The main task of any mother is to provide her newborn child with care, care and safety. But it is not always possible to be with your baby all 24 hours a day, as he used to, being in the womb. To prevent the baby from feeling abandoned in the huge space of the crib, such a device was invented as a nest for newborns. What it is, and why you need it, you can find out in this article.
Baby in the nest
What is a newborn nest
For the first time, French neonatologists thought about such an adaptation when they studied the possibilities of better adaptation to the extrauterine life of premature babies. Studies have shown that when creating conditions close to intrauterine, premature babies quickly adapted to the external environment. One of these conditions was the organization of the position of the child, close to the position of the embryo, as well as the creation of a limited space.
This is how ergonomic baby cocoons or nests for newborns were invented. They represent a mattress limited by soft sides, which allows you to create the feeling of a closed space, familiar to babies in the first weeks of life.
What is a nest cocoon for?
For newborns, a crib seems huge in relation to body size. Classic models are designed up to 3 years of age, and a newborn takes up no more than ⅓ of the bed length. Because of this, the baby feels anxiety, does not sleep well, calms down only in his mother's arms. For him, the position in a confined space is more familiar, because in the mother's tummy it was exactly like this: cramped and soft.
User reviews note that in the nest the child began to sleep more calmly, does not wake himself up with a start, and while awake, he is not bored, since he can observe what is happening in the room.
Reference. One of the main advantages of a cocoon nest is the ability to transport it with your child to any convenient place.
A cocoon pillow for newborns is a great helper at a party or any other unusual environment for babies, as it will feel at home. The nest can be placed in a crib, stroller, parent's bed, and so on.
Benefits of using
When using the nest, the following advantages can be noted:
- the baby's posture is close to intrauterine;
- the baby feels calmer in a confined space;
- the raised back allows the child to watch the mother while she is busy with other things;
- in the nest, you can feed the baby, and also transfer it to the crib, without disturbing his sleep;
- a slightly tilted position prevents regurgitation;
- the cocoon can be used when the mother practices sleeping together with the child;
- the ergonomic mattress prevents the development of flat skull syndrome.
Varieties of nests
There are several types of such devices. They differ in form, functionality and price.
Bebikokon
It is a high orthopedic mattress, the surface of which exactly follows the shape of the baby's body. At the same time, his head and legs are raised upward, corresponding to the posture of the embryo. Thus, the baby can easily turn his head, bring his hands to his mouth, raise his legs, that is, do everything that he did in his mother’s stomach. Some models even have vibration massage and the sound of the mother's heartbeat.
Cocoon
Bebikokon serves as an excellent service for creating maximum comfort for the little one, but its main disadvantages are its high price and short service life - only three months. After this age, the baby can hardly fit there.
Nest for newborns
Nest
A more affordable alternative to the babycocon is nests for newborns. They look like a small basket, where soft but dense sides are located along the perimeter, tapering towards the legs. The sides of the nest can be pulled together to make the cradle narrower. As the baby grows up, loosen the sides so that his legs are located outside the nest. Thus, the cocoon “grows” with the baby, it can be safely used up to 6 months and even older.
The mattress here does not repeat the position of the back of the child as accurately as the babycocon, but you can put the baby on its side in it. Usually it is just a straight or ribbed soft surface, slightly raised in the head area.
Some models come with a special baby cushion. But around the use of such a pillow, there is a debate about its possible harm to babies.
Important! According to doctors, if a child has no special indications, then there is no need to use an orthopedic pillow for newborns.
Pillow for feeding
Pillow
Such a device, in addition to its direct purpose, also plays the role of a kind of nest. The baby is placed in the center of this pillow, and he, like in a cocoon, feels the enclosed space around. The only differences here will be the lack of a bottom and, accordingly, the inability to carry a sleeping baby without disturbing him.
When asked what is better for a nest for newborns, a babycocon or a pillow for feeding, each parent decides for himself, based on his own preferences and financial capabilities.
What are nests for newborns made of?
Since such accessories are intended for children from the first days of life, they are made of environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials. Components such as wool and feathers are not used for stuffing the sides and mattress, as they can cause allergies in the baby, and are also a favorite haven for feather mites. Therefore, for these purposes, high-quality and well-breathable synthetic fillers are taken, such as holofiber, comfortel and others.
The outer part of the nest is lined with 100% cotton or other natural material. All items can be washed in the washing machine as a whole if the model is small and fits there. If not, then you can pull out part of the filler. Usually, most models have this option. Dry on a vertical surface.
It is quite possible to sew a nest for a newborn with your own hands. To do this, you can find all the necessary step-by-step instructions. So for mothers of needlewomen, such a thing will be especially loved, as she did with soul.
Criterias of choice
What to look for when choosing a nest:
- Material. It must be of high quality and hypoallergenic.
- Colour. You should not choose a nest in too bright shades, the child may be uncomfortable from this. Soft pastel colors work well for this.
- The size. The standard length is 62 cm. Usually this is enough for up to six months of use. For premature babies, you can take a size 50 cocoon.
- Price. Here, everyone decides based on their capabilities. Now the choice of nests is quite large, you can find a suitable option at an affordable price.
How much does a cocoon cost for newborns
Baby in the nest
The price of the classic and most common version of the nest varies between 1200-4000 rubles, depending on the brand, quality of materials and other parameters. *
Orthopedic Bebikokon costs several orders of magnitude higher, the average price is 5,000-10,000 rubles. The most affordable option is a feeding pillow, which can be purchased for 500-1000 rubles. *
So, having considered the main types and characteristics of nests for newborns, we can conclude whether it is worth purchasing this product or not. In any case, pediatricians speak very positively about him. If, in addition to everything, the baby's sleep improves and his mood improves, then everyone will only benefit from this.
