I've seen them in the stores and they claim to help prevent SIDS by preventing babies from rolling over. They also claim to prevent that flat-head thing newborns can get. But I have also read contradicting information. For instance, that baby shouldn't sleep with any pillows of any sort. So, are they a SIDS risk or not, and is my baby going to get a flat head if I don't use one (which a couple people I know have been claiming)? I certainly don't want to use something dangerous for the baby, but I have friends encouraging me to register for one when we go to register for a baby shower.
Your arm is the only sleep positioner baby is going to need! These positioners are just ways to get you to spend more money!
Babies get flat head because they are left laying too long and aren't held enough. Also what HippyFreek said. Jimmy sleeps with my arm curled around him and frequently uses it for a pillow.
Babies also get flat heads from spending WAY too much time in car seats. Car seats are for CARS, they are not for shopping carts, your house, or for visiting, that is what your arms, your lap and a baby carrier sling is for. In the original studies done on SIDS provention things were found to reduce the incidence of SIDS, Eliminating smoke from the home, Breastfeeding, Co-Sleeping, frequent contact with the mother and LAST AND LEAST back sleeping, The thing is, doctors have issues with ALL the other things we know prevent or reduce the incidence of SIDS, so the least effective, back sleeping, was chosen. It was the least controversial thing they could base a campaign on, the fact that it was the least of the five major findings didn't seem to bother those who start these campaigns. The "back to sleep" campaign was also accompanied by an upsurge in breastfeeding AND Co-Sleeping, so the claims that this campaign is "responsible" for the reduction of SIDS are not accuarate. When a baby is old enough to roll on his own, he no longer needs to worry about "back sleeping" because he is strong enough to roll if he needs to. Newborns will stay on their backs if put there. You need no special equipment. If you are worried about SIDS: Breastfeed, don't allow smoke in your house, sleep with your baby, and BE with your baby all the time.
All of which is the plan for us. It's tough being a new mom, you hear so much conflicting advice, and some product is always being marketed towards you. These sleep positioners actually try to market like it will help your baby avoid having a flat-head problem, but I have no intention of having my baby stuck in a seat, carrier, or crib through all hours of the day. I guess it didn't really cross my mind that there are people that do that to their babies. Now that I think about it, though, just about every time I see a newborn in public it is in a carrier (carseat), never a sling and rarely in mom or dad's arms. It seems inconvienent, really. Those carriers are usually heaver than the baby, and super-bulky too.
I know. You are going to do great! Yeah, it is hard, there is so much conflicting advice. It is best to try to weed out advice which makes people a lot of money, and take advice which makes babies happy. Not as easy as it sounds, but I know you can do it.9(just look at a piece of advice and think "If I were a baby, would someone doing this to me be in my best interest and make me happy to be alive?" If your answer is YES, then it is most likely best for baby. For instance, letting babies cry: Would it make me happy if I were a baby? NO. Therefore, bad advice. Feeding when baby wants and asks for it. "Would this be in my best interests and make me happy and think the world is a good place if I were a baby?" Answer YES. Therefore, GOOD advice.) And even if all the things which reduce SIDS cannot be done simutaniously, do your best, I know you will. Wow, only 3 months left.
i think the best thing to reduce the risk if SIDS is don 't be an overly paranoid mother!!! My son would not sleep on his back for more than 45 minutes. He slept on his belly 2 days out of the hospital, and i didnt worry. He already could pick his little head up and put his hands under it. He was so cute and get himself all positioned like i do to go to bed. But i had to listen to people tell me i was somewhat careless because i let him sleep like that. My mom had me sleep on my stomach, and my brother, and my new baby sister!! we're all alive in kicken. Best wishes with being a mommy!! The most stressfull thing about it will be wondering if you're doing things right, but you'll be a loving mom so don't doubt urself!!!
Mudflower brings an interesting point. The main thing is knowing your baby, being there enough to pay attention to your kiddo. Babies that are worn during the day and co-sleep at night don't have the time alone to stop breathing! They're always next to a regulating source (momma) so their bodies are always regulating and learning to self-regulating.
We found that all the sleep positioner passed down to us did was make baby's back sweaty! It was quickly passed to someone else with a warning.
I used rolled up cotton receiving blankets as a sleep positioner (more like bumpers) when Jenny would thrash her arms and kick her legs so hard it would make her roll over, even when she was swaddled (tummy issues). I used several blankets folded up under the mattress in the bassinet to elevate her head above her tummy. I used the rolled up blankets when nursing in bed, to keep her on her side so she wouldn't keep popping off the breast. I used folded up blankets in the baby sling because she was too tiny for it and detested the cradle hold, she had to sit up and look out. Most products like the sleep positioner are helpful for some people, but usually not necessary for anyone. I never needed anything of the sort with Meriel, but all those blankets came in really handy with her when she couldn't wear diaper covers those first couple months. All babies are different.
My daughter just had a baby, and she came home from the hospital (had 3 months premature baby), with the advice to always sleep babies on their backs. She said it was the "new and latest" advice from doctors about preventing SIDS. I was surprised that so many mothers agreed to and could follow this advice, since in all my exprience with 5 babies, I very rarely laid them down on their backs. When I did, they would be constantly twitching, and jerking, and rousing themselves. When I laid them on their stomachs, they looked and seemed more relaxed and cozier that way. They slept longer, and their blankets stayed on better at night. I made this choice intuitively, since I had read no data on the subject. I slept with or directly next to all my children, so I knew what was happening with them, and felt confident with all sleeping positions, and most often chose tummy sleeping when I first laid them down. I often patted their butts to sleep too, so thats where they stayed, and slept fine on their stomachs. Sometimes the "all or nothing" advice given by doctors and other mothers won't suit your situation, every child and mother are different. You need to just listen to your inner wisdom, stay in close "touch" and follow your childs cues.
if you're having a boy, and you buy the sleep postioner, you're jsut asking to have more laundry to wash. My son pissed through everything all the time. so buying one of the positioners isn't really worth it because it'll be dirty everyother night
