Amby Nature Nest - couple of questions

[Coconutfeet]

We've just bought a second hand Amby on Ebay and are trying to set it up.

DP is not convinced by it because he is sure that the baby will be able to roll to to one side and get stuck in the edge. Is this possible? I'm thinking that once we get it properly balanced it shouldn't be a problem.

Also, the mattress that came with it is very soft but I think it's a genuine one (obviously not sure as it was second hand). DP thinks it should have a more solid mattress so the baby isn't encased in it round the sides. It IS supposed to have a soft mattress isn't it?

Hi,

I had the Amby and DS loved it. So good luck with that. In my opinion, I thought the mattress was the worst thing about it, it just felt like a cut out piece of foam and you are right, it is very soft... If I were you, I would think about getting a new mattress as I think using a used mattress increases the risk of SIDS? Also, how long you use it for depends on the baby... my DS started wanting to sleep on his front fairly early on and gave me near heart attacks when he kept trying to turn over in the Amby from about 4 months onwards (though I have to say he never succeeded) though we transitioned him then to a travel cot as we went to see my parents long haul and it was near impossible to haul the whole Amby there!

Ax

It is just a thin foam mattress. With ds2, we ditched the mattress completely and just put him in it without one. It was sort of like a sling for him.

The balance thing is tricky - it can list to one side a bit. With ds1 when we used the mattress, we used rolled up towels at the side of him when he was little to keep him centred. I think I saw a product you can buy that does the same thing - it was on the Amby website.

Thanks! I thought the mattress SIDS thing had been disproven (but could be wrong). I was planning on giving it a wash, do you think that will be enough?

I would agree with getting a new mattress. Personally I wouldn't risk it. Have a search online.

I had an amby natures nest for my DD and it was THE BEST BUY EVER!!!!

I don't think you can wash foam! The most I did with the mattress was to sun it as much as possible but that's only possible during summer of course.

Mattress and cover here

Snuggler here

I did have the snuggler for when DS was little and it helped in keeping him in place iykwim!

Thanks. The Amby website says you can wash the mattress on a cold cycle. I just assumed that would be sufficient. Not sure now...

Coconutfeet - I bought my Amby secondhand and TBH, I never bought a new mattress... And it didn't really worry me BUT I don't think I would advise it to someone else. You need to do what you feel comfy with.

Thanks Angel. I'll have a think.

So, has anyone had the rolling problem or does the baby's weight keep him centred? My DS is 10 weeks old.

It's virtually impossible for them to roll completely over because of the way the hammock supports them, my DD would give it a good try!!!

Ha ha! They're not supposed to be able to roll, but my ds 9mo has just learned to crawl and for the last few nights we have found him on all fours or sitting up in the nest

So, we have now bought a traditional cot and he's in it for the first time tonight.

If it's a new baby then the rolling thing should be fine for the first few months at least - my ds tried his best and didn't succeed until very recently.

Also, I would buy a new mattress, they are very soft and our mattress really offers very little support after 9 months of being bounced on...

I kept DD2 in the hammock because she liked to roll. She just couldn't. The hammock and mattress sort of hugs round. Once they get bigger they can get into bother, as monthlymayhem has found. I moved DD2 into a cot once I thought she wouldn't roll and get stuck, about 6 months-ish as I remember.

Just been looking at this as lo going to outgrow his moses basket pretty soon methinks. Overall reviews look positive...any advice? Did anyone have any problems transferring lo to big cot?
BB x