Best sleep aid ever!!

[teachmum]

I've just had my third child after a looong break and having to recall all my baby whispering techniques . I listened to others with my first and she was a grumpy baby because all she really wanted was more cuddles and not to be left to cry. With my second we did a bit of co-sleeping but just went with the flow (what else can you do with 2 under 2) and he was a much happier bub.

With my latest creation I give him as many cuddles as he needs to settle but I have a secret weapon ... a baby hammock. It's great because if he grizzles but isn't fully awake he often wiggles enough for the hammock to shake and then is able to go back to sleep or I can do it for him.

Of course this doesn't mean he sleeps through the night or even longer than 2 hours at a time but he is a more 'settled' bub than my other two were.

What's your best settling/sleep aid?

[Ozziehoffy]

I loved my hammock also, didn't have it for DS 1, didn't know they existed!. He slept in it until he was 6 months old then he wanted to roll onto his side so he went into his cot.

[Jac]

I hate to admit it, but my best sleep/settling aid is by far the dummy. I can't imagine how the last 12mths would have been without it. A lifesaver for us and a very happy baby indeed!

[jackrose]

The hammock, the hammock!! Mine is the hammock!

I can't speak highly enough about this fantastic device. Mine is from Natures Sway from NZ. beautifully made and works a treat to get my girl off to sleep. Every time I put her down, she wriggles a bit, sighs and then drifts off to sleep within 5mins. Amazing. My girl slept through the night for 8 hours at 8 weeks and regularly sleeps for 12-13 hours since 3 months... all this i attribute to the hammock, as teachmum says, the self settle technique of rocking themselves back to sleep is a bonus.

Taking it with us when we go out is an added bonus. I happily accept dinner invitations at friends houses as she will go off to sleep in the hammock suspended over a door frame.

Glad to know others are enjoying theirs too!

[~Belinda~]

Co-sleeping for sure.....Madeleine sleeps right through and has done so from 8 weeks we love it...

[Cherie]

I'll give another vote to the hammock I was loaned one by a friend (and fellow BB member) and it was great. DS started sleeping through the night at 12 weeks without any effort at all on our part, and I'm certain the hammock helped. He was so snuggly and cuddly inside it, and bouncing him to sleep worked beautifully.

ETA: for day sleeps, my 'secret weapon' is the car LOL. It's pretty much the only place DS sleeps during the day. Frustrating if I want to stay at home for the day though.

[Jac]

For those who use/used a hammock, how did you go when it was time to transfer to a cot/bed/whatever? I am considering this for no.2 as have had sleep issues (particularly away from home) with DS and am aiming for a great sleeper this time!