"As I approached the end of my pregnancy, I wanted to know from friends — from mom friends, specifically — what item they just couldn't live without. Not what was the most Instagrammable or the cheapest (certainly those things are important, no doubt) but what single thing made their life easier . . . made Earth keep rotating. There was no hesitation in their voices, no moment of uncertainty when they had to think it through. The answer poured right out of their mouths like syrup: Dockatot ($175).
I wanted to find out why so many moms loved it, and why there were just as many experts advising against using it. The distinction to me seemed to be in how it was being used. As a co-sleeper, I could see why parents were being cautious about bringing it into their beds. But the product passed numerous safety tests and has clear warnings indicating how misuse can potentially lead to suffocation. I didn't plan on misusing it.
I wasn't going to put it in the crib, or rely on it as a main sleeping device. I wanted to "dock" my daughter in it so that I could get things done. I wanted a place where she could fall asleep (under supervision) that would be easy to move her around so that I had the freedom to move around too.
I made a rule that I'd never fall asleep if she was in it.
From day 1, my baby loved being in the soft, cushiony DockaTot. I think something about the pillowy sides created a womb-like environment. She napped in it safely, and I always kept an eye on her to keep her face out of the side structures. Sometimes she'd nestle her head too close for my comfort and I'd rotate her face away so that I could see her nose or mouth easily. Hardly an inconvenience. She was happy. I was happy." — RB