This review and giveaway is part of the New Baby Event Part 2.

The idea of using a hammock never crossed my mind until my first son was 8 months old or so.  A friend of mine had a baby the same age and she slept through the night and took naps all in her hammock. While I (nor anyone else) can say it was the hammock for sure that made for such great sleeping habits, I thought I would try it with this next baby.  My first son just started sleeping all night and he is almost two.  Even now he wakes up one time a night every so often.  It has been exhausting.

After my husband agreed a hammock was the way to go I set about researching.  There are a few choices on the market. (I have a hammock comparison list.) Luckily, when I was at a children’s expo over a year ago I discovered a brand called Hushamok. The hammock was beautiful.  The stand was stylish.  The hammock itself was organic.  There was even the option to buy a seat to use when the baby was awake.  I decided after looking over all of my options that this was my hammock.  I bought one while pregnant.

Why Hushamok?

From their website:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

While a complete medical cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains unknown, pediatricians agree that infants should sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS. Hushamok creates a restful and nurturing sleep environment for newborn sleep and beyond.

Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly)

Hushamok baby hammock is designed to conform to baby’s heads, which helps prevent flat head syndrome.

Positional plagiocephaly or ‘flathead syndrome’ can occur when a baby’s head develops a flat spot. This occurs when babies spend a considerable amount of time with their head resting in the same position. In the early ’90s, parents have been told to put their babies to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of SIDs. Since then experts have also noted a fivefold increase in the incidence of misshapen heads.

Babies are born with soft, pliable skulls, so when they rest in the same position on a regular basis, their head can develop a flat spot where it presses against a mattress as found in nursery furniture such as cribs and baby bassinets.

Infant Acid Reflux

To prevent acid reflux in infants, pediatricians recommend keeping baby’s head slightly elevated. Without the use of potentially harmful pillows or other objects Hushamok baby hammock designs provide an elevation that will reduce the symptoms of acid reflux.

Restless Sleepers

William Sears (M.D), Robert Sears (M.D.), James Sears (M.D.) and Martha Sears (R.N.) recommend the natural swinging, rocking and bouncing motion of a baby hammock to induce sleep2. Hushamok’s unique design also helps ease symptoms of colic, which often interrupts newborn sleep cycles. Unlike adults, babies are triggered to sleep by motion; as many mothers notice during pregnancy when baby is asleep during the day and awake at night.

What about safety?

One of the things I wanted to be sure of was that my choice was a safe sleeping environment for my baby.  I also co-sleep, which when done correctly is very safe.  I like having my baby close by the bed or in my arms.  At first glance, a hammock seems unsafe simply because it moves around.

First of all, the Hushamok has passed the safety tests of the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association).  The hammock should only be used until a baby begins rolling or sitting.  This coincides with a baby or 4-6 months.  Since the hammock easily rocks and sways this is pretty logical.  The way the stand and hammock are made makes for a very stable base.  Anyone who has heard of the Amby Hammock recall knows there were a couple of incidences of babies suffocating after they rolled in their hammocks.  It seems the hammock was set up incorrectly.

The Hushamok sets up very easy thanks to their easy (and fool proof) to put together stand.  I have the Aluminum stand.  There are 4 pieces which notch together.  There is no other way to put them together.  The wide base gives the hammock stability.

The hammock itself is on a leaf spring.  This is basically a long arc of a flexible but hard plastic.  A pin is in this spring, and the pin attaches to the stand in a way that makes it impossible for it to come out unless being taken off on purpose.  The hammock material is organic cotton.  There is a mattress that is poly filled.  I prefer this mattress because it has cushion, but not enough for the baby to be in danger or suffocating.  It is also breathable and “molds” so it would be harder for the baby to move left or right.

For more about the safety of the Hushamok you can visit their page.

Truly, the main reason I chose the Hushamok was for the beauty of it!  I could stare at it all day.  I swore before kids that the junky plastic toys and tacky swings with crazy accessories would never enter my house.  Guess what?  They did.  But this hammock makes me happy because it is a functional piece of art for my baby to sleep in.  If I had the money I would have upgraded to to Okoa stand.  Still, the aluminum stand is still beautiful, and in its own way since a brushed aluminum has a modern and sleek look to it.

Since the baby has arrived the Hushamok has been wonderful for naps time and early nights.  I do still co-sleep the majority of the night because secretly I love it, but practically, he wakes to nurse often and we both get more sleep this way.  During the day when it is time for a nap I take my sleeping baby and lay him in the hammock.  If he wakes early and I know he still needs/wants to sleep, I gently bounce the hammock (since it is on a spring this is very easy to do) and he falls back asleep.  This can also easily be done from the bed since the hammock is directly next to my bed.  If I have gone to bed while he was sleeping in the hammock and he wakes, I can lift him right from my bed to get him and nurse him.

One trick I have found is that if I lay a heating pad inside the hammock before I know I am putting him in for a nap or bed (and remove it of course) it makes it easier for him to lay down.  There are times I try laying him in and he wakes, and part of this is that the mattress is cold and he was used to laying on me.  Having the mattress warmed up keeps him happy.

The hammock also comes with a travel bag.  The stand can be disassembled and the whole things fits into the bag.  This is a nice feature for traveling families to keep a consistent sleep environment for their baby without taking up too much space.  The bag is around the same size of a pack and play folded up, maybe smaller.

I will admit that he doesn’t always want to sleep in the hammock, but he also doesn’t always want to sleep on me, or his Mamaroo.  It is just a baby thing!  I am still thrilled with the long naps he has taken in it so far and how pretty it is to look at!  I know I would want to sleep in it if I could.

There will be another Hushamok review in a few months of the MySeat, which is a harness seat that can be used as a gentle place to put your younger baby, all the way to a super cozy place for your young child to read a book.

Hushamok has offered to give one lucky DDL Reader a Hushamok Hammock.

*** please note this giveaway is for the hammock itself, it does not include the stand.  The hammock can be hung from the ceiling.

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry) Visit Hushamok.com and let me know another fact you learned from their webpage. Leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Your baby can have sweet dreams in the @hushamok baby hammock.  Enter to win from @KimRosas. http://b6net.th8.us Ends Nov 30.” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

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The hammock was purchased by me for review.  No compensation was received for my review and all opinions are 100% my own and genuine.  Giveaway ends on November 30. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US and Canada*

This review and giveaway is part of the New Baby Event Part 2!  Make sure you check out all of the other giveaways for the new mom and baby going on now!  Lots more to come too so check back often!

One of the things I was looking forward to about having another baby was trying out a few different swaddling blankets.  I had wanted to try the aden+anais muslin swaddling blankets with my son but never got around to it.  My husband was actually the better swaddler.  I preferred the wrap and secure kinds with velcro!

But, I knew there had to be a reason everyone loved aden+anais blankets.  I was sent a 4 pack of the “classic” swaddlers in the Prince Charming pack.  The tones are subtle blues and the motif isn’t too “babyish.”  There are other gorgeous prints available as well.  Plus, aden+anais make a bamboo muslin swaddle blanket and an organic version!

aden + anais, has brought the legacy of muslin together with fashion forward design to create a line of products that are as stylish as they are useful; and as simple as they are beautiful. We believe in muslin– the way it looks, the way it feels, the way it works– to improve the lives of babies and their mothers no matter who they are or where they live.

They also have numerous other items in their product line, like sleeping bags for babies who do not like to be swaddled or have grown out of it.

It turns out my baby boy grew out of swaddling quicker than I expected.  We started out using the blankets for a swaddle but he always seemed to want his arms out.  So, I started swaddling him with his arms out and this has worked great!

Because aden+anais blankets are so generously sized you can do numerous things with them, not just swaddle.  And if your baby loves to be swaddled and they are on the bigger side, these blankets will last a long time too!

Being that they are larger than the “standard” swaddling blankets sold in stores, it is an adjustment to learn to swaddle with these.  I am still far from perfect, but since my son doesn’t like the tight swaddle I am forgiven.  If he wanted a tighter swaddle I would need a lot more practice!

I have noticed my son naps so much better when wrapped in his aden+anais blanket.  He stays warm, so when I lay him in his hammock he doesn’t feel the cold mattress and he stays asleep.

I also use the aden+anais blankets in his carseat.  I put it over him rather than a bulky, unsafe coat.  We also have a car seat cover to keep the wind out.

I can’t think of a bad thing to say about these fluffy soft blankets!  A word of warning though: there will be LOTS of lint in your lint trap when you wash these.  Fluffy, white, lint!

For those of you wanting your own, aden+anais are sold everywhere!  I have even seen them sold at 77 Kids!  They make wonderful baby shower gifts and any new mom would have a million uses for them!

One lucky DDL reader will win a 4 pack of the “classic” aden+anais swaddling blankets!

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry)Visit the aden+anais website and view the other products in their line-up.  Tell me what you would like to try, or your favorite pattern! Leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “You can enter to win a 4 Pack of Classic muslin aden+anais swaddling blankets from @KimRosas.  http://dfexq.th8.us Ends Nov 25.” Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

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Giveaway ends on Nov 25. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US only*

A few weeks ago I wrote about the trouble I was having getting my son to sleep the entire night in his toddler bed-“How to end Co-sleeping. Advice Needed!!!.” I WAS PLEADING FOR ADVICE!  Thankfully, tons of people (well, tons for me!) commented on my dilemma with lots of useful advice.

Many of you suggested the Supernanny tactic- this involves leading the child back to their bed and saying goodnight, and as they continue to come out of their room, you keep escorting them back over and over until they get the picture.

Others said I should put him bed in our room until he got used to sleeping in it all night, then move it back to his room.

Then there were lots of other ideas, these are just the ones I saw most frequently.

I was already sleeping in his room to get him used to sleeping in his bed all night when I posted.  This worked well, although once I started sleeping in my own room again (I slept in his room for 5 nights and he reduced his wakings and also submitted to staying in his bed, something he previously refused) and he continued to wake up once a night.

Whenever he would wake up, most nights he would not cry, but walk into our bedroom.  He wanted me to walk him back to his bed!  I did, and would sit next to him while he fell asleep.

We have tried to make this a gradual transition for him. I used to rock him to sleep and lay him in bed.  Then, I began rocking him but not letting him fall asleep.  I laid him in bed and he would make me lay next to him until he fell asleep.  I started sitting next to him rather than laying, which was a hard jump for him.  He wanted to be cuddled while he was falling asleep.  After a few nights of crying he let me begin sitting next to him.  Also, I did try the Supernanny techinique and it worked one night!  However, the next night he was so upset I sat next to him after many times of him walking out and crying.  This basically allowed me to just sit next to him.  He figured it was either let me sit next to him, or have him cry and have no Mommy at all.  He made a wise choice.

Now, I have moved from sitting next to him on the bed to sitting on the ottoman a few feet away.  We still start out in the glider.   We read a ton of books, we rock and he puts his head on my chest (and if I am wearing a high necked shirt he pulls it down so he is skin to skin!).  I sing to him and then tell him I am laying him in bed.  He then grabs his monkey which he always shoves next to me in the glider, and sits up.  I carry him to bed, he rolls over on his tummy and cuddles his monkey, I cover him up, and sit on the ottoman while he falls asleep.  He will look over to make sure I am there until he falls asleep.

My next move will be to slide my seat farther from his bed, and farther still, until I am out of the door.  This is based on a famous sleep training method that I don’t know the name of!  I don’t think this would have worked a few months ago in our case, but he is old enough for it now.

Most nights he sleeps the entire night, others he wakes up once.  He easily falls back asleep as long as I put him back in bed.

This is a vast improvement to him waking at 12 from his bed to come to ours.  It has been a very long, long road to get his sleeping habits to a place where we are all relatively happy.  Daddy can even put him to bed now, something that was impossible before.  I am feeling very good about where we are at and the progress he will make.  I believe I can get him falling asleep on his own before the baby gets here.  I am also hoping he decides to sleep all night every night, but even a few nights a week is more than I was getting just a few months ago.

The sad thing is, we haven’t napped or slept together in a couple of weeks.  At first, he would come to bed for an extra 2 hours or so with us in the morning.  And occasionally I would nap with him for some snuggle time.  Now he won’t do either.  This has also made him wake up 2-3 hours earlier than normal.  It is for the best since the baby will be here very soon, but I miss my extra cuddle time so much.

I hope this method will help others who are working on transitioning their toddlers to a bed or crib from co-sleeping.  This has taken months, just like our weaning process, to keep him happy and to minimize trauma.  Thanks to everyone who had advice or just words of commiseration.  I truly appreciate it!

In my ongoing mission to make this next baby sleep better than my first child (we can dream, right?) I am reconsidering my position on swaddling.  My son loved to be swaddled.  He only slept in his crib when he was swaddled, and slept for the longest stretches when wrapped tightly.  But he didn’t want to give it up.  Once he was rolling we had to cut him off cold turkey because frankly my nerves couldn’t take it.  At the time he was *gasp* sleeping in his crib the majority of the night and I checked on him constantly for fear he rolled over and couldn’t breathe.  But the problem was that we lived in an apartment with squeaky floors.  No matter how lightly you stepped you hit a creaking floorboard and it often times that woke him up.  It was awful.  After we stopped swaddling him he woke up every few hours again, down from sleeping in 6 hour stretches.  And it just went downhill from there…. we were laying him in his crib and he fell asleep watching his aquarium, he regressed to nursing to sleep.  Then he just started sleeping with us because I was exhausted.

I am terrified the next baby will rely on swaddling and the transition will ruin him too!  In my son’s baby book he started “sleeping through the night” at a fairly young age.  Til we stopped swaddling.  Then it took him until he was a year old.  Then he stopped again.  I just can’t get an 8 hour stretch of sleep!  I understand newborns aren’t meant to sleep all night, I am ok with that.  I just want to begin healthy sleep habits to hopefully have an easier time of it this go around.  So, do I swaddle this baby and stop sooner, or stop when they are “ready,” or just not swaddle past a couple weeks?

And, what blankets should I choose?  There are a lot on the market, some which profess to be “miracles” so I am lost!  I tried two brands with my son and we liked one of those.

The Organic Woombie

Pros:

Easy to use. Highly rated.

Coms: $$$, looks like you have to remove all the way for diaper changes

The Miracle Blanket Swaddler

Pros: Supposed to hold in the wriggliest baby. Well rated.

Cons: $$$, complicated

Kiddopotamus & Co. Organic Cotton SwaddleMe

Pros: My son’s favorite, simple, inexpensive.

Cons: Velcro tabs wore out from drying.

aden + anais Swaddle Blanket

Pros: lightweight, beautiful, well rated.

Cons: $$$, traditional swaddling blanket so you actually have to “swaddle” lol

Go Mama Go Designs Snug and Tug Swaddling Blanket

Pros: cute, breathable, choice of materials

Cons: $$$, have to wrap around and then under baby

Cozy Cocoon® Organic Baby Bunting

Pros: Super adorable designs, matching hats

Cons: $$$, Put on like a sock for some models, not as easy to change diapers with,

So, any ideas?  I am so not prepared for another 2 years of sleepless nights!  I swear, 2 kids is my limit, I don’t think I can do it 3 times!

Links to DDL Affiliate Amazon.com

While pregnant with my first son I looked into a baby hammock briefly, but was honestly a little afraid of something that I had never seen used by a “real” person.  No one I knew used one, they used cribs and bassinettes.  So I bought a cradle and a crib, and ended up co-sleeping until after my son was one because he wouldn’t sleep in either one.

This time I am going to try a baby hammock.  After the testimonials of good friends and the online reviews I am hoping it will prevent the horrible sleep habits my son had.  I like to pretend he would have been like this no matter how much I held him and rocked him and slept with him and nursed him to sleep.  Maybe, maybe not.

The baby hammock itself has been around for over 800 years, so it is not a new invention.

Now I have to choose one.  The prices range from expensive to very expensive, so this is a choice I am not taking lightly.  After lining my choices up I have to say I am leaning towards the Miyo since it has many options.

Choice 1: Amby Baby Motion Bed. (307.00 for infant to toddler package)

The Amby is very well known as far as baby hammock go.  Even more so after the voluntary recall issued a few months ago.  They have issued replacement parts to all current owners who wished for one.

Pros:

Great reputation (even with the recall)

Low end of the price range for hammocks.

Comes with a travel bag for compact transport.

Easy to put together and move from place to place.

Cons:

Not available new for the moment.

Not many color choices.

Not as attractive as other hammocks.

Specs:

Infant to 9 months.

Up to 20 pounds with infant spring.  Up to 45 with toddler kit.

(3.5 ft x 2.5 ft x 5 ft)

Where to buy:

At least for now the only places you can find an Amby will be Craigslist or consignment stores.

Choice 2: Arm’s Reach Cocoon (149.99)

The Arm’s Reach Cocoon Sleeper is another contender.  Visually similar to the Amby Hammock.  This company has had issues with recalls, but none of the Coccon that I can find.

Pros:

Less expensive than most other hammocks.

Great reviews online.

Cons:

Hangs from two points, not one, so less motion for the baby.

Specs:

Birth to 15 pounds.

Where to buy:

Amazon.com

Choice 3: Hushamok (409.00 for stand and hammock)

The Hushamok Hammock is quite pricey, however it boasts the benefit of being able to add a seat to the stand for older children.  I have seen this in person and love the style!

Pros:

You can use it without a stand (which adds to the cost) if you hang from your ceiling.

Can buy a seat to add to the stand.

Stand is aluminum and very lightweight. (11 pounds)

Cons:

Very expensive.

Not many online reviews on this product.

Specs:

Newborns up to 6 months or 22 pounds.

43”L x 59”H x 42”W

Where to buy:

Amazon.com

Choice 4: Kanoe (290.00)

The Kanoe is stunningly beautiful.  It is made from 100% organic cotton and dyed with low impact, environmentally friendly dyes.  There is a way to rent a Kanoe for 40.00 a month if you want to see if it is something your baby would enjoy.

Pros:

Gorgeous.

Space saving since it hangs from the ceiling.

Comes with canvas carrying bag.

Can be hung closer to the ground to make a cool chair for older children.

You can adjust the incline or leave if flat.

Cons:

There is no stand made for it, though the website suggests some made by others should work.

Expensive.

Cannot travel with it unless you buy a stand.

Specs:

Infant to 30 pounds.

Choice 5:  Miyo (Hammock:199.95, Stand: 169.95, Door Clamp: 49.95)

The Miyo is another beautiful hammock.  The Miyo does offer a stand and a door clamp to use for travel.

Pros:

High age limit.

Multiple ways to use the hammock, ceiling, stand, or doorway clamp.

EASY to travel with thanks to the door clamp.

Cons:

Very expensive if you buy the hammock, stand, and clamp.

Specs:

Infant to 9 months.

Where to buy:

Jillians Drawers

Choice 6: Mawok (256.00)

This hammock has an interesting fixture where you can hang it from your door, perfect for traveling.  It can also be mounted from your ceiling.

Pros:

Small and light.

Offers stylish patterns and stark white.

Package comes with ceiling mount and travel arm.

Cons:

Doesn’t have a stand.

Hard to find information and reviews.  Product is Swedish.

Mechanics of the door attachment are scary to think of.  This is an option you really should think about before trying.  Also, would want to use a door that doesn’t have traffic.  Oops… squished your baby.

Specs:

Infant to 6 months.

Where to buy:

Right now I can only find it on their Swedish Website. Mawok.se

Choice 7:  Happy Hangup (225.00 with shipping)

The Hangup is an Australian hammock.  There is the ability to add a cushion of different sizes depending on the age of the baby, or use no cushion.  The hammock uses a spring.

Pros:

Gorgeous fabric pattern.

Wooden hanger is handmade.

Cons:

No stand.

Not a lot of information on it.

Specs:

Infant to 45 pounds.

Where to buy:

Happyhangup.com. Will ship to US.  225.00 includes shipping to the US.

Choice 8: Yayita (262.00 with stand. 136.00 no stand)

The Yayita hammock has a wooden bar with two notches, two further in for smaller babies, and two farther out for larger children.  Can be purchased with or without stand.  The Yayita was recalled in 2008 due to a flipping hazard after one baby flipped over but was still strapped in.  The baby was not injured, and since the hammock has undergone a redesign which makers say prevents flipping.

Pros:

Safety Strap.

Can buy stand.

Adjustable width.

Cons:

Previous recall.

Specs:

Infant to 18 months or 45 pounds.

Where to buy:

DreamGym

Choice 9: Mamalittlehelper (109.00 with stand)

The Mamalittlehelper quite frankly worries me.  Besides having a name that sounds like Engrish to me, the website needs quite a bit of work.  Plus, it looks like an Amby knock off.

Pros:

Mesh sides

JPMA Certified.

Inexpensive compared to other hammocks.

Cons:

Reviews often comment it is cheaply made.

They make an infant, toddler, and baby hammock.  What is the difference?  Website not clear.

Specs:

Infant up to 25 pounds or rolling over.

Where to buy:

Mamalittlehelper.com. However they are not shipping orders at the moment.

Edited to add:  I want to emphasize that I have not tried any of these hammocks, and all information came from their respective websites.  I also want to say that I realize hammocks carry a stigma thanks to the recent Amby Motion Bed recall.  However, even traditional sleeping arrangements like cribs, bassinets, cradles, co-sleepers, etc should be used with common sense.  Any baby item is dangerous if used incorrectly or without common sense.