As I approach the final weeks of my pregnancy I feel like I may be going a little bit nuts buying ALL the things ready for the big day. When you’re prepping for a new arrival and you’re a first time mum it can be hard to know what you actually need for your unborn baby, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed and go totally overboard!

To lend me a helping hand (and stop me from hoarding!!) a wonderful friend sent me a list of all the “must-have” baby things that she found most and least useful when her little girl arrived two years ago. On that list was a baby nest; something I’d never even known about until she sent me that list, and she absolutely raved about it!

This baby nest was gifted to me by Kally Sleep, in exchange for a review. My opinions are entirely my own. I also want you to know that this blog post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase through some of the links I provide I can earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

My Kally Sleep Baby Nest Review

I’d already had my eye on Kally Sleep’s products for a while - most especially their pregnancy pillow, which I was considering purchasing in the second trimester when I was struggling with insomnia. Although I never got a pregnancy pillow in the end (I found a regular pillow between my knees worked just fine) I was thrilled to discover they also stocked a baby nest! Not only this, but their baby nests are EPIC: this is an award-winning baby nest, it’s designed by sleep-safety experts and it has rave reviews - mums LOVE it, and when mine arrived in the mail I could see why.

Here are a few my favourite things about it:

• The fabric is lightweight and breathable.

• I have the grey version, which is a more of an off-white and the grey is very subtle. The baby nest also comes in white and pink but this kind of neutral colour was exactly was I was looking for.

• It can be used upto 8 months, so it’s a great long-term investment.

• It’s big but lightweight and not bulky. It has handles on either side and folds in on itself so it’s easy to transport - ideal for use in different rooms. I like that I can be in any part in the house doing what I need to do and know that my baby is near by and comfortable.

• Velcro straps release at the bottom transforming it into a portable changing mat too.

• You can purchase spare covers.

• Frankly, it’s so cosy looking I wish I could fit in it!

Get 20% off your Kally Sleep Baby Nest

Bump & Flow is my prenatal yoga space with over 15 hours of intentional and intelligently designed prenatal yoga classes suitable for all levels. When you purchase Bump & Flow lifetime access for just £35 you have access to 20% off all Kally Sleep products, including their award-winning baby nest.

Okay, but are Baby Nests safe?

My safety-googling is truly out of control! And I don’t think this is a trait unique to me - we all want to take the very best care of our babies, we all want them to be as safe and as comfortable as possible, and when you google “Baby Nest safety” you may (or may not) be surprised to see quite a lot of kickback from the internet!

That’s because, in 2018 the Lullaby Trust issued a safety warning against baby nests. They state that, in order to reduce the risk of SIDS, babies should only sleep on firm, entirely flat, waterproof surfaces.

It’s important to remember that this is a blanket statement for baby sleeping safety; there are no independent safety standards for baby nests so at the moment they fall under the same baby sleeping guidance as cots, beds, baskets and the like. The Trust also acknowledges that “while there is a British Standard for cot mattresses, there is no standard for pods or nests as a sleeping place for babies.”

Safety guidelines when using your Baby Nest

It’s been my experience that the mums who use baby nests love them and, like any other product out there, when it comes to safety during use I really do believe it’s a case of educating yourself and mitigating the risks, rather than driving yourself totally mad trying to eliminate them all together.

Here are a few helpful guidelines for the safe use of baby nests from Made For Mums…

• Always follow the instructions when using a pod or nest

• Never use loose bedding or let anything cover your baby’s face

• Don’t let your baby sleep in a pod or nest unsupervised. That means only using them for daytime naps when your baby is with you and you can regularly monitor them.

• Always place a pod or nest on a flat, firm and stable surface. Don’t tilt or raise any part of it

• Keep your baby in the same room as you

• Regularly check that your baby has not moved their face into the side padding and is not overheating

• If your baby needs more warmth than their sleepsuit/clothes, use a lightweight baby sleeping bag

• Position your baby with their feet at the foot of the pod or nest, giving as much space as possible between your baby’s head and the padded sides

• And, of course, always put your baby to sleep on their back

Made for Mums also reminds us that although SIDS is of course very worrying, it’s also very rare. There were 198 cases of SIDS in England and Wales in 2018 (the latest available figures) – that’s 0.03% of the 656,379 live births in England and Wales. Cases of SIDS have been reducing since 1991.

That’s all for now, friends. I hope you and your little one love your Kally Sleep Baby Nest as much as I do!

Kat xx