HAMMOCKS (for napping). Please offer your experience, opinions, etc.!

[mamatochubchub]

Looking for reviews, btdt, rumors, anything about the variety of modern baby hammocks out there right now.  

The context for this inquiry/request is that we co-sleep...this is for the times when I'm not sleeping.  

I'm looking at all of these...open to other suggestions, too, of course.  Thanks!

http://www.hammockfromtom.com/yayita-baby-hammock.html

http://www.kanoe.us/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002S51YR8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1W8BESP778XEKK5XZ5P4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HRE0AK/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1J4DQKA96ZX2Y6BGT9FY&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BHWY6Q/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i6?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1J6Q1JX5Y7AGT3R5KSN6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

http://cgi.ebay.com/Baby-Cradle-Crib-Hammock-Motion-Bed-Infant-Shower-Gift-/160375053305?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2557191bf9#ht_2096wt_1149

http://www.novanatural.com/s.nl/sc.7/.f?search=baby+hammock

http://cgi.ebay.com/YELLOW-BRAND-NEW-BABY-HAMMOCK-MOTION-BED-FITTED-SHEETS-/150353456735?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2301c3ae5f

Features I'm most interested in are that the weight range go to 30 lbs or more, that it be reasonably easy to get a swaddled sleeper in and out of, that it be reasonably safe (I'm not going to be using any straps on the inside...I'll just position the baby safely and stay near her), and, perhaps most importantly, that it be very supportive of the babies comfort and needs, in a way that a mothers embrace is (supportive and cuddly), not the way a crib is (spacious and flat).  Of course, lower cost is wonderful, mama-made preferred, sustainable or organic materials ideal.

Thank You Very Much!

Dana

Mama to

Egon Zap (almost 9)

Dagny Bloom (almost 6)

Simon Lavender (almost 3)

and Baby (almost born)

Edited by mamatochubchub - 6/12/11 at 8:01am

[mamatochubchub]

I'm also wondering if you have opinions about installation *with* a spring vs. *without* a spring. 

Thanks!

[~~Sarah~~]

When I was comparing all of the hammocks on the market I came to an easy conclusion that the Kanoe brand is, by far, superior to the others available. In terms of safety, usability, the sheer volume of space it takes up in my small apartment, and obvious quality. I have one, we co-sleep so I barely used it, but during the day it worked wonders (although I had to set it swinging and bouncing at the same time to keep her asleep). I plan to use it again with #2 but with the weight limit set so high (without the spring) I could still be using it for #1.

[yentroc]

We got a Kanoe for ds, after I was convinced it would be a miracle for my dd who never slept.  I LOVE it, but it didn't work for ds, sadly.  It turned out he had pretty severe reflux and it didn't tilt enough to help.  We ended up having to have a sleep wedge made for him by an Occupational Therapist, that essentially made it so that he could sleep sitting up.   I think without the reflux, the Kanoe would have been a beautiful thing.  I was terribly sad that we couldn't use it.  :(

BTW, my barely used one is for sale.  PM me if you're interested.  

[mamatochubchub]

We decided to go with the one from Nova Natural.  Even though I cannot find a single review for it.  It has a higher weight limit than most and is more of a hammock than a crib...it will hold the baby snugly and should be able to be hung from a spring?  It looks identical to the one sold at magic cabin, and at magic cabin they are saying that it is "organic"...maybe this one is, too?

I appreciate your responses, mamas, and I hope others respond, as well even though we've made our choice.  There is almost no good information out there by way of reviews of the various baby hammocks on the market these days!

I'll try to come back to this thread with a review once we've had a chance to try ours.  

Thank Yous!

Dana

[MarineWife]

I got a baby hammock (can't remember the name of it) for ds2, who was born in January 2004. He would not sleep in it. We tried a few times and gave up. I pulled it out and set it up for ds3 but never used it. I've been meaning to sell it but never got around to it so I guess I'll set it back up for baby due next month but, again, will probably not use it. I consider a complete waste of money just like the crib we bought for ds2 that was used by the cat. I'm sure it depends on the baby some but it certainly wasn't the best place for baby to sleep when not with us, as was advertised. DS2 wouldn't sleep anywhere for more than 20 minutes unless I was laying with him or he was on someone's chest.

[mamatochubchub]

I imagine that with hammocks as well as with swings, much of the effectiveness is going to be in the *swaddle*.  If a young baby's not secure, movement in a hammock or swing would be just as likely to startle them as to soothe them!  That's been my experience.

Dana

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by mamatochubchub 

I imagine that with hammocks as well as with swings, much of the effectiveness is going to be in the *swaddle*.  If a young baby's not secure, movement in a hammock or swing would be just as likely to startle them as to soothe them!  That's been my experience.

Dana

It's been a long time since I looked into them but I thought one of the main points of a hammock was that it cradles or snuggles the baby so that s/he feels secure. I know mine is just big enough for baby to fit in with no room for rolling around. It does have a spring, though, which I can see being startling when baby jerks while sleeping. I've never used a swing for a sleeping baby so I can't compare the hammock to that.