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

[CheeseEMouse]

Non tester : it will all change soon enough anyway, so this too shall pass. And I coslept with my second one... not for everyone, but it worked for us. I wouldn't have considered it with the first child, but I was at the point of thinking any sleep had to be good sleep!

[alibubbles]

Non tester, always put your baby down when they are awake and always buy the best possible mattress that you can afford.

My children sleep on Vi Spring mattresses and have done since small, they cost over £1000 each, but it is a lifetime of back care.

[Earthmoon]

Non tester:
Every baby is different and it don't matter if one child follows a good routine straight away and the next one wakes up hour and a half. It's ok, you not doing anything wrong. Every child is different. You co-sleeping with this baby? It's fine as long as you do it safely. Basically every child is different and not to expect all of them to be like ds1 who was the easiest baby (ever).

[VilootShesCute]

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received when it comes to helping your baby to sleep at night?
Co-sleeping!!!

[Mindfulofmuddle]

Non Tester
A good daytime sleep routine is crucial for good night-time sleep. I quickly learned that my babies slept much better and for longer at night-time, when they had good naps during the day. They weren't naturally 'good sleepers' and I worked really hard to organise our lives so that they could sleep well in the day. This made the world of difference to our nights, and I think it's a huge part of establishing a good sleep pattern.

[kayleighp85]

Non Tester ~ The best advice I was given for my 2nd child was to rub my baby's blanket all over myself so it smelt of me to comfort him at night and make him think i was near, it really did work he slept better than my 1st and so have my other 3 children since = Bingo !!

[FiftyShadesOfDuckEggBlue]

Non tester

The best advice about baby's sleep I got was:

• The baby will let you know what they want to do (a friend's friend)
  
• Forget about routines and just respond to your baby's cues (a lactation consultant's blog)
  
• Bedshare as long as you are exclusively breastfeeding and know how to do it safely (some mums from my NCT group)
  

So after a couple of months of complete sleep deprivation and utter despair, we moved baby from the co-sleeper into our bed. She reaches for the breast during the night without really waking us up and she gives us a huge smile when she wakes up. We all get more sleep and she is much more content!

[Booklover123]

Non tester
A good, calm bedtime routine , for my little ones, a filling tea, putting toys away with them, a bath, story, and into their own bed and some hugs, love and a little chat! My mum gave me this excellent advice and also told me that if baby/child is unsettled , check usual things like too hot or cold, nightmare, but keep it very calm and consistent and avoid eye contact and conversation if at all possible!

[MumzieMel]

Routine, routine, routine! It's a bit Groundhog Day for us parents but my son knows what's coming and the calm environment leading up to bed helps. The 3 B's bath, bottle, bed. Slept through from about 18 weeks

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

White noise (general hoovering etc or app) do not stay quiet because baby is asleep or you end up with a child who can't sleep with noise and therefore can't sleep when out

[halcyondays]

Don't tiptoe around while they're asleep so they get used to background noise.

[SuzCG]

Best advice I was ever given regarding this was routine, routine, routine - babies need consistency and to feel secure in that consistency to be content to switch off and go to sleep. A nice warm bath, a feed, calm and quiet around them and you're going in the right way to teaching them to fall asleep.

[rachaelsit]

I was told the days and nights are long but the weeks and years are short. It will pass, whatever it is is. So I just go with it and so my best instead of spend time trying to force a square peg into a round hole!

[Ratbagcatbag]

Non tester

For me, best piece of advice I received was to not expect my baby to do a certain thing to smile and nod at all those that knew best. It saved my sanity to ignore them all when I had a non sleeping refluxy baby.

[RebeccaCloud9]

Non tester: best piece of advice was to use a zip up swaddle if the baby is kept awake by their startle reflex and flailing arms - blankets and Velcro swaddled just don't cut it! My two have found it so calming to be zipped in and slept much better during the early months without their arms jolting them awake.

[sorrycamel]

Non tester - co sleeping! It might not be the "right" answer but in my experience its definitely the best way to get them to sleep!

[Elisa1976]

Non Tester: Set a good bedtime routine. For us that means bath, book, milk, book, cuddles and bed. A routine is good not just for baby but for mum and dad too.

[KarenCBC]

The best advice I was given was to get into a routine. The association of bath time, story, sleep becomes habit with children very quickly.

[HalimaB]

Non tester - dont let your baby get too overtired before putting them to bed otherwise it will be a LONG night

[Changingagain]

None tester. Just go with the flow, especially early on. Don't expect a routine from a small baby, they change so quickly anyway that any improvements in sleep are probably natural and would happen no matter what you did.

[peronel]

Non-tester.

A soothing bath, clean nappy, comfortable baby-gro and a calm, peaceful, quiet nursery.

[BraayTigger]

Non tester
Best advice from me is to roll up a towel in a "n" shape, put under cot sheet and cacoon around baby. Helps baby feel smug and safe and protected.

[MTBMummy]

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

Don't get stressed when they don't sleep, especially when they're young, they seem to change their sleep schedule on a daily basis. By being relaxed about the entire bed time routine you start off on the right foot.

[leanneth]

Non- tester: from a very early age we realised the children would need to learn to settle themselves to sleep rather than rely on being cuddled/ fed etc. In case they wake in the middle of the night, they need to be able to smooth themselves.

Also- daytime feeds- in the light, normal conversation etc but night feeds- in the dark, minimal conversation, only change nappy if need to

[CormorantDevouringTime]

Non-tester: best advice I had on sleeping was from Dr Richard Ferber's book. He said to imagine that every night you go to sleep in your nice warm cosy bed with your pillow and duvet, and in the middle of the night you turn over and rouse slightly and realise that some nutter has moved you bodily out of bed and put you in the bath. You would a) have a terrible shock and scream the place down and b) become increasingly paranoid about going to sleep. Hence his theory that for older babies and toddlers they need to go to sleep at night in a sustainable situation that they can feel secure in.