Rock and Play Sleeper Question

Hi...sorry to crash, but I was looking into registering for a Rock and Play Sleeper due to the rave reviews parents give it (i.e. sleep better, etc). As I was researching it online, I see a lot of parents do not recommend it because there is a hard plastic piece right behind where the baby's head would lie, and it caused many babies to have flat heads, thus requiring the use of a helmet. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
-We will also have a portacrib in our bedroom for the baby to sleep in.

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

Thats interesting and never thought of that...we have the rock and play and used it since birth, she did have a moderate flat head but the Dr. said it was because she had tortocollis (kind of a stiff neck) when we noticed the flat head we would put DD on her side as much as we could.

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

DS is only 2 weeks old, but I've seen no probs with it. I leave him in there for maybe 90 mins at a time max, but it is awesome when I can't get him to sleep in the middle of the night!

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

Great question. I am researching this as well but this is my 2nd pregnancy. DS slept so well in the FP Lamb Seat (up until he was 1) but even though it's mobile, it's low the ground which is why I would have liked to get the Rock and Play Sleeper. Because of some of the poor reviews with the shape of the head, I'm thinking of just using the lamb seat again this time around. When DS had a hard time sttn we would put him in his lamb seat and stick that in the portacrib in our room!

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

My DS slept in the rock n play for 2 months before I transfered him to the crib. Personally, I don't really think the area behind his head is any harder then his crib mattress. Mine doesn't have a plastic piece where his head is, but the material is pulled tightly so that there are no wrinkles and what not....

Personally...I LOVED IT!! He still uses every now and then (he's 7months) when he takes a bottle. He holds it on his own now, but i'll put him in it just for the incline when he is eating. He has a hard time holding the bottle if he is sitting upright...

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

I had these concerns as well when I first started putting DS in it. I bought a head support and put it in there and now his head stays straight and it has a small opening in the back to prevent flat heads. DS will be one month on Tuesday and has been sleeping in it since we brought him home. And, he doesn't have a flat head at all

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

DS slept in there for a long time and definitely has a flat spot which I want checked out even though ped. says he's fine

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

we used it for short periods of time. IF we went out to my dads we used it was a place for DS to sleep.

Anything can cause a flat hear if used to long.

Our dr. said the culprits of the Torticollis (sp) is the swing, car seat and not switching your babies head with he or she sleeps.

So I don't feel the rock and play will cause it but if you use it all day and all night long yes.

we loved ours

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

I didn't have this because it wasn't out with my boys but I plan on getting it for sure.

I think that with anything you have to watch out for flathead. Both of my boys slept in a bassinet and had slight flathead in the beginning. They can also get flathead when you feed them on the same arm all the time or when they are in the same position in the swing or bouncy. You have to really make a conscious effort to change their positions up. If they are sleeping try to turn their head a different way then the one they favor. If you are feeding them switch arms from time to time. There is also something called the Noggin Nest that you can put inside things like carseat, bouncy, etc if you see the onset of flathead.

It's very very common in the beginning but once the baby starts to sit upright more, and is able to go into more upright toys the flathead usually corrects itself.

Hope that helps - I say get the Rock and Play Sleeper

Message edited 4/9/2011 8:59:27 AM.

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

Message edited 4/9/2011 8:57:16 AM.

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

I was also concerned after reading reviews. But we used it for about 2 months at night and although she does have a slight flat spot, the ped says it's normal and most babies get it now from being on their back so much(whether they are in crib/rocker/etc.) I did put a receiving blanket folded up behind her head (you can slip it in btwn the fabric and the hard piece.)

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

Since day 1, I've used a thick fleece blanket, to make it more plush and comfy for her. It's very soft now and she likes laying/sleeping in there. It's def easier on her head with this blanket in there.

Re: Rock and Play Sleeper Question

DS slept in that stupid thing until he was 8 months old.

While it got me literally HUNDREDS of hours of sleep.. DS got used to sleeping upright. Transitioning him to the crib was a NIGHTMARE, and he went from sleeping 12-15 hours a night in the rock n play to waking up every 4 hours in his crib.


While I loved it at the time, it definitely created some bad habits and we are paying for it now. But if I had to do it again I would.. because it allowed all of us to get some much needed rest.

As far as his head being flat.. I noticed it got a little flat after a couple of months.. so I just put a blanket in there under him. Nothing serious.. and the Dr never even noticed. His head is back to normal now but his hair is still growing in in the back.

HTH.