her main cot when she moved to her own room), not to mention lots of use during the day too.

We're expecting DC2 and I was planning to use the existing Sleepyhead and just get a new cover. It's in great condition, been stored well (and DC1 wasn't a sickly baby so it's not stained or anything).

DH is outraged we're not buying a brand new Sleepyhead for DC2 - his argument is it's an important item the baby will use everyday for months and should be clean and fresh for new baby. He's a second child himself and hated getting hand-me-downs and openly admitted he doesn't want DC2 to feel like that if we can afford it (I'm the youngest of 4 kids and well used to sharing/getting hand-me-downs and just think it's wasteful if we don't totally need it).

AIBU for wanting to re-use it?

@TolkiensFallow

Sleep nests and pods have been identified the cause of babies suffocating.

Which is not the same as SIDs

They have also been identified as increasing the risk of sids

@topgub can you give examples with evidence? Specifically examples of babies who have died in sleepyheads where the sleepyhead has been identified as the cause of suffocation and death?

I got the Purflo Sleep Tight Baby Bed which is similar to a sleepyhead but approved for overnight sleeping. We loved it!

As others have said, get rid, they’re not recommended.
But as far as reusing kids bits, absolutely do that where you can, if not for the savings, for the environment etc

@TolkiensFallow

Do you have evidence they're safe?

That the FDA, NHS, lullaby trust etc are all wrong?

The sleepyhead product itself says its not safe for unsupervised sleep?

inews.co.uk/news/baby-positioners-suffocation-warning-12-deaths-amazon-john-lewis-boots-178000

@Topgub i just don’t blindly follow advice without a critical eye. You have no evidence that a baby has ever died directly because of a sleepyhead and neither do lullaby trust. Thats probably the proof you are after.

I linked to an article that showed 12 deaths from sleep pods/nests?

Can you answer my other questions?

What has your critical eye found that proves the advice wrong?

My very experienced midwife friend wishes they were banned.

I find it interesting that people are so quick to say get rid, don’t use, they are dangerous when there is no evidence a baby has ever died due to a sleepyhead.

However as soon as a parent says their newborn won’t sleep the advice is ‘co sleep co sleep co sleep’ when actually there are huge amounts of evidence on the dangers of that, but people ‘make it safer’ ‘follow the advice’ ‘wouldn’t cope otherwise’. Co-sleeping is no safer than the sleepyhead in fact I would argue on the basis of evidence far less.

I would give it a good clean and reuse!

www.kidspot.com.au/baby/newborn/devastated-mums-warning-she-suffocated-in-this-stupid-stupid-bed/news-story/9e3d8f9273bbb8e27cb0daa38246c410

This was in Australia and the product was not a Sleepyhead but something very similar. This baby died at 2 months old. 😢

@WhatsHoppening

I think bedsharing is completely unsafe and I'm really disappointed the lullaby trust caved on their stance to not recommend it in any way.

@Topgub i agree. I think they caved due to the volume of people doing it anyway and the fact that ‘it’s normal in other cultures’ therefore suggesting it’s almost a race issue to not recommend it. Co sleeping is dangerous.

@Topgub that link doesn’t say what you think it does though. It lumps ‘sleep positioners’ and ‘sleep nests’ together despite the article saying the FDA warning that 12 babies died was due to the positioners and wedges with straps that hold babies in a specific position. It later added that it didn’t recommend nests and pods but that wasn’t part of the warning following the death of 12 babies.

I didn’t use a sleepyhead so don’t care either way but if you are criticising people for not reading it properly, maybe read it yourself first!

I don't even think they're recommended for safer sleeping op, save your cash x

As lots of others have said they are not safe, especially not for overnight sleep.
And the recommendation is always to get a new mattress for a new baby, there’s all sorts of bacteria etc that can accumulate and increase the risk of SIDS. If they are constantly sleeping on/in it and the whole thing can’t be washed then you’ll have the same problem.
Lots of other things can be reused for the second eg baby bath, clothes etc but when it comes to safety it’s not worth the risk.

I had a secondhand one and then used it for both of my children. They slept really well from day one.

@fyn

I havent criticised anyone for anything

I also didn't say the link said anything.

It was just an article discussing deaths from suffocation and how they weren't recommended

Bin it and don't buy a new one.

If you'd seen what I'd seen you wouldn't have one in your home. Why people risk it when the risk is so avoidable I don't know.

You're literally opting into the risk. Why!?

Babies are supposed to wake regularly, frequent waking is a protective factor against them literally dying.

Nature handed us a great way to protect our babies from d e a t h and you try to override it with stupid bloody baby cushions!!!!!!

The mind boggles.

Mattresses that have been used by siblings are fine. Also, you can wash the sleepyhead so bacteria risk etc is managed.

@Hugasauras I can't possibly imagine what benefit a website like Made for Mums would gain from telling you this

Sleepyhead themselves say they aren't recommend for unsupervised sleep.

Bedsharing is not unsafe for careful breastfeeding mums but I never found it comfortable and was stressed about it. The sleepyhead removed that stress. The sleepyhead base is flat so it’s not a sleep positioner like the lullaby trust warn about. Those people saying babies are supposed to wake must have never had babies that wake every 30 seconds. The alternative for mums like me is dropping the baby because you’ve fallen asleep standing up, or several times on every single page of the story you are trying to read your increasingly upset older child. I was so grateful I could get around without driving as there was no way I was safe to drive.

Back to the ops question, you’d be batty to buy a new one! Carefully wash it, and off you go. I’m using mine for my 3rd at the moment! I’m in the room of course. Your husband has a serious second child chip on his shoulder. I’m a second child and I’d be thinking wtf were my parents on if they told me they had to buy everything new for me.

It can be washed. You can take it apart and hand wash all the padding, dry it in the sun, and bobs your uncle. Unlike a mattress, I have no concern about bacteria. Also, mattresses can be reused between siblings.