A cot mattress that mimics the womb

LONDON: It's a dream come true for tired-out-moms - a revolutionary recent cot mattress which mimics the sensation of the womb to keep babies happy at night.

The Easidream mattress, invented by a British mother- of-six, Lynda Harding, has a series of inflatable pads which when placed under the existing mattress, reduces the time to settle babies by up to 90%.

The pads gently fill with air and then deflate again, mimicking a rocking motion. And, a cuddly toy sheep clipped to the side of the cot broadcasts the sound of mother's heartbeat along with a choice of sounds like vacuum cleaner and music.

Key Highlights

• The pads gently fill...
• ...

The motion of the pads also encourages babies to sleep on their backs, recommended as the safest position for babies under six months old, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

44-year-old Harding, who battled to get her youngest child Bradley to sleep as a baby, said: "Sleep deprivation is draining. This product would have been a godsend for me so I'd like to see it help other parents."

Now, researchers at the University of Brighton have also developed a prototype. The product will be launched at the Baby Show in London in October.

Jeanne Tarrant, from the Royal College of Midwives, said: "Babies do respond to hearing their mother's heartbeat or white noise and it usually sends them to sleep. A rocking motion can also help. Anything that reminds them of being in the womb is useful."