Your views/experiences on sleep pods

[Climbingahoneytree]

We are expecting our first baby so I have read up a lot on safe sleeping - I have been very grateful for the offer of bedding as gifts but have explained I generally only want to use sleeping bags.

But...I am torn on sleep pods/positioners. I have heard a lot of good things about babies finding it easier to settle in these, support to prevent flat heads, but I know SIDS guidance says nothing in cribs/cots until they are a certain age - including these.

I think my logic would mean you stop using them once baby is well on their way with head/neck control, after a few months. But I know people that have used these for about 6 - 8 months.

What are your views? Experiences? Are they safe?

Trying to attach a photo and failing - I am specifically looking at the babymoov positioner on amazon at the moment.

We used a sleepyhead and had it in the cot overnight. Also doubled as makeshift cot around the house when baby was very small - could move easily to living room etc. I LOVED it and it may be just a coincidence but our baby slept well in it from day 1. Yes it’s £150 for a cushion...but it’s a magic cushion.

Sorry I should add - we didn’t move the baby in the sleepyhead at the same time well my husband did sometimes when I wasn’t looking it is not a good idea

Sleep positioners and pods are a SIDS risk and that includes sleepyheads.

I can never understand why parents will put anything in their babies cot that is potentially dangerous. What’s more important? You getting a good nights sleep or your baby being alive?

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/sleeping-products/

Why try anything until you see if your baby even needs it? The baby might sleep perfectly well with nothing. There’s no need to add another expensive thing that you need to pack every time the baby needs to sleep away from home. Seriously— see how it goes. Sign up for Amazon prime and the will get you anything overnight and sometimes same day.

Thanks guys. I have decided against it because of the SIDS risk. From what I have googled, from the 12 reported cases of SIDS associated with these reported by the US FDA, most of the babies were placed on their sides to sleep. But it's still something I am paranoid about.

@TheLastPharl I have been advised these help with colic and flat head syndrome so please do not assume I have looked at these only for my benefit!

@lastpharl yep you’re right i’m a crap selfish mother. You are clearly perfect.

What’s more important? You getting a good nights sleep or your baby being alive?

Some people lack basic empathy and the ability to acknowledge that all babies sleep differently and all parents can tolerate different levels of sleep deprivation. Severe sleep deprivation is far more dangerous than using a sleep positioner if you are going to end up crashing your car with a baby in it/fall asleep in armchair with baby/result in severe PND.

OP, research them as the FDA guidance is in response to a certain type of sleep positioner which doesn't resemble Sleepyhead but I would wait until baby is here before making any decisions. If you are in the situation where you have a baby who is really struggling to sleep, then look at all your options and go with the one that has a risk you are comfortable with. I used a Purflo nest (like Sleepyhead) with my eldest as the alternative was us falling asleep with her on us on the sofa we were so exhausted which was completely unacceptable to me. I didn't end up using it at all with my second as we coslept to start with and used a good, tight swaddle after cluster feeding days were over which he settled well with.

riddles thank you. I do agree with you, if you are becoming so sleep deprived that there will then be other associated risks then you have to consider what is best in that situation. I will bear your advice in mind for when little one is here.