Inconceivable: Worrying about the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play ... and other reasons for not sleeping

Sleep has been elusive lately for me. Between Restless Leg Syndrome (which I’ve had for 15 years) and just being plain uncomfortable in my third trimester, I’m not resting a lot. I forgot how hard it is to be pregnant. I’m grateful to be pregnant, but I’m still in that final stage where I’m just tired all the time.

Sleep has been an interesting topic of late for my family since the popular Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play was recalled. My son (who is now 6) lived in that thing when he was a newborn. It was the only thing he’d sleep in. He had severe acid reflux that went undiagnosed for his first five weeks of life. All he did was cry, vomit and then repeat. He only got relief when he was eating. The rock ‘n play’s incline helped him (and us) finally get sleep.

When we heard babies had died from Rock ‘n play use, we were devastated. It is so heartbreaking. I think about all the times we used it and how we had a brand new one in our living room still in the box for the new baby.

Some parents urged me to go ahead and use it. Just follow the instructions and always strap the baby into the harness. I just read so many reports about the incline being a problem as well. I just couldn’t take the chance, so we returned the Rock ‘n Play to the store.

I spent hours researching other devices to sit the baby in. What would we use for naps? I have a Pack ‘n Play, so maybe that?? And since my son had also slept in the Rock ‘n Play for the first few months, I knew we needed to start looking at bassinets too.

My head was spinning. Not only was I not sleeping, but neither would my baby if I couldn’t come up with some Rock ‘n Play alternative.

We finally settled on a Halo bassinet and a Tiny Love 3-in-1 Rocker Napper that can be sat up during playtime and leaned down into a flat position for napping. Hopefully, these options will work out for us.

How did the Rock ‘n Play recall affect you? Did you use the device for your children?

Kathy is a mom of one and Out & About editor for WRAL.com. She writes for Go Ask Mom about her experience with secondary infertility, followed by her pregnancy.