Hammock or Cradle?? Need advice from hammock lovers

[LuluHB]

This baby was not one we ever expected to be having so I long ago sold my DDs' baby gear. I had a beautiful Boori cradle for the girls which I loved - great to have in our room, move around the house during the day etc. They slept in it on and off until about 5 months, although DD2 probably spent more time co-sleeping with me than in the cradle.

Anyway, trying to decide if I buy another cradle this time around or get a hammock instead. If I get a cradle I think it will be the cariboo gentle motions one - both my girls had severe reflux and other gut issues and chances are this baby will have the same issues. I've read so much though about how good hammocks are for reflux babies so I'm very confused.

So, hammock loving ladies - tell me why I want a hammock and which hammock it is that I want! Thanks so much.

[NaeNae]

We have an Amby Hammock and used that in conjunction with the Tetra snuggle bed (swapping between the two) for DD. I will be really honest here and say I didn't think it was totally fab. DD had reflux but I was more concerned about the position in the hammock - her chin to her chest practically - and more so when she was chucky. We tried moving her position in the hammock but couldn't seem to get it right I WILL be trying it out again with this baby, I DO like the way the air can circulate around the baby especially in the summer months and the way her movements CAN sooth them back to sleep.But other than that it was DD head position IN the hammock that was my main concern.

I hope others in here can give you more than I can but I think its best to be honest

Nae x

[HotI]

I loved our Amby hammock for my DD. She didn't have reflux, but had colic and was quite unsettled up til 12 weeks or so. It did take awhile to get the positioning right (like Nae said), but once we got that sorted it was great. I loved that i could bounce it with a hand or foot while laying on my bed.

I will be using it again this time.

[Phteven]

I loved our hammock because I could get the babies to sleep by putting a toe in the hammock and then bouncing them while I read a novel or rang a friend.
Also I could move it around the house if I wanted so if I was going to vacuum or watch shouty TV I could just shove it into another room so the noise wouldn't wake the baby up

[Beach Mama]

We loved out hammock for DS hun, mild reflux and it really helped!!!! Used it for 8 mths then went into the cot!!! Definitely recommend them!

[jackrose]

I used a Natures Sway hammock for both of my girls after watching the wonders it worked on other babies in my circle. I have since passed the hammock on and it has held a total of 5 babies now, successfully rocked them all to sleep! I have also inspired a few other friends to use them and each has been really happy with it.

I chose the Natures Sway (NZ) as I liked the make of it and the materials used. It was also one of the better hammocks for weight and size limits from memory. I think my girls went in to it from about week 6 (DD1) and week 9 (DD2) and DD1 was moved to a cot at 8 months, DD2 at 6 months as she was very keen on standing up and moving about. I would have loved to keep her in it as she was not great at sleeping and the hammock was often the only thing that would ensure a reasonable sleep.

I loved the fact that I could cart the hammock around the house, take it away on holidays (I even had a friend take their hammock camping) and resettle both babies with ease. I managed to read a book, knit a cardigan for DD2 or attend to DD1 while I was rocking her to sleep with my foot and this was priceless for my sanity! I also loved being able to resettle at night time without having to get out of bed. A simple bounce of the hammock with my hand and I could lull us both back to sleep!

My favourite memory is the first time I put DD2 in the hammock who had proven difficult to get to sleep for longer than 40 minutes once the newborn sleepy phase had passed. She slept soundly for 3 hours that first time, blessed relief!

[Teeki]

I LOVE my hammock! It arrived on Friday and I am kicking myself that I didn't get one earlier. DD is one who thinks day naps are for the weak, lol. She just doesn't do it, unless it's while I'm feeding her. It was stressing me out because she was always awake and I never got anything done.

Then yesterday, she was sleepy so I fed her, put her in the hammock and bounced it, and she slept! And then later that afternoon, she did it again! She's asleep in there now as I type, and she's so peaceful Mine's a MamaKiddies one that I got from eBay, not sure how it compares to others but I'm loving it

[LuluHB]

Thanks so much for the responses ladies. I was 100% convinced I wanted one, then saw one of the cradles and thought hmmm. Maybe I can hire a hammock and check them out before buying one - can't say I like the idea of my little one sleeping somewhere that who knows how many other babies have slept, pooed and spewed in though.

NaeNae - I really appreciate the honesty. Their comfort in the hammock is the main thing giving me concerns - I saw a picture of a bub probably 2-3 months old lying in one and she looked soooo uncomfortable - little shoulders hunched in. She just looked altogether squished. Maybe its a learning curve??

[jackrose]

Lulu, I love it when convinced of something we seek out opinions... just to be thorough and receive the answer we want

With regards to the uncomfortable and squished thing, I do think that young and small babies are not recommended/are not great in the hammock because of the curve created by the fabric and the fact that they do not have the weight to 'compete' with the hammock shape. This is why I didn't put my babies in to mine for a few weeks. Babies in the first few weeks sleep any where and everywhere anyway so it was not an issue and it was only when getting to them to sleep became an issue that the hammock came into its own. I believe Natures Sway make a special newborn board that you can put into the hammock to make it appropriate for a small baby by making the base of the hammock flat. I personally couldn't see the point as they pretty soon outgrow it but it does take into account the uncomfortable look/chin to chest issues in the first few weeks. As for NaeNae's experiences, maybe there are some babies that the hammock just does not suit. In the same way that some babies don't like to sleep anywhere but in mum's arms or some babies refuse to sleep on a flat surface (like mine!) Some just don't like it.

NaeNae, I hope you get use out of the hammock for your next, it is a sibling's prerogative, after all, to be and do exactly the opposite to that of their older sibling!