Today, a popular bed or resting place for a baby is a special hammock. This type of hammock is made for small bodies and designed for both indoors or outdoors. The one thing to remember with any hammock, whether for an adult or baby, is that constant supervision is required. With a baby hammock, in addition to giving your child his or her own sleeping quarters for camping trips, the hammock can also be used as the baby’s bed, or rolled up and taken with you while on vacation or visiting family or friends.
Over the years, a number of studies have been performed specific to the baby hammock. Included in the study were things like safety, comfort, and health, looking at the results short and long-term. What the studies showed was that a baby’s development was improved over that of using a standard crib and mattress. With a baby hammock, the body is cuddled and protected, much like what he or she would experience within the womb. Therefore, the hammock environment provides excellent support while also boosting the child’s psychological development.
With so many benefits, the baby hammock has become a popular choice for new parents. For instance, research also shows that babies sleeping in this type of hammock over that of a baby crib are more alert, have improved visual and hearing, present higher levels of neurological development, are less irritable, and gain weight better. While it might sound a little unnerving, the truth is that by safely wrapping the baby, he or she feels warm and safe.
Another feature of the baby hammock is the swing. If you want a gentle rocking motion to help calm the baby or put him or her to sleep, the hammock can be attached to the swing. Let’s say you had a baby with colic or perhaps one that does not sleep well for one reason or another, the rocking motion of the swing coupled with the baby hammock, helps create a relaxing sensation.
You will find a number of options available although one of the best choices is the Natures Best hammock. The design slightly elevates the baby’s head, which is ideal if you have a baby that spits up often due to a reflux condition. More importantly, many babies die from SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which is why we now see a growing number of pediatricians suggesting babies be placed on the back to sleep instead of the tummy. With a baby hammock, after the baby is placed on his or her back, it would be impossible to roll over, which automatically reduces the risk of SIDS.