Baby moverment sensor mat?

ping_2

Another point that you should consider if buying one of these mats, is what if the worst happens? (heaven forbid) , (as a trained nurse/midwife/Health Visitor), I can speak with some experience of this. The Hospitals will only issue these if they feel there is a real need, and then only after parents/carers attenting a resusitation class.
Friends were issued with one of these when their premature daughter came home, it lasted one night as it kept going off, when she had moved off the mat.
In my opinion i would spend the money on a really good monitor, thats all I had and had it turned up right next to where I slept, I found the sound of them snoring quite soothing in the end.

maplegirl2011

i had one of these and it only went off falsely once, when he had moved off the pad,but i think now you can get bigger pads and a twin pack one. i think if you can afford it and it gives you some peace of mind then go for it. my partner gave me all the rubbish that mothers instinct and you will wake up etc but as a heavy sleeper i just prefered this extra peace of mind.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

If you look in http://www.thebabycatalogue.co.uk/prodinfo.asp?number=J0071 you will find a thingymajig that has two cushion things that are attached, you place baby to sleep between them and it keeps them a bit more still and they stay on their back, Dont know if it's any good though just thought it might be of interest.

LopezLopez

My quality of sleep and peace of mind were well worth the £100 I spent on a Tomy baby sound and movement monitor, I always say it was the best £100 we ever spent on the baby. If you're an over worried first mum so what, that's where you are right now and all of those mums who can now speak with the benefit of heinsight should realise that they probably felt just like you when they had their first baby.

As for the alarm going off unnecessarily, we had this happen twice in two years because the baby was literally against the top bars; baby slept in a cotbed which are quite large and the sensor was good to sense baby's movement wherever he was, unless like I said, he was literally pushed against the bars; we had a foam mattress.

You can also use the monitor just for sound if at any point your decide you no longer need the movement sensor. You cannot keep prodding your baby to see if they're breathing, you need your sanity as intact as possible.

So anyway, a sound and movement sensor HELPED ME massively and it might work for you. One thing though, in the unlikely even of the alarm going off, and privided it's not because the baby's too far from the sensor, you need to know what to do, i.e. if the baby has stopped breathing, do you have the skills to perform resucitation? If you're particularly worried about this kind of thing, your local hospital might be able to help with basic free training. I am not trying to make you worried but I'm just acknowledging the way you feel rather than dismissing you as an overly worried first time mum. When I have a second baby I will be sure to use it again. I hope this helps.

Crispy_Ambulance

You do not need one of these mats - as others have said - the manufacturers are exploiting parents' fears and fleecing them in the process. The only parents who do need apnoea monitors will be given them by the hospital and trained in what to do.

Nobody knows what causes cot death, although some recent research is suggesting a genetic link. However, the advice of putting your baby to sleep on its back, not letting them get too hot, not smoking near the baby and having them in the same room as you for 6 months has saved a lot of lives. You would be much better to follow that advice and spend your money on something useful.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Crispy is right - according to the latest research (check the news headlines of yesterday) it is looking like it is down to genetics. Basically baby doesnt have the ability to notice when they are running low on oxygen around them and sadly end up sufocating - it is a brain defect - sadly it sounds like there is not much we can do to help it apart from the usual steps your are advised to take.

I tested my baby out with the pillow test when she was a few weeks old - you put them down on their front on a pillow and see if they just lift their head and turn it to the side so they can breath - they will do it straight away - but please only do this if you have someone proffessional with you - we only did it because she would not sleep apart from on her front on my chest and i was a bit worried about it.

It was really comforting to see that she was strong enough and had the ability to realise she needed to turn to breath properly!

I would suggest that you should only get a moniitor if reccomended by your health visitor after they have assesed the baby's sleeping first.

I must admit though i did consider buying one because i thought my little girl was going to be early/premature - we had a 30wk scare then a 32wk scare but she actually held out till a few days before her due date.