Benefits Of A Baby Hammock
Overcome Flat Head Syndrome In Babies By Using An Infant Hammock
Baby hammocks have traditionally been a way of life in eastern cultures for centuries, and nowadays they are becoming more and more popular with parents from all walks of life in the western world.
Some parents are surprised to discover that a baby hammock recreates a natural environment, which continues to give their infant that constant warmness, comfort and reassurance equivalent to the womb. The baby hammock is designed to duplicate habitual movements to give baby optimum reassurance and maximum comfort. Oftentimes a slightly wakeful baby will move, which will lightly sway the hammock and calm them back to sleep without them crying or getting into a habit of waking.
This all helps to keep your baby sleeping solidly for longer periods of time, and they are less likely to become reliant on being picked up to be comforted. For the baby that suffers from colic or reflux, a hammock can assist to steady them and take off some of the distress for both baby and parents. You can also put your bub at different angles in a baby hammock, which is likewise an advantage in cases of colic or reflux.
Baby hammocks are likewise fantastic for early babies, as they repose in a more flexed position which is nearer to how they would have been if still in the womb. Many newborns seem to enjoy the swaddling effect of a baby hammock, as it helps to ease the changeover, and encourages them to sleep better, because it feels familiar to them. A lot of babies learn to self-soothe themselves to sleep in a baby hammock, as the pleasant satisfying movement can rapidly calm them off to sleep.
A baby hammock takes up a lot less area than certain of the more large foldaway cots, thus they are ideal for when you are traveling, and your bub will enjoy sleeping in their very own bed. Having to sleep the whole night away from their everyday bed can be reasonably unsettling for some babies, exactly as it is for you when trying to sleep in a foreign bed.
The fact that you can simply slip the foot of most hammocks underneath the side of your bed keeps your baby near to you. And on a cold winters night it’s a real blessing if you don’t have to get out of the warmness of your own bed to care for your baby. And when your infant senses that you are around, they will most likely feel more protected and settle easier after a night feeding. Your baby will have the best of both worlds, as he is safely tucked into his own bed, yet feels like he is sleeping with mom & daddy.
Babies can safely sleep in a hammock until they are able to roll over or weigh in the region of 15 kgs. Most baby hammocks have recommendations for usage up till certain ages or weights, so make sure you adhere to these limits. The safest sleeping position for babies is on their backs, and a suitably designed baby hammock will keep them on their back, and they will be unable to roll over till they become older. The base of most hammock beds sit flat on the floor, however as your baby grows be all set for the lively baby who is likely to scramble out, and keep a soft mat below it. For your baby’s sake, it’s best to be ready, than regretful after the event.
Some babies are prone to flat head syndrome (Plagiocephaly), because they favor sleeping on one certain side, but it’s less common with babies who sleep in a baby hammock. A baby hammock seems to distribute baby’s head weight more uniformly to the rest of the body, reducing the problems of the syndrome.
Baby hammocks are relatively foreign to those of the western world, so if you have any doubts around whether to get with a hammock or crib, simply remember eastern cultures have been using them for years. Nevertheless, if you’re baby is having problems with colic or reflux then do yourself and your baby a favour and check them out.