Cots, cribs, baskets & hammocks

[MrsTotes]

I know baby will have its own opinion on what he/she likes to sleep in, but I'm hoping our little one will be in favour of a baby hammock in place of a Moses basket/crib, in the first few months.

I'm a first time mum, so I'd love to hear some thoughts on and experiences of baby hammocks, or anything else that helped your baby rest.

I'm thinking of buying the Arm's Reach Cocoon Sleeper - www.armsreach.com/shop-3/the-cocoon-sleeper-14/shadow-stripe-78.html

I co-slept with DS and carried him most of the day so he was rarely in his cot (an IKEA one). Having baby close at hand for night feeds will really make life easier if you are BFing. If co-sleeping doesn't appeal to you then I think a side sleeper is a good idea. Ideally you don't want to have to get up. Learning to breastfeed lying down (v easy!) meant I didn't even have to sit up in the night to feed DS. A midwife at the hospital showed me how to feed lying down before we went home. Probably the best single piece of advice I got.
I had a carry cot in the living room but he was rarely in that either. He liked being in his bouncy recliner. Can't remember what age they can use them from.

Just looked at your link. I haven't seen those before. It looks cute but I'm not sure how much use it would actually get. Babies grow really quickly. Have you looked on amazon for reviews off cots / cribs etc.? I find that v useful.

We've got a hammock, its lovely. Its one of those wooden fold out frame ones ( like putting up a deckchair) with a canvas hammocky bit on ropes.

Baby looks very cute in it and it gets lots of comments but its only really for napping in my opinion. She tends to get a bit ..well, bent when she lies in it and sort of slides down into a little heap, I worry about her airway so have to keep checking her every 2 minutes
We have it in the lounge but not for long, dd is 6 weeks and won't fit in it much longer.

We also have a Moses basket that's had zero use because baby sleeps in bed with us.

I would say the hammock might be a waste of money unless you want something that's style over substance. The photos of her in it are gorgeous!

I used all of the above. The sleep alongside is great for feeding but we had success with the ambynest hammock too, although by 6 months she wouldn't go in it. Also the noises we made in the night used to wake her, so she moved into her own room and cot at 6 months. Number 2 I'm planning to put straight in the cot in our room at first, them move to the kids bedroom when she's ready rather than having to transition her from multiple sleep places!

Thanks for all your feedback. Lots of food for thought

Moses basket in living room. Sleeps next to me at night time. Agree with others above that co-sleeping is much easier if breast feeding. We also use the bassinet from our pushchair (uppababy vista) as a travel cot. DD doesn't really like to be put down in the moses basket or bassinet, she'd much rather be held. However if I carry her round in a wrap sling until she goes into a deep sleep she can usually be transferred.

Getting some sleep has become my number one pursuit these days!