What is a Motion Bed?
Many a bleary-eyed parent has reached the point with a fussy, colicky baby where they are willing to try most anything to get their baby to sleep for a decent length of time. One of the latest ideas in the field of baby sleep is the motion or hammock bed. The motion bed is an infant sleeping hammock which is suspended approximately 12″ (.3 meters) from the ground on a metal stand. Whereas a typical hammock is suspended from the head and foot, a motion bed is connected to the stand at the top with a spring. Any slight movement by the baby creates a gentle swaying motion which is just the type of soothing some babies need. Manufacturers of hammock beds claim that the “3D” movement of the motion bed mimics the environment of the womb, where the baby swayed gently to his mother’s movements. The partially enclosed hammock creates a protective, swaddling effect that many fussy babies crave for sleep. Manufacturers also claim that the motion bed may reduce the need for sleep apnea and gastroe