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Original poster

sleepyhead... yay or nay?

15 replies

sleepycat13 · 27/12/2017 09:06

I know this has probably been done to death but I'm so torn and would really like your opinions.

lo doesn't sleep brilliantly and never has (now 12 weeks). he seems to sleep better when 'held' e.g. in arms or car seat etc I wonder if sleepyhead might help but dh is very worried about sids risk.
ds mostly sleeps in crib overnight although occasionally I bring him in to bed in early hours if it's a bad night and fall asleep in c position after feeding.
so is the sleepyhead worth it? what about the safety aspect?

OP posts:
FortheloveofJames · 27/12/2017 09:24

Cannot say a bad word about the sleepyhead, we have used is everyday from approx 2 weeks old, DS is 7 months old now. He loves it, and unless teething will self settle in it with no issues. It also made the transition from our room to his cot no issue at all. It can be used for co sleeping safely in bed, can be taken everywhere with you to create a familiar environment at other houses/in travel cots etc, and you can move it around the house in the early days when you want to keep them super close for naps.

It’s not supported by the lullaby trust because they advocate he safest place for a baby is flat on its back in its own bed with a firm mattress, and obviously the sleepyhead isn’t this. But, it’s fully breathable and they scare earlier in the year was not related to sleepyheads. SIDS guidelines are that, guidelines. Everyone has to do what is best for them. I was worried about that would happen when DS started to roll but he can now actually full turn himself in the sleepyhead so can alertnate between tummy sleeping and on his back. It’s not always been the magic fix, and there’s been regressions etc but that’s just babies.

It’s on the more expensive side but honestly it’s been our best purchase since birth. We have already purchased the next size up, you can’t put a price on sleep.

AccrualIntentions · 27/12/2017 09:32

I caved and bought one last week for my 6 week old daughter. It could be coincidence but she's slept for longer stretches overnight since using it, and we're now actually getting some use out of the Snuzpod bedside crib which she wasn't sleeping in before!

I held off getting one because they are so expensive and because of the not approved for overnight sleeping thing. However it is much safer than our previous means of getting her to sleep which was her sleeping on my chest. And I feel safer looking after her generally having had more sleep. It's all about weighing up the risks.

They seem to hold their value really well to sell on second hand so if it doesn't work for you, you wouldn't lose the full amount. I got a brand new one as I had some John Lewis vouchers but they were going for £80+ on eBay anyway.

Firsttimemum777 · 27/12/2017 15:16

My DS slept better as soon as we got it. We got the grande for him around 3 months. Now at 7 months, he just sleeps in his cot as he seems to prefer to have the room to roll over. So we used I’d fit 4 months and I think it’s been worth the money and will keep it for next one.

FATEdestiny · 28/12/2017 15:04

Did you swaddle?

Swaddling taps into exactly the same enclosed/protected feeling that the sleepyhead offers. And swaddling is a lot cheaper!

It's a SIDS risk to start swaddling after 3 months though, although you can continue longer if swaddling is established before 3 months.

Original poster
sleepycat13 · 28/12/2017 18:05

thanks everyone for the responses
I think I would like to give it a go but need to twist the dh arm.
started taking to co sleeping in the second half of the night recently but I'm not entirely comfortable with it so think a sleepyhead might work instead.

fate - never really got the hang of swaddling. I did use the gro snug from about a month old which has a similar effect to swaddling but ds has now out grown these.

OP posts:
Lemondrop99 · 29/12/2017 12:10

We tried one with our 11 week old after borrowing a friend's. Made not a jot of difference to him. Then again, he's not really a cuddly sleeper, although he does like his Love to Dream swaddle

YoumeandlittleP · 29/12/2017 12:19

Worth every penny IMO. Our daughter graduated to the Grande too because we travel around quite a lot and she loves it.

londonfeather · 29/12/2017 12:20

My son loves his and it acts as a great place for him to sleep when he travels. He is on the chubbier side and at 14 weeks I think he’ll only fit for a few more weeks. So if your baby is 12 weeks I would check the size of it v him before you buy to make sure you would get enough use from it

Original poster
sleepycat13 · 29/12/2017 13:29

that's good to know about the sizing.
I hadn't thought about that. long long have most of you managed to get away with using it for?
ds is on the small side but I guess also quite long.

OP posts:
londonfeather · 29/12/2017 14:39

Long isn’t such a problem as the bottom unclips... it’s wideness that’s getting smaller

montyreb · 30/12/2017 15:27

I was so worried about this because we used it from day one - I spoke to my HV and the GP and they both said they couldn't see a problem and they are fully breathable.

My son hasn't exactly been a great sleeper but it has meant we've never had a problem putting him down and he hasn't needed to cosleep or sleep on me which I think are just as bad. Also great for travelling as gives a consistent environment. Now at 4 months he's getting a bit big for it but seems okay in the cot on his own now.

Personally I'd highly recommend x

Original poster
sleepycat13 · 30/12/2017 15:29

thanks @montyreb that's reassured me alot. do you mind me asking how big your 4 month old is?

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TheVanguardSix · 30/12/2017 15:31

Loved ours! You can get them second hand on eBay. We bought one when they were brand new on the market and pricey. Fabulous buy and probably my best ever baby buy.

Still had a shit sleeper (all 3 were though) but undoubtedly the Sleepyhead contributed to longer, deeper sleep and naps.

montyreb · 30/12/2017 18:16

@sleepycat13 last weigh in he was 15lbs and on the 75th percentile so fairly big for his age. He still sleeps in it we've used it all over Christmas just can see we're getting near the end!

Also just to say 5 of my friends have also used the SH in either Snuzpod or the other bedside crib so that also made me more confident.

Final point - when I have had tough nights or for naps I have also bought it onto the bed on top of the duvet which has been handy!

mommybear1 · 30/12/2017 23:13

Wouldn't be without it DS was premature so size wasn't an issue initially. Did lots of research on it re SIDS and felt reassured it's great for co sleeping - I'd highly recommend

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