Repositioning and Tummy Time Products

There are a number of repositioning and tummy time products on the market.  Here are details of some that have been recommended by parents on this board.


Neck support
A neck support can be useful for keeping a baby off his flat spot in a car seat, pushchair, swing or bouncy chair.

  
These photos show Mikey using a neck support in his car seat. You can see how well it keeps his head away from the car seat. It was bought from Babies R Us, and similar items are widely available in other baby products stores, including Boots and Mothercare. For younger or smaller babies, a smaller neck support is available, made by Clippasafe. You can see and buy it here: http://www.babysecurity.co.uk/pp/Outdoor_Child_Safety/Child_Car_Safety/Clippasafe_Baby_Neck_Support.html


Baby carrier
There are lots of front carriers on the market, such as those from Baby Bjorn (www.babybjorn.com) and Wilkinet (www.wilkinet.co.uk)  Using one means there is little or no pressure on the back of the head, and definitely no pressure at all when the baby is old enough to be carried in a forward-facing position with the head support rolled down.


Bumbo
A Bumbo seat (www.bumbobabysitter.com) can be used on its own or under a play gym, avoiding putting babies on their backs to play before they can sit up unaided. They are now widely available in baby products stores and online.

 
Mikey in his Bumbo, with his play mat and activity gym


Fisher Price Musical Play Garden
Made by Fisher Price, this product is called a "Musical Garden". It no longer seems to be availble in the UK, but can be bought from www.amazon.com (note the US extension) and sometimes they come up on www.ebay.co.uk.

 
The picture shows Mikey playing with the musical box attached to the play mat


Boppy Tummy Play / Widgey
The Boppy Tummy Play is an American product that is basically a breastfeeding support pillow with toys attached. It is good for encouraging tummy time. You can buy an identical breastfeeding pillow, called a Widgey, that looks just like the Boppy Tummy Play, and attach or use toys with it. The Widgey is available from BabiesRUs (www.babiesrus.co.uk) and John Lewis (www.johnlewis.com).


 
Boppy Tummy Play


Prop-up cushion
A great range of animal shaped cushions, ideal for propping up a young baby. They are a bit pricey, but very nice.
www.storkgifts.co.uk/loiseaubateau.php


Cot wedge
There are commercial cot wedges available (see www.babyabby.com/sleeppos.asp) that help make the baby roll to the other side of the cot. A rolled up towel under the mattress does the same job.

 
Cot wedge


Boppy Noggin Nest and Boppy Flat Head Relief Insert
These are neck supports, made by www.boppy.com, specifically to help avert plagiocephaly. They do not seem to be available in the UK as yet, but can be purchased from a number of US websites.

 
Boppy Noggin Nest (left) and Boppy Flat Head Relief Insert


Love Nest
This is similar to the Noggin Nest and Flat Head Relief Insert (above) and is available in the UK at £9.99 (plus delivery) from the Baby Catalogue: http://www.thebabycatalogue.com/prodinfo.asp?number=K0243



NOTE - THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE SLEEP POSITIONERS, PILLOWS AND SHAPED MATTRESSES. THE UK HEALTH AUTHORITIES DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT BABIES USE THESE ITEMS. IF YOU CHOOSE TO, YOU DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE FOUNDATION FOR THE STUDY OF INFANT DEATHS (FSID) RECOMMENDS THAT PILLOWS ARE NOT USED FOR BABIES UNDER THE AGE OF ONE AND BUPA GOES FURTHER AND RECOMMENDS THAT THEY ARE NOT USED UNTIL TWO.


Sleepcurve mattress
Please read the important red text above.
The Sleepcurve mattress better positions the baby's head and allows more freedom of movement than a standard mattress. They are sold in retail outlets like Mothercare, BabiesRus and online at www.kiddicare.com. They are also available directly from the manufacturer - www.sleepcurve.com and by calling 01625 427561. Some older babies have a tendency to wriggle down the mattress, but a free cot wedge alleviates this and can be obtained by emailing enquiries@sleepcurve.com.


Goi Goi Baby Pillows
Please read the important red text above.
Goi Goi Baby Pillows are especially developed for newborn and young babies. Since 2000, the Swedish Department of Health, jointly with all Swedish paediatricians, recommends all newborn and young babies to use a soft baby pillow when sleeping on their backs. This is to help prevent flattening of the head and to help treat those babies and children already affected. Goi Goi Baby Pillows were developed in 2000 by a physiotherapist at the Children's Clinic at Gavleborg-Sandviken Hospital in Sweden and are frequently used in maternity wards throughout Sweden Swedish parents of newborn and young babies are recommneded to continue using a baby pillow at home. Since the introduction of this recommendation, Sweden has seen a dramatic drop in the number of children suffering with flattening of the head. Goi Goi Baby Pillows are now recommended by a number of craniofacial surgeons in the UK.  For more information or to buy online, visit www.goigoibabypillows.co.uk

 
Goi Goi Baby Pillow

Sleep positioners
Please read the important red text above.
There is a range of sleep positioners available on the internet, mainly from American stores. These products help you to position a baby in its cot at night, up until about six months old.

For example, at babystore.indiaserver.com/baby-sleep-positioners.html and at www.babyabby.com/sleeppos.asp

Parents of a baby on this board used the Baby Sleep from Delta Diffusion: www.deltadiffusion.com/products/baby-sleepez_uk.html. It can be purchased from Smartazzkids for about €17.99 plus P&P: www.smartazzkids.com/item.asp?id=231

They are also using another sleep positioner for another child of theirs. The Back to Sleep, ( www.deltadiffusion.com/products/backtosleep_uk.html ), which can also be purchased from www.smartazzkids.com


An additional word of caution - please also take a look at www.kidsindanger.org/04v1/prodhazards/recalls/sleeppostion.asp - this tells the cautionary tale of a baby who suffocated using a sleep positioner.