Are baby nests safe?
I don’t know about you, but a baby nest was at the top of my baby shower registry.
After I found out I was pregnant, I spent hours on Instagram, scrolling through feeds of adorable babies … and a lot of those babies were lounging peacefully in a baby nest. It was the quintessential item that I associated with a happy, sleeping baby.
Now, let’s pause for a moment. Some of you may be reading this thinking, What the heck is a baby nest? I got you. A baby nest is a sleeping surface for a baby. It is typically shaped like a miniature dingy, and covered with a stylish, printed fabric.
While I did receive a baby nest at my shower and absolutely loved it, I’ve learned so much more about them as a Certified, Pediatric Sleep Coach. Baby nests should not be the go-to place for baby sleep, but they are a fantastic tool to have in our tool box for sleep!
So, why can’t we always use a nest for naps, night sleep, and hanging out? Because we have to consider what is safest and healthiest when making decisions about our baby’s sleep.
Let’s talk about safety considerations when using a nest.
Nests are not the answer for parents who choose to co-sleep. Babies start to roll between 10-12 weeks, and newborns younger than 10 weeks can also spontaneously roll. The majority of their weight is in their head, so if they roll it is not safe for them to be up against the nest - especially while you’re asleep.
It is important to keep nests away from the edge of furniture or a surface. TIP: When placing the nest on the couch for baby to nap or hang out, make sure to be sitting right beside it, or have your leg up between the nest and the edge of the bed.
Baby can form a sleep association with the nest. If you choose to use a nest for all naps or all sleep, baby will likely form a sleep association with it. And, let’s be real, who can blame them? Nests are a comfortable, cozy space that can mimic the security of the womb. I would probably develop a need to sleep in it too. The problem is, when baby gets too old for the nest (10-12 weeks), they become dependent on the nest for quality sleep.
As parents we need all sorts of tools for all sorts of ages. The key is to rotate the tools that we use so that baby doesn’t become dependent on any one thing, and to make sure our tools are safe, age appropriate, and developmentally appropriate.
So then, how can we use our baby nest?
I loved using my nest for napping on the go. It is lightweight, portable, and easy to travel with. Then I didn’t have to lug my pack and play around with me or hope that baby would be able to fall asleep in the car seat (that one was always a gamble). Bringing my nest along to a friend’s house or to the office allowed me to have options.
The nest allowed me to get things done. Did I shower today? Yes, yes I did. How is that possible, you ask? I simply put the nest on my bathroom floor, placed baby in it, and enjoyed a long shower, peeking out from the curtain to check on baby as needed. Nests are a safe place to put baby as you vacuum, cook, read, etc. as long as baby stays in eye-sight.
It was a great option to have for when my newborn needed extra help to get to sleep. I would rock or cuddle my baby to sleep and then gently place them in the nest, relaxing beside them with baby-free arms.
To re-cap:
What do we want to prevent when using a nest?
Leaving baby in it unsupervised
Placing it near the edge of furniture or the edge of a surface
Placing it inside of the crib
Nighttime sleep with the parents
Using it for all sleep all of the time
Placing babies in the nest who are older than 10-12 weeks or showing signs of rolling
What are great ways to use a nest?
In a supervised space
Away from the edges of beds, couches, or counters
For a nap on the go as you relax at a friend’s place or watch Netflix at home
For tummy time practice
As a cozy spot to hang out as you finish tasks in the same room or take a shower
For the CUTEST baby pictures
Want to watch a demonstration of how nests can be used and dive into more details? You can join the conversation and hear my thoughts on YouTube.
Happy Nesting,
Anna