Read Mumsnetters’ feedback on the Mothercare Airflow Pocket Spring Cot Mattress - non testers - chance to win £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

This thread is for the 10 Mumsnetters who tested the Airflow Pocket Spring Cot Bed Mattress (RRP £140). Those selected were also sent a Mothercare Bayswater Cot Bed.

Here’s what Mothercare have to say about the mattress: ‘A good cot mattress will contribute to your baby having the best night’s sleep possible. If your baby sleeps well then so will you. The Mothercare Airflow Pocket Spring mattress features individual springs encased in their own pockets, to provide correct postural support during your baby’s early development stages. This firm mattress also features a washable protective cover which helps keep your baby cool fresh and dry. For your convenience we are offering the mattress with a Mothercare Bayswater Cot Bed in white to use as a full set though your baby’s first years.’

Testers, please answer the following questions:

-Did the mattress appear comfortable for your baby?

-Was the mattress easy to use?

-Do you find the mattress easy to clean?

-Have you washed the mattress cover in your machine yet? Do you think this feature will make life easier?

Non testers, to be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 voucher of their choice, please answer the following question:
-What is the best piece of advice you have ever received when it comes to helping your baby to sleep at night?

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[HalimaB]

Non tester- always trust your own judgement as a mother and follow your instincts, mother really does know best afterall! I cosleeped with all 3 of my children make life easier wherever possible

[MakeTeaNotWar]

Non-tester: best piece of advice was to lower my expectations and remember how tiny and dependent they are, that their teeny tummies need frequent feeding and that it's ok to cuddle them to sleep. Took a lot of pressure away about not doing it "right"

[LovelyBranches]

The best piece of advice I got given was to stop listening to anyone else. Nobody wrote a book on your baby to stop reading baby books that tell you that your child should be sleeping this much and how they should get to sleep.

[BananaDaiquiri]

Non tester:

honestly I don't think I received any useful advise from people (most of it was "just leave them to cry" etc). But You Tube had some good vids of how to swaddle which were handy!

[Hopezibah]

nontester: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received when it comes to helping your baby to sleep at night?

Don't talk to them when they wake at night. Just do the nappy change / feed / whatever needs to be done and resettle them back to sleep.

Even if they seem to want your attention with babbling, smiling, etc, just ignore it at nighttime however hard it is!

[AlfieTheRailwayCat]

Non-Tester
That all babies are different, don't compare sleep and do what works for you.

[annarack99]

Non tester - To make sure they are neither too hot nor too cold, we found using a baby sleeping bag of the appropriate tog really helped with this.

[StrawberryDaiquiriDooDah]

Non tester

The best advice I was given was to put the baby down whilst they're still awake.

I stuck to this and my DS now four has always been very comfortable going to sleep on his own.

[LegoCaltrops]

Non Tester. DD was (& still is) a tremendous wriggler & used to kick her blanket off or push herself out from under it, even at just a few weeks old. Someone recommended sleep bags, they were were such a help & we all immediately started sleeping better as she stopped waking up cold, up to 10 times per night. They also meant that we could put her down into her cot & she wasn't going from warm arms to cold mattress as she took her warm covers with her.

[puglife]

The best advice I got was that all babies are different and to just find what works for us. I used to spend ages on google trying to find solutions and buying products that promised she'd sleep!
We bought a nice cot, good mattress and agreed that as far as sleep goes, that's all she needs! If she woke she had me (or my boobs!). Sleep gradually improved and she sleeps through now!

[chrismse]

Non tester - I just learnt from experience to nap when the baby slept and not be too hung up on getting him to sleep all night.

[Sammyislost]

Non-Tester

I googled 'how do i get my baby to sleep' after we went days without sleep when baby was first born (honestly!) and a suggestion that came up was a white/pink noise app. We installed the app and found the sound of a hairdryer soon became the only thing that helped my baby get to sleep.

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

Non tester
Best advice- do what suits you & works for you! Every baby/ set of parents/ environment / circumstances are different so what works for one might not work for another.

[Rae1000]

Don't stimulate your baby before sleep. Keep everything dark, quiet & calm

[funnyfoursome]

Non-tester. That every baby is different, and provided that it is safe, you need to try different approaches and see what works. My first was a great sleeper, bit of white noise and self-settled. My second is tricky and still wakes at 2 1/2. She needs a lot of hand-holding to settle. Trial, error and patience!

[OnMyShoulders]

Non tester.

The best piece of advice I received was from my Dad and it was not to worry about the DC getting into our bed at night "because they'll not be doing it when their 15".

[OnMyShoulders]

*they're

[daisyduke66]

Non Tester. The best advice that I had with my babies was from my mum - to absolutely not stress over establishing any sleep pattern for the babies- they will develop in a relaxed fashion otherwise they will absolutely pick up on your own stresses.

[pmama]

Non-tester: create a routine and a calm environment for sleeping

[Flickbev]

Best piece of advice: see if they settle themselves and count to 10 before going to them. We did this from birth with our third baby and it seems to be working...

[Natsai1]

Non tester: routine, routine, routine. Start a routine as early as possible. My first born was in bed by 7:30pm and this continued until he was five/six. Now he's seven so we have extended it to 8pm but the routine has helped tremendously.

[DreamsInBlack]

Non tester.

The best advice I got was to set a routine from the beginning but adapt during periods when baby isn't settling well so that mum and baby both get the rest they need. And don't compare your babies sleep routine to others. You and your baby are unique individuals so go with what works best for you both.

Also, don't tip toe around, trying to be as quiet as possible when baby's sleeping. Getting them used to sleeping with noise going on in the background means they're less likely to be easily disturbed and more likely to settle in different environments.

[Hopezibah]

non tester: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received when it comes to helping your baby to sleep at night?

As little fuss as possible - even if they cry until they're sick i remember the health visitor saying that just whip off the sheets and change them then straight back to sleep. (as long as you've checked they're not unwell in other ways i.e. they are just crying because of not wanting to sleep).

[crimsonwitch]

Non tester
When I had my eldest I hadn't a clue about taking care of babies, other than what I had read in parenting magazines. The best source of advice throughout the years has been my dad. When it came to getting my daughter to sleep he said: "Take a deep breath, if she's crying you know she's still breathing. Don't rush straight in, just give her a few minutes to settle down."
Following this advice my daughter would go back to sleep within 5 minutes 90% of the time. My dad is amazing

[WomanScorned]

NON TESTER

The best piece of advice.was some I gave myself!

I told myself to stop obsessively counting up how much sleep I had or hadn't had and to stop expecting any.
That way, any sleep anyone gets is a bonus!
Eventually, I told myself to stop even hoping. Less chance of disappointment.

The best advice I was given was to count up all the teenagers I knew who were still co-sleeping :)