I've noticed that my children (1 at 2 and 2 at 2-mths) sleep better while they are on my chest, not all at the same time of course. The hospital told us not to let them sleep on their fronts and teach us to swaddle them and place them on their sides. We've tried putting them in their respective beds on their sides, backs, with extra blankets, without blankets, with blankets rolled up for support, foam wedges for support, foam wedges to help them from succumbing to SIDS, etc. etc. etc.; and all to no real effect. The only time we've noticed that the 2-mth olds get some real sleep is when they are on our chests. What I propose is to make a foam insert that fits in a bassinette that has a swell like a chest. The insert should be heated and maybe have some sort of speaker in it so that it sounds like breathing and heart beating. The baby could then be placed on their front without worry of SIDS because of the swell. The insert should also be scalable so that it fits all sizes of bassinettes. [edited a gramatical error thanks to [phoenix] and spelling error thanks to [angel]]-- barnzenen, Nov 21 2001 (?) Could start with these as the base... http://www.velvettdesigns.com/I like the tiger one, obviously, but the black panther is nice as well... [StarChaser, Nov 21 2001, last modified Oct 21 2004] "...foam wedges to help them suffer SIDS..." (sic) Sound as if you don't like your kids!
No one knows what causes SIDS. What is known is that children who sleep on their back are less likely to die from it.
You seem to think this is a breathing issue - and you may be right - but I know of no research that proves this.
Also, plush toys which generate heartbeat/breathing sounds are well baked.-- phoenix, Nov 21 2001 [phoenix], I would have expected the shout of 'Baked' coming from [PeterSealy]. Well, anyway, those stuffed animals only work while the child is touching it or snuggled up next to it. The Body Bed would have the breathing sensation through-out the insert. Also, the Body Bed would be warmed to give the sense of a real human chest.-- barnzenen, Nov 21 2001 Funny enough, I've been told that as a wean I always slept best if I was put on my front. I didn't realise it was so (seemingly) common. Anyway, as I understand, none of the research into SIDS is really able to 'prove' anything, but better safe than sorry, as they say. So I think this is an idea worthy of a croissant.-- Guy Fox, Nov 21 2001 *Waking up, now, and sweating from a nightmare about an egg lying helplessly in a sensory deprivation foam cubicle … gahh!*-- reensure, Nov 22 2001 If SIDS si caused by infants lying on their fronts, couldn't the matress be made of a looser mesh of tougher material? That way they could breath through it even with their face pushed right down.-- dare99, Nov 22 2001 what, like chickenwire? hmm, nice.-- lewisgirl, Nov 22 2001 [dare99]: Mattresses like that exist already.-- angel, Nov 23 2001 UB, I didn't think he was being flippant, just stating a fact that he lived with. When he brought up his child(ren) he put them on their front because it was easiest for him and child(ren). I also understand about the swaying, but it only seems to work for me when I hold them verticle and sway. As soon as they get put down or they get rocked in a crib they start up the fussing. There is only so many hours in the day that I care to stand on my feet, and 2-6 in the morning isn't any of them.-- barnzenen, Nov 30 2001 random, halfbakery