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Original poster

Amby hammock recall (US)

76 replies

jellybeans · 08/12/2009 20:05

I just read that the Amby Hammock beds are being recalled in the US after 2 baby deaths
I think they are sending out a repair kit in 2010, not sure if UK customers can get one though. I used an Amby bed from 8 weeks to 12.5 months as my son was a terrible sleeper and has reflux. Had no issues with it but had him right by my bed and used a breathing alarm.
If you are using one there is advice on Amby's american site about making sure your hammock doesn't tilt.

OP posts:
wahwah · 08/12/2009 20:11

How sad. Does this mean I can't flog my one now? Damn shame.

Original poster
jellybeans · 08/12/2009 20:13

I was about to sell mine too! i don't think they are being recalled here, though. It's abit like with the Maclaren pushchairs.

OP posts:
louii · 08/12/2009 20:26

Bugger I was just looking into getting one, wonder what the repair kit will be.

AitchTwoToTangOh · 08/12/2009 20:27

oh gosh that's awful. deaths? jesus. i wonder what could have happened?

AitchTwoToTangOh · 08/12/2009 20:29

www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-baby-bed-recall,0,7100194.story it doesn't really say much, i can't imagine what could've happened.

Original poster
jellybeans · 08/12/2009 20:30

recall/report

Not sure if these are the 'repairs' but on one site it mentions these 'enhancements'

'a. Amby Baby is providing two nylon washers to be placed around the nut and bolt assembly of its Motion Bed.

b. Amby Baby is providing two rubber strips to be used on the spring ends of its Motion Bed, while shortening the spring tips by 2.5 centimeters.

c. Amby Baby has introduced a spring cover which is to be securely tightened at the bottom of the Spring on its Motion Bed.

d. Lastly, Amby Baby has successfully developed a heavier spring that is (rated to 12 to 20 kg) and will replace our previously recommended "two springs" for heavier babies. '

(babyhammocks.com)

OP posts:
AitchTwoToTangOh · 08/12/2009 20:31

nah, i think they've been around for a while. this would presumably be something to do with shaping the mattress.

tbh my hammock never swung from side to side, i was a strict bouncer up and downer and my two were swaddled in it. i can imagine in georgia etc that might have been a bit warm.

JimmyMcNulty · 08/12/2009 20:52

Yikes. This is very odd - the Amby UK site has no mention of it, but I think there is only one version of the Amby that has ever been made, so surely the recall should be everywhere?

I've just moved ds2 out of his in the past week. He's only 4 months but I was worrying about him rolling. It was incredibly helpful in those first months though.

Original poster
jellybeans · 08/12/2009 22:04

I heard that in the US they recall quite often and 'recall to repair' which means it can be fixed to be made safer. Recently Maclaren buggies were recalled there but not here even though it's the same one. My DS never rolled in the hammock even at 12 months, he had a grobag on.

OP posts:
chocolaterabbit · 09/12/2009 10:51

OK. can someone help me get some perspective on this? DS has been in the hammock since birth - now 8 weeks. He sleeps beautifully and it is working really well.

I have done a bit of a google search and only found those 2 deaths ever (morbid, I know). How does this sensibly compare to co-sleeping which is likely to be our alternative? Should I give up on the hammock and get a side car cot (yum - £200 to spend before Christmas...) Can someone point me in the direction of the advice about stopping it tilting from side to side?

Also, I note on one of the websites, it recommends removing the mattress once the baby is more than 4 months or rolling - presumably, this would avoid any suffocation risk?

Or, you could just tell me to get a grip and stop worrying!

Original poster
jellybeans · 09/12/2009 11:30

Hi I would be abit nervous about using mine now too (DS outgrew his 2 weeks ago at 12 months) but I had to use ours as it is the only sleep we got and I was nervous to cosleep as I sleep very heavily. Maybe if he sleeps really well, you could get a nappy alarm (respisense monitor) thats what we did, and have DS right next to your bed, take him out when he is asleep or rolls alot. They are expensive (monitors) but you can hire them too. Maybe look into getting the repair kit if they are avaliable here. I don't know that much about it but there are warnings on the Amby US site about making sure your hammock doesn't tilt.

I read somewhere that one of the babies who died had his feet higher than his head and perhaps in the other case it was not parallell? I have no idea, it would be better if they could offer more details to amby users. I also heard rumours of a 3rd death but as he had 'health problems' they were not sure if it was due to the hammock.

OP posts:
trellism · 09/12/2009 12:28

We have one of these but I've moved dd into a moses basket for now. Neither DH nor I can work out how to make the hammock hang straight so that dd's feet are not higher than her head. I am fairly sure that it's not right for her to be in that position.

MillyMollyMoo · 09/12/2009 12:39

Crickey, I've wanted one of these for all of mine but never had the cash, not sure now.
How many babies die in moses baskets I wonder ?

AitchTwoToTangOh · 09/12/2009 13:32

i would use it, tbh. the thing is, nowadays the govt tells you to keep your baby in the same room as you at all times, which is thankfully very easy with the hammock as it's easy to slide through rooms. in the unlikely event that a swaddled baby rolled (impossible, surely?) then you would see it.

trellism · 09/12/2009 13:32

Probably substantially more as they are more commonly used. I was already a bit concerned tbh because the whole thing is cockeyed and dd's feet are higher than her head. We've taken it apart and rebuilt it a couple of times and it's still askew.

somewhathorrified · 09/12/2009 13:35

Surely the bumper that you buy seperately would keep baby central anyway. As far as I can see the only way there is a problem is if baby's weight gets shifted to one side and they can't get back. So a bumper when they are young and a couple of bungees attached to the corners at the head end will limit the amount of side to side movement when they are a bit more wriggly.

AitchTwoToTangOh · 09/12/2009 13:35

where are you putting the baby, trellis? you don't put them with their feet at the bottom like in a cot, ime.

Rindercella · 09/12/2009 13:41

Will keep an eye on this thread. Considering getting an Amby early next year for when DD2 is due to arrive in March.

trellism · 09/12/2009 13:52

She goes in the middle but the thing's definitely wonky. It doesn't look like the ones on the website, at any rate.

tbh she's snoozing away happily in the cheapo basket with rocking base we bought yesterday.

MillyMollyMoo · 09/12/2009 14:39

I'd send yours back tres, that certainly doesn't sound right.

AitchTwoToTangOh · 09/12/2009 19:08

are you super-duper sure that you have it hanging on the frame properly? it's possible to put it up quite wrongly if you're not following the instructions (as i discovered with dd2) even if you think it pretty much looks as it should. i had the hanger-thing the wrong way round under the fabric, all the velcros zipped together so i presumed it was right, but it wasn't.

saltyseadog · 09/12/2009 19:11

Me too Rindercella. I really wanted an Amby this time (well, really wanted some sleep this time around).

Morloth · 09/12/2009 19:17

I am also considering one for DS2 in March. Does Amby UK have anything to say?

YanknChristmasCrackers · 09/12/2009 19:19

Oh crap. I bought a used Amby from the U.S. on ebay and had it sent over here. DS has been sleeping in it since birth (now 15 weeks).

We've got a cot, but it's disassembled behind the sofa and don't have a new mattress for it yet (was planning on him being in the Amby till 9-12 months). I don't think we even have sheets. He'll have to sleep in his carrycot.

AitchTwoToTangOh · 09/12/2009 19:22

i really would not be inclined to over-react to this, unless you are also thinking about trashing your maclaren buggies. do we know anything about the way that the children were put into the hammock, for example? swaddled? face down? on their sides?

what we know about the maclaren recall says that some parents were stupid enough to collapse their buggies while their kids were holding onto them.