What is the BabyOK™ babe-sleeper like?
It is a 100% cotton-sleep bag with arm holes and neck hole, attached with very special reinforced stitching to a 100% cotton base-sheet. Underneath are long cotton ties to secure the base-sheet firmly on the underside of the mattress. It is fiddly at first to secure to the cot mattress, but after a couple of goes, you get quicker at putting it on. The long zip in the sleep-bag makes it easy to get an infant in and out; plus the zip is sewn in upside down to make it tricky for a toddler to undo. (To do it up, the adult simply puts the two ends together, like on a jacket zip, but at the neck end instead).
What aged infant does a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper fit?
Officially we say it fits 4-30 month olds. In practical terms, once an infant starts “unwrapping” their swaddling (usually at between 3-6 months old), and they are being promoted from the bassinet to the cot, then that is the time to begin using this product. It is then used in the cot for the following 1-2 years until the toddler is promoted to a bed, and can transfer with them to the bed, until toilet-training is started (at which point the toddler needs to be able to get out of their bed on their own). The under-arm snaps provide a safe and snug fit for babies from approx 6kg.
What size cots or beds does the BabyOK™ babe-sleeper fit?
The cotton ties are long enough to fit it to all sized cots, all port-a-cots and standard single beds. It can also be “creatively” attached to larger beds by securing the ties around the corners of the bed.
How portable is a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper? Can it be used instead of a port-a-cot?
It is very portable as it can be rolled up to about the size of a double-sheet, so can easily fit in a travel bag. It can be used in a port-a-cot, or instead of a port-a-cot on a bed mattress (or caravan or boat squab). Also, because the bedding is then familiar to infants, it does assist them to sleep better in unfamiliar surrounds.
Is the BabyOK™ babe-sleeper a product that prevents cot-death?
As most infants begin using it after the main concerning months for cot-death (first 6-8 months), this product is not specifically designed as a SIDS preventative. However, with young infants, it does delay somewhat their ability to roll onto their tummy.
My baby is more than 6-8 months old, and now prefers to sleep on her tummy. Will the BabyOK™ babe-sleeper make her uncomfortable?
Although inhibiting tummy-sleeping in young babies is a recommendation against cot-death, with some older infants it becomes a naturally preferred sleep position. The babe-sleeper is intentionally designed to allow older (stronger) infants to pull against the tough stitching so they can roll onto their tummies - however parents may need initially to help teach their infant how to roll back so she doesn't get frustrated because she is 'stuck' on her tummy. Most infants pick this skill up quickly.
Our daughter has been swaddled or a sleep-wrap for some time, which has been good, but we now wish to give her more freedom of movement. Will a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper help this?
Yes, a lot of our customers promote their infants on to our product most commonly at around six months of age. Infants that are used to traditional infant movement restriction, transition very smoothly and successfully into our product with the extra freedom it allows.
My 10-month-old infant was a good sleeper, but now he’s “all over” the cot and waking through the night. Would a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper fix this?
When infants begin being more mobile during the day (eg crawling), their dreams start to include more thoughts of movement. But, because their immature brain is still developing its “sleep paralysing” effect (that prevents us from acting out our dreams), it is then common at 8-10 months in particular, for infants to start to get very mobile in their cot during their sleep. Typically a ‘good’ sleeping infant can start to surprise its parents by beginning to wake several times a night, because he’s lost his blankets and got cold, or he’s got tangled in his blankets, or he’s got arms or legs stuck through the cot bars, or he’s banged his head on the head-board, etc. For parents, our product can be a “miraculous” cure – refer the sample feedback comments contained within the website testimonials.
My son has had no swaddling or abdominal sleep-wrap, but is now standing and jumping and trying to climb out of his cot. Is he too old to begin using a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper?
Standing and trying to climb out of the cot, and the resulting accidental falls, creates numerous unnecessary head injuries every year. A toddler is not too old to begin using our product, though also is likely to be more resistant to it. This can be compared to a toddler arching their back and making it difficult to do up their car-seat harness … we don’t say “Oh OK, you don’t want your car-seat today”, because we know what’s best in the interest of a toddler’s safety, and they are too young to make that decision for themselves. It can be a similar situation with our product. If your toddler objects somewhat the 1st night to its use, then be prepared that the 2nd night will probably be worse, but usually by the 3rd or 4th night, they’re a happy-chappy – and you can regain peace of mind again.
Is one BabyOK™ babe-sleeper enough, or do I really need two?
Having only one is fine, so long as you can whip it off for washing and drying in-between sleeps. However, having two does make things substantially easier.
Will a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper truly teach my infant good sleep habits?
When used as recommended we have never heard of an infant who did not develop great sleep habits, because it teaches them that the cot is for lying down and resting in – not for standing and jumping in. When an infant has only known instilled good sleep habits for their first 2½ years, it naturally becomes part of their general persona as they get older.
How do I wash a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper?
Being 100% cotton, it is subject to some slight shrinkage. However, it is also purposefully designed to be hardy for washing. Most users wash them in cold water, and hang out or put in the dryer. It can pay first, to tie the long straps in bunches, so they don’t get badly knotted or tangled in your washing machine.
If I buy a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper and decide I don’t want it, can I get my money back?
Returns depend on the retailer you purchase from. However returns are generally not accepted unless the Babe Sleeper in in perfect, unused condition in the original packaging.
I’m not sure that I like the idea of restricting my child’s movements. Is the BabyOK™ babe-sleeper safety product perhaps not for everyone?
All things are not for all people – we are all different! However, the product has been specifically designed to allow a maximum of natural movement, while providing safety. Depending on the size of the infant, the sleep-bag only attaches to the base-sheet from about their lower back and down their bottom – so there is still loads of freedom to roll from side-to-side and sit-up when they’ve finished sleeping – but they do not “move all around” the cot or stand up to climb and fall out. We see the restriction of movement to prevent such falls as the priority – not too different from a car-seat preventing a child from moving around the vehicle.
Will a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper enable me (eg Mummy or Daddy) to finally get a full nights sleep?
Oh, the ultimate question … but one without a crystal ball answer. Adult sleep deprivation is insidious, and can have devastating affects on parental relationships. We can tell you, that we have had a lot of parents rave about how dramatically their own sleep has improved after their infant began using it (see sample feedback on our website testimonial).
Has Kathy got any other general advice regarding infant sleep?
Absolutely yes – the entire Chapter-5 of Kathy Fray’s book “Oh Baby … Birth, Babies & Motherhood” [NZ release into shops July 2005], includes the “12 Golden Rules, 12 Magical Secrets and 20 Do’s & Don’ts” to successfully teach an infant to be a great sleeper. Refer the “Oh Baby” section within this website.
Is the BabyOK™ babe-sleeper sleep-bag too hot for summer? Does it provide extra warmth for winter?
Being manufactured with 100% cotton drill, this product is specifically designed for year-round use. In the hottest days of summer, an infant can sleep very comfortably in it with just a nappy on – it is similar to sleeping with just a cotton sheet on top. For winter months, we recommend using a warm sleeping bag inside our product – that way even if the infant does manage to kick off their blankets at 3am, they won’t wake up from being cold as they are still snug and warm.
Will my child become too reliant on the BabyOK™ babe-sleeper and be unable to sleep without it?
Certainly, for the first year or so, it is normal for the child to really like the cosy secure feeling sleeping with this product provides. In can be very normal for littlies to almost “put themselves” into the bag ready for you to zip them up. However, as toddlerdom approaches, independence becomes for important to them, and with the “excitement” of toilet training, it is very normal for children to “self-wean” themselves from the product somewhere between 2-3 years of age at average. Also, by that time they have outgrown the size of the product and are becoming too cramped – so it is normal that they decide they want to be a “big kid” and stop using the product.
Is a BabyOK™ babe-sleeper safe to use?
Well, the whole point of this product is to create safety – so that is a little like asking if a car-seat is safe to use. In reality, there are no “safety criterias” that any cot bedding products in NZ must apply for or can be granted. However, this product has cumulatively had more than two decades of private use before it was released publicly – and this product specifically prevents infants from standing to climb and fall out of their cot, which is a significant improvement on being able to do little to prevent that.