Baby Hammocks # 2

**Michelle71** · January 15th, 2008, 08:36 PM

I got one for my son when he was 4 months old (we hired it) and used it until he was 7 months when he was ready to go into the cot and was trying to roll onto his tummy

It was the best thing we could have done to settle him and he slept so much better when he was in it. We also co-slept but less after obtaining the hammock because he was happy to sleep there instead.

The Amby is VERY portable too!!! It can be moved from room to room and it is easy to put together. Far easier than putting up the portacots which is great if you go anywhere.

**Lucy** · January 15th, 2008, 09:30 PM

I am a huge fan.

I have used it for all 3 of my babies: it was honestly the best bit of baby equiment we ever had!

I have reviewed it here: Amby Hammock

The only downside (and it is a tiny issue, LOL!) is that they never look as cute as a made up cot. But I was always MORE than willing to trade in looks for sleep!

I would TOTALLY recommend.

My 3 children stayed in the hammock until at least 9 months (Charlie). Lexie only moved to a cot at 12 months.

citrus · January 16th, 2008, 07:07 AM

Thanks for your responses. I love the idea of the hammock, it seems to mimic the movement of the womb better than anything else, and your responses have convinced me its the way to go!
Glad you all had success, and hopefully some good nights sleep when you used yours!
Cheers
Citrus

**widdly** · January 16th, 2008, 10:59 AM

I would say definately get a hammock. The only bad point about our hammock was that we had a severe reflux baby who needed to be rocked to sleep an awful lot, and constantly trying to put him in and out of the hammock was a strain on our backs. Our son loved it, it did wonders for us and we often travel and taking the hammock with us was much easier than taking a portacot.

**~Trish~** · January 18th, 2008, 01:36 PM

Go the Amby hammock!! We used one for our first DS who was a terrible day sleeper and it changed our lives! You won't regret buying one

**Pandora** · January 18th, 2008, 02:25 PM

we used an Amby hammock in the hostpial when DS was born and it was a lifesaver. MIL ordered one for us as a present and it arrived the day I got home from hospital. I loved it and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

**Daydream Believer** · January 18th, 2008, 04:35 PM

Do you find the hammocks an issue if you have pets?
Im looking at getting one however I have a cat and am wondering if it would be a problem.

**~Trish~** · January 18th, 2008, 04:44 PM

skittlebub - I don't have a cat so I can't speak from experience, but I think it would be pretty hard for them to jump into the hammock, but who knows how crafty cats can be?! You can buy a mosquito net with the hammock that would solve the cat problem. You can order them from the Amby website.

**Phteven** · January 18th, 2008, 04:51 PM

We had to use the mozzie net if we were going to leave the room because our cat loved getting in there for a nap.

**Lucy** · January 18th, 2008, 05:44 PM

No cats in this house, but the mozzie net would work like a charm as a deterrant.

Our dog Perry used to always sleep unter the hammock, under whichever baby was in it. Lexie 9our youngest) finished with the hammock 4 months ago, but we had a 5 months old little baby over on a play date who borrowed our hammock........& Perry was under the hammock like a shot, and they were both fast asleep in minutes!

**Jule** · January 18th, 2008, 06:20 PM

We hired one and she hated it but I think the hammock wasn't quite right.

jessicat · March 10th, 2008, 10:26 AM

Hi there. First time on here. We have a hammock for our little girl (got when 4 months and would not settle and screamed her lungs off when was time for sleep. Was told to rock cot which was great and helped her heaps but absolutely exhausting for me. After 10 days ordered hammock and has been such a blessing - no screaming and lots of good sleeping). She is now nearly 8 months and all going well...only thing is that she has to bounce hammock to get to sleep. She does this herself (I put her down and leave room) and she bounces it wildly till she falls asleep. Can hear it up the other end of the house. This is great, cute and makes us laugh a lot

...but I worry about the cot transition when she can no longer bounce. I wonder if others had a baby needing this amount of bounce to sleep and how the cot transition went. I cant physically rock the cot again and she hates settling in my arms so that is out too. Also she is not into co-sleeping (was my wish for her originally, but not her preference at all). Any experience in this much appreciated. Thanks.

**Lucy** · March 10th, 2008, 11:33 AM

Jessicat, I am giggling becaue all 3 of my babies did the rigorous bouncing themselves: it was hilarious!

Like you, I was REALLY nervous of the cot transition, particularly with my first (Olivia). She was 11 months when we transitioned her, and still on 2 sleeps. So on the day of the move into the cot, we kept her up in the morning and went for a swim (and exhausted her!) and then at lunchtime gave her a cuddly milk feed in her room (keeping everything else in the routine exactly the same, aside from the actual bed) and then popped her in the cot.

She slept for 3 hours! Same deal at night: kept everything the same, and she transitioned perfectly. No boucing required.

My son Charlie was a bigger baby, but was still being wrapped in the hammock, so when we first transitioned him to a cot he was not happy as I think he didn't feel as secure. So it did take a few days. Then we put him into a grow bag/sleeping bag for sleeps: problem fixed!

Lexie, my youngest, transitioned at 12 months. She as always been addidcted to a "blankie" in her hammock, so when we transitioned her to the cot, blankie went in too, and she transitioned perfectly.

So no problems here. The idea of transitioning was much worse than the reality!

Good luck!

jessicat · March 10th, 2008, 02:08 PM

Thanks Lucy - and such a prompt response - I needed it- Thanks

! Yes I've been wondering whether the anticipation I'm experiencing is worse than the actual transition will warrant. Your message suggests it is!

Think I was also feeling a bit guilty (Shock horror - a mum feeling guilty!) that she (Matilda) was still in cot and had not learnt to 'settle self' without bouncing...and that I should be transitioning her asap so she could learn this. Almost wanted to do it so I can get over the anticipation and guilt, but I also dont think this is the best reason to do the change. She seems pretty happy in there still, so will wait for a few 'signs' whatever they may be???? before the move and meanwhile just enjoy the boucey noises and learn to relax about the whole thing.

When we do her blankie and grow-bag will follow her into cot with the familiar routine - good to hear that its worked well for your little ones (even if took a little while for little big

Charlie.

Thanks so much Lucy!

**Melody7** · March 25th, 2008, 09:47 PM

Hi,

Our baby is 5 mths old now. We co-sleep with our bubba for the majority of the night. I feed him to sleep and put him in his hammock next to our bed and bring him into bed with me at about 12.30/1am after he wakes for a feed.

For day sleeps I've found that feeding DS to sleep on our bed and then moving away after he's fallen asleep is working really well.

However, tonight has been different - he wouldn't go in the hammock and so I've fed him to sleep on our bed like I do during the day. I have no idea what my night will bring!

My question is this: I think our DS is outgrowing his hammock, or at least not feeling comfortable in it - he's often really hot when I pick him up and seems to sense when I go to put him down having been on the boob. What have others done when their baby's outgrown their hammock? I don't own a cot, and have no desire to buy one either. One thought I've had is to buy a cot mattress and put it on the floor so I can settle him to sleep for the first evening stint and then bring him into bed as usual. Has anyone done this? Is putting a cot mattress on the floor for my DS at this age too dangerous?

**jackrose** · March 26th, 2008, 09:26 AM

Hi Melody,

I can't really help you as I am sort of wondering the same thing, in anticipation.
I have a 3month old and she is still really happy in the hammock, it is proving to be a sleeping wonder, 12-13 hours a night sleeping with one-two dream feeds. We are also like you in that she is put to sleep in the hammock and then spends the rest of the night with us co-sleeping after a 4am feed. However I am worried about what I will do when she grows out of it... I too have no desire to buy a cot.

With regards to your question, maybe his fussiness in the hammock is just temporary? (hope so!) Maybe his hotter temperature is due to the warm weather... you would have considered this I am sure, I guess I am hoping for my sake that your boy will remain happy in the hammock so I feel assured that my girl will too!!
I wonder whether your boy, sensing he is being put into the hammock after being fed to sleep, would be the same if you put him down into a bed rather than feeding him to sleep lying next to him? ie its not the hammock but the realisation that his much loved boob is no longer attached!

I would hope he hasn't grown out of it as I have had friends sing the praises of the hammock when their child reaches about 6 months and learns to self settle by moving around and rocking themselves back to sleep.

Hope you can work your way around this little hurdle!

**Melody7** · May 9th, 2008, 07:18 PM

Hi Jackrose,

Sorry, I only just found your reply in my inbox. Thanks for your thoughts. I'm glad to report that my bubs is now happily sleeping in the hammock again - you're right - it must have been a stage - and lack of boobie

He'll sleep for 3-4 hours to begin with and then has a late evening feed and goes back in the hammock for a few more hours before coming in with me. I can't say that he's soothing himself to sleep just yet, however that may (or may not) come to pass.

He looks pretty snug in there, however I'm thinking that it's actually quite comfy and may remind him of the womb. So take heart, I think he'll be in there for several more months (and he's 6.5mths now).

**2CheekyMonkeys** · May 10th, 2008, 12:26 PM

i am debating whether or not to get a baby hammock second time around. had heaps of trouble with first who wasnt a good sleeper at all and i reckon a hammock would have suited her but by the time i realised i didnt have enough money (after all the other things i had bought).

the thing is... i sorta feel like i am gonna be different second time round and let the baby cry a little more than i did with first so i am wondering if a cot would suit second one.... or will i crumble again and be an ol softie and then leave the hammock unused and a waste of money?

also... is it then hard to move from hammock to cot when they are bigger?