Frequently Asked Questions

In a 2008 survey of 63 families using the Miyo Hammock for up to a year:

• One third of babies slept through the night by 6 weeks old.
• Four out of five were sleeping through by 16 weeks old.

The main difference between a hammock and cribs or Moses baskets is the way the baby is held and supported. Before a baby is born, they are held very tightly in the womb and experience a lot of movement as the mother moves around.

Once they are born, flat and static surfaces such as a Moses basket are completely unknown to babies - they are used to being held and supported with something around them combined with their mother's movement. The hammock has been designed specifically to mimic the environment of the womb by holding the baby so they feel secure.

The spring reproduces the movement of the mother, gently rocking the baby and giving them the sensation they love. These two design features give the baby a sensation of security and comfort, enabling them to relax and to sleep.

The image of a parent walking the floorboards in the middle of the night, rocking their baby in their arms whilst they trying to convince them to go to sleep is closely associated with being a new parent. It gives the baby warmth, comfort and reassurance and is one of the most natural things in the world to do.

The cradling in the arms and rocking motion is simply recreating the environment of the womb, doing exactly the same job as the hammock.

The difference comes when the baby falls asleep. If they are in your arms you still need to move them from their warm and comfortable position into a cooler and less snugly crib or Moses basket. Just as you do this and disturb them is when they wake up and the process starts again. If they fall asleep in the hammock, they are already there.

'Self-soothing' simply means the baby learns that they can relax themselves and fall asleep without having to be rocked asleep. The hammock helps them to do this as when they are put down, if they make any movement the spring translates this into a gentle rocking motion, and so to sleep. It is the same if they wake, as is natural, during the night. Babies don't tend to go from deep sleep to screaming in a second, it is a slower process but one that parent's do not usually see as they are asleep until the screaming starts. Again, a slightly awake baby will move, this rocks the hammock, putting them back to sleep. The baby learns that sleep comes easily and just as importantly they do not become dependent upon somebody picking them up to cuddle them as this in itself is a reward for waking up and screaming.

This is the very first step in establishing good sleeping patterns and is the basis for why over 80% of parents in our survey reported their babies sleeping through the night by 4 months old.

Sadly we can't take the credit! Using hammocks to help babies sleep is not a new concept. Many cultures have been using them for centuries. In the modern world it has become traditional to put babies to sleep in small but pretty versions of adult beds however this is not always what they need. The womb is a much friendlier place to be and a hammock simply makes the introduction to the world an easier step.

Yes - you can use it for a full time bed for both day and night sleeps. The more a baby uses the hammock, the more they learn to self-soothe and go to sleep unaided.

It is very important for babies spines to be held correctly in a flat and neutral position. The Miyo Baby Hammock is designed to ensure exactly this and has been confirmed by paediatric doctors, chiropractors and midwives.

The quick answer is very easily. There are two aspects to this - the bouncing/swaying motion and the way the hammock 'cocoons' them.

In the womb babies tend to fall asleep whilst the mother is moving around and then wake up when the mother stops moving (usually when she is trying to sleep!). This reflex lasts beyond birth, which is why people rock a baby to sleep in their arms. The hammock simply allows you to do this without having to hold them, however the reflex starts to fade around 7 months old. This is good news because by 9 months when they are transferred to a cot, they no longer rely on the movement to get them to sleep.

The second part is the security they feel from being held within the hammock. Customer responses (and our own experience as parents) has shown that babies still love to have something close to them when they sleep so expect to see your baby snuggle up close to the side of the cot or their favourite soft toy.

The adaptor rests over the top of a door frame. It is cleverly designed so that the greater the weight pulling down on it, the stronger it grips. They are fully safety tested for strength and include a door stopper to keep the door open. The combined weight of the travel adaptor and hammock is less than 6 lbs meaning it is one of the lightest and most compact travel cots available. Even more importantly, it means that your baby has their own bed that they know and love whether you are at a friend's house, grandparent's house or on holiday somewhere exotic!

The survey of 63 families showed that this was never a problem. This is also backed up by a large amount of anecdotal evidence. When cats first investigate the hammock they quickly realize it moves and stay well away ! Although it looks like an ideal cat bed, the only way they could actually get into it would be with human help.

If you can fit a cot in your room, you can fit the frame. The three legs of the frame mean it is very easy to position in a room and fits beautifully into a corner. The curved wooden sections of the frame lie next to each other when taken down which allows it to be stored easily. Many people take the frame when they travel as it fits easily into a suitcase.

If you need a space saving solution, then installing professionally-fitted hooks into ceiling joists allows you to suspend the hammock anywhere you like using the included chain.

We scoured the globe and selected one of the most technologically advanced factories in China. They work with some of the biggest brands in the world and employ highly skilled craftsmen and women, working in excellent conditions. No unethical labour or materials here!

The bones in a baby's skull are very soft which helps them to come through the birth canal. SIDS prevention guidelines instruct parents to lay their babies on their backs. In some babies, if they do not receive enough play time on their stomachs, the bones start to mould to the shape of the mattress, giving them a distinctive flat head. The mattress in the Miyo Baby Hammock is very soft and moulds to the shape of the baby's head, meaning beautifully rounded heads whilst still providing the correct spinal position.

The causes of SIDS are still unclear however there are guidelines that should be followed to reduce the likelihood. These include keeping the baby on its back. One of the main benefits of the Miyo Baby Hammock is that once you put a baby in it correctly, although they have free movement of their arms and legs it is almost impossible for them to roll onto their front.

A highly significant finding shows that over 25% of SIDS deaths could be prevented if babies' heads did not become covered with bedding.

The Miyo Baby Hammock Company surveyed 63 families who had used a Miyo hammock for up to a year. All the parents had been chosen at random.

Who Completed The Survey?

100% Parents of babies who used the Miyo hammock

 

How Had They Heard About Miyo Baby Hammocks?

56% Friends and Relatives

25% Website

12.5% Store Displays

12.5% Midwives/Care Providers

 

Had They Heard Of Any Other Baby Hammock Brands Before?

50% No

50% Yes

If Yes, Which Brands?

71% Naturesway (NZ brand)

28% Unsure of brand name

 

Did They Purchase The Hammock To Solve A Particular Problem?

68% No

31% Yes

If Yes, What Problem?

60% To ensure the bassinet wouldn't be knocked by older siblings

40% To help relax unsettled babies

 

Have They Ever Used Other Baby Hammock Brands?

100% No

 

Have They Used A Bassinet Before?

75% No

25% Yes

 

What Did They Regard As Important In Their Purchasing Decision?

24% Better Sleep for Baby

18% Looks

16% Recommendations

11% Price

8% Space

8% NZ Design

4.8% Warranty

2% Safety

(100% of customers chose more than 3 of these options)

 

When Did They Start Using Their Hammock?

87.5% 1st Month

12.5% 3rd Month

 

What Sleeps Did They Use The Hammock For?

62.5% Both night and day sleeps

37.5% Day sleeps only

 

Where Did They Suspend Their Hammock?

42% Kitchen/Living Rooms

33% Parents Room

25% Nursery

 

How Did They Hang The Hammock?

62.5% Hook only

18.5% Stand only

18.5% Stand and Hook

 

If Hook Only, Then Why?

69% Not sure, less expensive

31% Not enough room for stand

 

Did They Hang Hammock Near Parents Bed Instead Of Co-Sleeping?

56% No

44% Yes

 

Did They Use The Hammock Away From Home?

75% No

25% Yes

If Yes, Where?

75% Grandparents and friends houses

25% Camping and holidays away

 

Did Their Babies Suffer From Colic/Reflux?

87.5% No

12.5% Yes

If Yes, Did The Hammock Help?

50% Yes

50% Not sure (100% of these were very severe colic cases)

 

Did The Hammock Help Them With Tired & Grumpy Babies?

87.5% Yes

12.5% Not sure

If So, How Long Did It Usually Take To Settle Their Babies?

12.5% Immediately

12.5% Under 2 minutes

12.5% Under 3 minutes

50% Under 5 minutes

12.5% Under 10 minutes

(100% of babies were asleep in under 10 minutes)

 

When Did Your Baby Start To Sleep Through The Night?

6% Under 6 weeks

31% 6 weeks

6% 10 weeks

19% 2 - 3 months

19% 4 months

19% not sure

(81% before 4 months)

 

If The Baby Slept At Night In The Hammock, How Many Hours Do They Usually Sleep Without Interruption?

40% All night

20% 5-6 hours

20% 3-4 hours

10% 2-3 hours

10% Not sure

 

Did Their Babies Get Flat Head Syndrome (Plagiocephaly) Whilst Using The Hammock?

100% No

 

What Kind Of Blankets Did Their Use Whilst Using The Hammock?

26% Cotton sheets

18% Cuddle Rugs

18% Muslin Wraps

18% Wool Blankets

9% Merino Blankets

4% Aercell Wool Blankets

4% Sleeping Bags

4% Fleece Blanket

 

Did Their Babies Like Bouncing Or Swaying Or Both In Their Hammocks?

87% Both

6% Bouncing

6% Swaying

 

How Many Children Have Used Their Hammock?

56% One

31% Two

12.5% Three

 

Have They Purchased A New Hammock For Each Baby?

94% No

6% Yes

 

Did They Find The Hammock Body Easy To Wash?

75% Yes

25% Have not washed it yet

 

Did They Find The Mattress Easy To Wash?

62.5% Yes

19% Have not washed it yet

19% No

 

Did Their Pets Or Other Children Play With The Hammock Or Jump Up On It?

99% No

1% Yes (100% older kids were helpful in bouncing baby to sleep)

 

Were You Happy With The Purchase Price?

100% Yes

 

Have They Told Others About Their Purchase?

100% Yes

If So, How Many?

50% Everyone I know and plenty of strangers

31% 6-10 People

19% 1-5 People

 

On A Scale Of Must Haves For Baby (1 Being Unnecessary And 10 Being The Product They Cant Live Without), Where Did They Place Our Baby Hammock?

25% 10

25% 9

19% 8

19% 6

12.5% 7

6% 5

 

On A Scale Of 1-10 (1 Being Not Satisfied And 10 Being Very Satisfied), How Satisfied Were They With Our Baby Hammock?

69% 10

12.5% 9

12.5% 6

6% 8

6% 5

 

Would They Buy As Baby Hammock Again Or As A Present For Someone Else?

96% Yes

4% No (not able to afford)

We take security very seriously. We use state of the art security including the latest 'Verified by Visa' and 'Mastercard SecureCode' which are the online versions of Chip and Pin. If your bank is a member of these security systems they may redirect you to their own banking site to register your card.

  We have extremely high quality control standards, with each production order undergoing stringent tests and quality checks by both the manufacturer and an independent quality control assessment company.

We don’t expect any products to have a fault. However, sometimes things are beyond our control. If your order arrives with a faulty product please contact us, at hello@countingsheepco.com.au  within 14 days of purchase and we will happily exchange or refund your product. 

We have a 24 month warranty on all parts, excluding the mattress.

All the fabrics are made of 100% cotton. The mattress outer is made of wool. Inside the mattress it is a synthetic polyfill, which has been selected as it is soft, does not compact, is easy to wash and dry and is aerated so is breathable for your baby.

Yes, all parts can be washed and ironed beautifully. There are care labels on the hammock and mattress, and also in the instruction booklet and website.

By taking centuries-old techniques, combined with modern designs, the Miyo Baby Hammock mimics the environment of the womb to help the baby feel safe, relaxed and so able to fall asleep.

The design has been proven to help babies sleep.

• Natural womb-like environment designed specifically for night and day sleeping
• Teaches babies to self-soothe and establish good sleeping patterns
• Gets baby to sleep in record time:
  • Over one third of babies sleep through the night by 6 weeks old 1
  • 4 out of five babies sleep through by 4 months old 2
  • Over 95% of babies asleep within 10 minutes 3
• Relieves symptoms of colic and reflux
• Spine held in a neutral position with the weight evenly distributed 4
• Prevents flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly)
• Keeps your baby in the correct position as recommended for SIDS prevention
• Helps stimulate memory and brain development
• One of most compact and lightweight travel cots available
• 3 ways to suspend the hammock giving flexibility, portability and space-saving options and great value
• Exceeds safety standards in UK, Europe, USA, Japan, New Zealand and Australia

As a travel cot - take me anywhere!

The travel adaptor enables you to use the hammock without the frame. Simply attach it to the top of a standard door frame and secure the door open with the included wooden stopper. The more weight pulling down on the adaptor, the stronger it holds.

The Travel Adaptor is a quick, easy way to make the hammock into a full travel cot. It weighs less than 6lbs (2.5kg) and folds down to fit into a change bag. Suspending the hammock takes less than 30 seconds and your baby is in their own bed wherever you are. You might be next door with a friend for a coffee or in a different time zone but your baby is in their own familiar bed that they know and love.

_______________________________________________________________

1 + 2 + 3 Survey from 2008 of 63 parents using Miyo Baby Hammock for up to a year.

4Dr Keith Hammond, DC

The hammock is designed to keep your baby very safe and secure. They way they lie in it means that whilst they have free movement of their arms and legs it is nearly impossible to roll onto their front, let alone crawl out. A good way to understand this is to imagine how difficult it is for an adult to sit up in a hammock!

 Please see the question "When should a baby be transferred into a cot from the Miyo Baby Hammock? What signs should I look for?" as this gives full details.

We have a suggested age range for use of the hammock from birth through to between 6 and 9 months old. This is to give you a realistic expectation for how long your baby will use the hammock but be conscious that the point at which a baby should be taken out of the hammock and put into a cot with bars will be slightly different for all babies as they all develop at different rates.

It is important to note that the weight of a baby is not a factor in how long you can use it; it is dependant upon their strength and co-ordination.

The European safety standards say that ‘when a baby is able to sit up or kneel they must be moved into a bed with bars’ and we would strongly recommend that they are moved before this point. From a safety point of view, it is very important to monitor your baby to see how they sleep and move in the hammock when they wake up. The hammock is designed for sleeping and once your baby wakes up, they should be taken out of it and not left in it to play.

Signs to look for as your baby grows:

As your baby grows and develops greater co-ordination they will be able to move about in the hammock. In our experience, most parents tend to get around 3 weeks notice that their baby is becoming strong enough to move around and this should be taken as notice to prepare a cot for them, although the time may be shorter. As babies sleep so well in the hammock there can be a temptation to keep them in it, however safety must always be a priority and as soon as you think your baby may be able to crawl, sit or kneel in it you must move them into a cot.

In general, when you first put a small baby in the hammock, they will be able to move their arms and legs freely but not be able to move any more than that.

Usually from around 5 – 6 months they will become stronger and be able to grip the sides of the hammock.

As they get older and even stronger, they will start to experiment with their bodies and try to start to pull themselves up into a sitting position. This is a critical point to be aware of and they should be moved into a cot as soon as you see this behaviour.

Other behaviour to look for is that once strong enough to grip the sides of the hammock and pull, that they try to move downwards in the hammock. Again this is a critical developmental point and they should be moved into a cot.

It is very rare that you would need to move a baby from their hammock before 6 months old and we have had babies born at 10lbs stay safely until well after our suggested age range. All babies are different but safety is the most important aspect. If you have any questions about this, please contact us. 

The maximum recommended weight is 15kg, however it has been tested to 125kg. It is important to note that weight is not the main factor for how long a baby uses a Miyo Baby Hammock. As a brief overview, babies will stay in the hammock until they are about 9 months old and will then sleep in a cot. Please see the question "When should a baby be transferred into a cot from the Miyo Baby Hammock? What signs should I look for?" as this gives full details.