Sleep Positioners

They do make some "breathable bumpers" which you can order from onestepahead.com - We never used crib bumpers either until my son kept getting his leg stuck between the crib bars (it always freaked me out because my husband broke his leg that way when he was a baby). We got those breathable bumpers and have never had a problem and have much better piece of mind :)

I used a sleep positioner for the first month and it worked great at that point. I do remember reading that they are not supposed to be used once the infant is mobile though

I used a sleep positioner for my daughter, she is 10 1/2 months old now, The brand was called The First Years. I really liked it and it kept her in position, since she wouldn't sleep on her back only side. It just lays under her with her arms above the sides and has a adjustable width. My daughter has always been really active with moving and rolling and scooting around. The sleep positioner was great in keeping her where she was suppose to be. She used the positioner untill she was about 5 months. I will definatly be using one for my next child.I would recommend using one.

My son had some troubles while sleeping so he used a sleep positioner. It worked wonders. It was very light weight and breathable. He used it for several months, basically until he could push himself out of it. I still have it so if you are near the east side of St. Paul I would be more than happy to give it to you.

Good Luck!
R.

I think she is on the edge of being too old for the positioner, but try one, I think we used it until about 6 months. Try a bumper, the the crib bars, in whatever variety you feel confortable! We used the regular ones that come with bedding tied them down really well and made sure they were secure. Once we took them out we then slid receiving blankets on the side of the crib, which didn't work too well! Will she let you swaddle her still? Or what about a sleep sack? That way her legs are in there and together. There are some that are even like a blanket that work over any jammies. And with the cold weather coming up they might be nice!

I got one of those for my daughter and hated it. She would just wiggle up and out of it so it was pretty pointless. The mom of the 3mo old i watch said the same thing about the one she got. We ended up returning ours. I would say try it and decide for yourself it it works for your little one, but keep the packaging in case you hate it! :)

oh and the bumper thing- there are 'breathable' bumpers at Babies R Us. They are made of mesh so the babies can still breath thru them if they get up against them but little arms and legs stay in the crib! :)
Good Luck!

I would talk to your doctor about it. My understanding is that sleep positioners are just as much (or more) of a risk than bumbers and plankets. If your child rolls over in it her face is likely to be smothered by it. All kids go through this. We just helped her when she got stuck. Work on rolling the other direction during tummy time, so he can learn to do it himself. She only problems for a week or 2.

I used a sleep positioner when my children were infants, but not once the learned how to roll over. I think it will be hard to keep him in there and he may wake more often. I know that bumpers are a HUGE no no, but I used them with both my children and they are fine. In fact, they still use them and they are 21 months and almost 9 months. I tried taking my son's bumber off a few months ago and he rolls around so much that he would wake himself up by hitting the cribs bars, so I put it back on. I am not telling you to try a bumper, but it worked for me! I also learned from my son that once they learn something new like rolling over, sitting, crawling etc. they want to practice all the time, even when they are in bed. He may just be so excited that he is learning something new that he wants to practice it over and over until he gets it right. My daughter is in that stage with crawling I hear he wake up in the middle of the night crawling in her crib and my son did that when he learned how to pull himself up and would stand up in him crib in the middle of the night and would cry out to me to put him back down (because they learn how to pull themselves up before they figure out how to sit themselves back down). I hope this helps!

I have to admit that I used a sleep positioner for a little while with my older daughter, but I have since heard that they are as dangerous as crib bumpers. (I think a parent wrote in to Parents magazine about it.)

I used them when my babies were little, until about 3 months. I think I have heard that once babies can roll over, they're not safe anymore. As far as bumpers go, they do offer breatheable ones that are just like mesh I think. They are not big and fluffy like traditional bumpers, but they would stop baby from getting in between crib rails.

Any new skill like rolling over, crawling, walking, talking will wake them up in the night because they are practicing it in their sleep too. I think sleep positioners are a bit dangerous because they can scoot down and rebreathe their air by getting their face stuck in the positioner. As soon as he masters the rolling skill he will decide how he wants to sleep, my little guy rolls either to his side or stomach now that he has the choice. I have to ask you if he is warm enough at night? That might be the real reason he is waking up or being restless.

Check the labels--I'm pretty sure your son is approaching "too old" for sleep positioners. I believe they are intendeded for infants. Also, at 5 months, they are supposed to be starting to roll, and getting "stuck" is part of the learning process (unfortunately not much help for the sleeping process!)

I used a sleep positioner with my daughter and it did not work, at 2/3 months she was already wiggling out of it.

There are breathable bumpers out there so that might work better for you.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2529738

That would be my only suggestion.

My 8 month old has gotten his legs caught in the bars of his crib more than once - a couple times causing him to waken and scream in pain.

He rolls and creeps, so positioning doesn't help, he just goes where he wants. I'm not using a bumper, but don't want to inhibit his ability to roll around and work out any gas he might get (which he does, often).

I've seen the sleep positioners, but just get creeped out by them. They seem to me like medieval torture devices and I can't imagine keeping my son "tied down" like that.

I am in the same boat - not really sleeping well - but it will end eventually and I guess I'd rather not go the restraint route just so I might get some sleep.

If you go that route, hope it works for you.

Hi C.~
My daughter is 4 1/2 months old and she has used one for about 1-1/2 months now. If I am thinking of the same thing where it has the 2 sides on it to hold them in place? It has worked great for us. She tries to roll-over so every once is a while she will get her legs to push her up and she kinda does but the 2 pads on the side really help holding her in place. I think she likes the feeling of the snugness too on her sides. We swaddle her before we put her down becuase she still likes that as well.
good luck mama!!

I think your baby might be too old for the positioner. Once they can move around that much a postioner probably can't hold them in. I have heard of those breathable bumpers too. My coworker has them and she does seem to like them.

I used one with my daughter from birth until she was able to totally roll over on her own. I thought it worked great and I worried less about her not being on her back.

Hey C.! I think your little one is already too old for a sleep positioner; they aren't safe for mobile infants. My daughter is 10 months and a real squirmer. We use the breathable mesh bumpers and they work great (although she has now figured out how to undo the velcro). Good luck!