LONDON: It’s a dream come true for tired mums – a revolutionary new cot mattress that mimics the feeling of being in the womb to keep babies happy at night. Invented by British mother-of-six Linda Harding, the Easidream mattress features a series of inflatable cushions that, when placed under an existing mattress, reduce baby settling time by up to 90%. The pillows are gently filled with air, and then deflate again, simulating rocking. And a cuddly sheep strapped to the cot plays the sound of a mother’s heartbeat along with a selection of sounds such as a vacuum cleaner and music. The movement of the pillows also encourages babies to sleep on their backs, which is recommended as the safest position for babies under the age of six months, according to the Daily Mail. Harding, 44, who struggled to get her youngest child Bradley to sleep as a baby, said: “Sleep deprivation is exhausting. This product would be a godsend for me, so I want it to help other parents.” Now researchers at the University of Brighton have also developed a prototype. The product will be presented at the Baby Show in London in October. Jeanne Tarrant, of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “Babies do respond to hearing their mother’s heartbeat or white noise and it usually puts them to sleep. Rocking can also help. Anything that reminds them of being in the womb is helpful.”
