It’s funny how one product can make those first few hazy months of being a parent so much easier. This time around I’ve discovered a few. Products such as Ewan the dream sheep, Cozio Swaddling Muslins and an old favourite – the Gro Swaddle. They have all made parts of being a parent to a newborn slightly easier.
My biggest and best discovery…by far has been the Bednest.
If you follow me on Twitter you will have heard me rave about it a lot. It really is an amazing product.
Babies don’t sleep all that great when they first arrive. It’s not surprising really. For nine (long) months they have been tucked up cosily in the mothers womb. Feeling her heartbeat, knowing her warmth. Then suddenly they are born and we pop them in a basket a few feet (which seems like a mile to them) away from the people they need and want most. Crazy. They wake crying, needing comfort or food. Mum (or dad) gets out of bed picks them up feeds them, cuddles them and pops them back into their basket. They settle a little then the pattern repeats.
Getting up and down through the night is a pain. I remember doing this constantly with Izzy. I had a sore back and I was just irritable all day long.
The Bednest has literally transformed our nighttimes.
From day one, we have swaddled and then placed Chloe in her nest right next to our bed. She is so close it feels as though she is in our bed with us but we have none of the worries that co sleeping would have brought us. I mean co sleeping is great, I love the idea of it but I’m the type of person who would lie awake all night worrying about whether I was going to roll onto my baby. If it works for you that’s great but this works for us.
Maybe we are lucky and have a good sleeper this time around but I definitely feel the Bednest helps. Being so close to us she can be comforted by a light touch without having to comfort feed for hours on end. When she wakes in the morning she can see us lying next to her and that first smile is a true joy. I don’t get out of bed to feed, I just prop myself up with my feeding cushion ( Theraline – another brilliant discovery) and she goes straight back to sleep in her nest when we are done.
I am dreading the day she gets too big for it.
That’s what I think of the Bednest, here is a bit of info about the brand:
THE ULTIMATE SLEEP EXPERIENCE
The Bednest was created from a partnership between babycare experts and world-leading designers with the aim of making a significant difference to those important first few months.
Unlike Moses baskets or other bedside cribs that just stand by your bed, Bednest extends your bed to create a safe and separate sleep zone for your baby. It enables intimate easy access for caring and feeding and promotes bonding and attachment, the cornerstones of future parent and baby relationships. You can bring your little one into bed for comfort and feeding and return them to their cosy Bednest to sleep without having to get out of your bed. Being able to provide so much care from your bed is particularly beneficial after a caesarean birth. Half of all babies can suffer from symptoms of reflux. The tilting stand, which adjusts simply and safely, may help alleviate the symptoms of reflux and colic without the need for wedges or pillows in the crib.
Now for the best part. Well the second best part. You can rent this as well as buying it.
Yours for six months for one low fixed price of £99. You can extend by a month if needed for no extra cost.
Every rental is supplied with a brand new mattress and side panels. The crib is thoroughly checked and cleaned before being dispatched. For an extra £20 the Bednest is couriered to your door and then collected when you have finished with it.
Or you can collect it from, and return it to, the Essex warehouse as a no- cost option.
A bargain yes? If you plan on having more babies you can buy it for £299 and use it over and over again.
Visit the Bednest site for lots more info and advice. You can also tweet them @bednest – they are incredibly friendly and always reply.
Now for the actual best part. I have a Bednest rental to give away on the blog. Just enter the easy peasy rafflecopter giveaway below and make sure you read the terms and conditions. Good Luck.
I love the idea of co-sleeping but a 6ft+++ husband and small double bed means it isn’t practical. A bed nest would be perfect with all the benefits of co-sleeping without worrying about space.
It is perfect for that scenario. I also have a small bed and tall man! Good luck x
What a great idea. Pregnant with my rainbow after loosing our twins in 2012, I am looking for the best ways to keep our baby safe when (if) they arrive in August. This looks ideal.
It really makes me feel assured that my baby is safe. I am so sorry for your losses and hope that all goes well with your baby.xx
I’ve been looking at these – they look fab for keeping baby close in the night and yet in their own bed. Great for breastfeeding mamas too. Fingers crossed I would love to win 🙂
This looks fab, I just need to convince hubby!! He had to constantly get up and pass our son to me due to my back so this would make a big difference. Did you sleep with the panels down and were you genuinely happy that the mattress was new, all clean etc? Sorry for all the questions but lastly, I’ve also been looking at the Cozio swaddling muslins… how did you use these alongside the gro swaddle? I didn’t get along with the swaddle and bought a woombie in the end but I’m thinking a muslin would be much lighter for the summer xx
Hi Hollie,
We have slept with panels down and up. Both worked fine for us. I was completely happy with the quality, cleanliness etc and it was obvious that the mattress was new. I tended to use the Cozio muslins during the day for out and about and the Gro swaddles during the night. I love the Gro swaddles. I use the muslins all day for feeding etc too, they are amazing and lovely colours. Hope that helps. B x
I fell in love with the idea of a bed nest, having your little one close to you, without the worry of squishing them! Compared to other side-sleepers I’ve seen, the bed nest looks much more stable, and multi-functional too!
I would love to win this! I’m 10 weeks away from #2 making an appearance and this would be incredible for the early months when breastfeeding (hopefully) and to save my back with all the lifting etc…it will also be amazing to sleep next to his/her and form an amazing bond.
I have four little ones and childmind my baby nephew while my sister works part time. This would be perfect for my little nephew to sleep in as at the moment I lay him on the settee and place a large cushion at his side so he cannot fall off.
I’ve always preferred cosleeping, but its such a worry when they’re so small. This would be perfect for the new baby
I love your blog posts as a pregnant lady expecting our first your practical advice really helps the rabbit caught in headlights look go away!
Am totally sold on the virtues of the bednest and will keep everything crossed for the draw. Having seen my best friend struggle with a moses basket, post caesarean I know she would have loved one of these. Liz x
Fab prize! Love the fact you can use it as a moses basket and travel cot, and that you can tilt it too 🙂
x
Getting up every night, 3-4 times is not easy.. Breastfeeding is not easy… Combine the two together and you’ll get lots of dark circles under the eyes. I’m still looking for the perfect concealer that might manage to hide these.
Overall, its a fantastic idea that could make my life so much easier!
This is amazing! I have been torn between co-seeping or not, and this seems like a great solution! And so portable. Thank you so much for sharing!