Amby Baby Hammock

HI,
i'm sure there must be a thread somewhere about baby hammocks but i can't find one.
I'm concidering an Amby hammock for this baby for a few reasons and am wanting some feedback about peoples experiences with using these.
I guess the main reason for the hammock is that we have limited space and i'm abit worried about putting a newborn into the bedroom with my 2yr old as she doesn't sleep well and i'm worried she might put toys on the baby or something while they are asleep.

So i'm wondering what your experiences are with Amby hammocks?
How long did your baby use the hammock for?
Was is a waste of money for the time spent in the hammock?
Would a baby who only sleeps in the hammock still be able to sleep in a cot if they went to grandparents house etc?

Any feedback would be very appreciated.

TIA

I love the hammock! My little one is almost 6 months old and still sleeps in it. Not sure how much longer she will sleep in it, she still seems happy but is taking up alot more room than when she was a newborn.

I bought mine second hand but it would have been worth buying it new.

DH works shift work and i now put her to sleep in her cot (another room) if she is going down when he is asleep and this has been ok for us.

I have also taken it away with me when we have gone away for the night. The frame comes apart and doesn't take up much room in the car.

They still have a decent sized footprint, so if space is a big issue you might want to check the dimensions of the stand first (bub is asleep but i can measure it tomorrow if you want)

It has been great to be able to bounce her to sleep whilst i lay on my bed. The only problem is the hammock is a bit low and it can hurt your back a little getting her out, but that's not a big issue.

There was a product recall for the Amby Hammock in the US at the end of last year. Haven't heard anything further since then.

Infant Suffocation Deaths Prompt Recall of Amby Baby Motion Beds/Hammocks

There was a thread about it at the time but I can't find it now.

it was recalled due to a couple of baby deaths when the hammock was not used the way it was supposed to (hung from a door instead of the proper stand. there has been no recorded deaths using the hammock the way it's supposed ot be used

The two deaths in America were because the people had continued to use the hammock after their children had learnt to roll...in one case the baby had rolled into the side of the hammock and not been able to roll back and suffocated the other case the child was mobile and had wriggled/moved right up into the top of the hammock an again suffocated...it clearly states on the hammock instructions no to use them once your child is mobile purely for this reason.

We use a hammock (diff brand one) until 5 and a half months with no problems and had a perfect sleeper......he transtitoned to the cot with no real problems at all...I would use a hammock again with any future babies without hesitation.

We used the hammock for DD and she LOVED it! No problems transitioning and I would have used it for DS but he can't sleep on his back, not even in the hammock
Only good things to say about it!
Especially how easy it is to reach out and bounce/swing them when they get unsettled
WE use an Arms REach co-sleeping cot for DS which is also AWESOME and great if you have limited space but I now realise how hard it is to 'pat' for unsettled times. YOu only need a little finger to set the hammock in motion and as they get older their movement causes the self settling jiggle!
Love them love them love them

Thanks for the update about the reasons behind the recall. I suppose like everything when used properly you should have no problems.

I know a lot of babies love them but my DD but didn't like it at all. Luckily we had just borrowed one. Maybe that would be worth considering hiring one first and then if bubs likes it you can buy one. If it doesn't work out then you don't lose anything.

So i'm wondering what your experiences are with Amby hammocks?
I have used one (different brand - Natures Sway) for both children and it has been used for 3 other children too. It has been AWESOME!! I honestly don't know how people get babies to sleep on flat surfaces ;)

How long did your baby use the hammock for?
DD1 was in it for 8 months - till she wanted to roll over, DD is still in it.

Was is a waste of money for the time spent in the hammock?
Both my babies slept so well as newbies that I thought that any money was worth it to get the good sleep I did! Even if they only lasted a short time, I was feeling that by the 1 month mark, I had my money worth. Plus, DD2 had a bit of trouble with wind in the early days and the hammock was a godsend.

Would a baby who only sleeps in the hammock still be able to sleep in a cot if they went to grandparents house etc?
This may be a problem, but I find the hammock is completely portable and always take it with me wherever I go. I have a friend who even took her hammock camping!
With DD1, she was a pretty good sleeper and would go down happily in a pram or portacot if necessary but DD2 is pretty keen on the hammock. If she sleeps elsewhere she often wakes after only one sleep cycle. I think she likes to rock herself back to sleep in the hammock.

Other things I love about them:
- They can move around the house with you if you want them to.
- You can just reach out of bed and rock baby back to sleep if they are unsettled without getting out of bed
- you can hire them if you need to which helps make a decision before buying one.
- babies just look so damn cosy in them - not lost in a great big cot ;)
- my older daughter can get involved in settling baby. She loves running over to rock the hammock if DD2 stirs. This has been great for any potential jealousy issues.

On a side note, DD2 is asleep in hers at the moment and DD1 (2yrs 8months) has just asked me to make a little hammock to put her teddy to bed so we have a blanket strung up on the doorway on an elastic so she can bounce teddy to sleep. She keeps taking a break in play to go over and give her teddy another rock. Too cute!

Thanks for all your replies.
I have looked into hiring one locally but we live in a fairly small area so haven't had any luck. I also concidered buying second hand but due to the recall Amby has upgraded the safety of the hammock, reducing the risk of suffocation so that there aren't gaps between the mattress and sides of the hammock. I think i would feel better knowing that with these modifications Amby are now able to sell there product again.
kate07 - if you could measure it for me that would be fantastic.

Just another couple of questions. I was also wondering if after using the hammock did you all have to rock your baby in your arms to get them to go to sleep once they had outgrown the hammock?
For those who brought or sold their's second hand can you get a reasonable amount back for reselling?
thanks again everyone. It's great getting some feedback before you decide to spend $300 on baby equipment :)

I bought mine second hand and sold it a couple of weeks later and made a profit :) They definitely hold their value.
I liked the idea of it and bought it for my 2nd child, but she just wasn't that keen. She settled better in the cot so we just went with what worked best for us.

The base is 96cm x 72cm. If the hammock bed is lying lengthwise (the 96cm side), it reaches out further than the base to make it approx 120cm x 72cm.