sleepyheads

[curlypasta]

third baby due in the summer, with the other 2 we've been told not to use bumpers etc, but the newer fashion of 'sleepyhead' pads,the kinda pod thing that goes all round them, are they not similar to bumpers?

i get it if your bed sharing to have a little sausage round them, but to go round their heads as well? and in a cot? can someone explain it to me

It does go round their heads. I can only speak for the Sleepyhead, which I used for DD1 and am currently using for DD2. The material is breathable, I’ve put my face fully into the side of it and been able to breathe easily.
I would say I’ve only used it because it has enabled my girls to sleep in their crib. Both of the them started only sleeping on me or DP. It inevitably got to the point where we were too tired to ensure we could stay awake while holding them. It didn’t feel safe. So we move on to bedsharing, which I don’t like. It feels unsafe to me, which is why I eventually moved to the Sleepyhead. Neither DD1 or DD2 would sleep in the crib as suggested for safe sleeping. To me the Sleepyhead feels the next safest option.
I would also add the shape of it means DD2 (11 weeks) would struggle to get her face into the side of it. It is compact and the width of her shoulders are at the side. The side is also very rounded, so even if her face was in the side of the Sleepyhead, it would be unlikely to block her whole nose/mouth. It is also VERY firm. I think the main concern with Sleepyheads is overheating, so we are careful about that.

I would say if the baby can manage without, don’t bother. However if you are getting into more unsafe sleeping situations, it is a good alternative in my experience.