New parents in the baby stage know that the sleepless nights get old — fast. That's why when someone has a tip for how to get their little one to sleep (or at least stop crying) they listen. Especially if it's a hack that a fellow mom swears by as working like a charm, exhausted parents take it seriously, which is why one mom's tip is going viral. Despite her rave reviews, however, many find Abigail Rivera Garcia's trick to be dangerous, and it's sparking a debate between parents excited to try it and others who are warning that moms or dads need to seriously think twice first.
Abigail shared a photo of her 2-month-old sleeping soundly with a "fake hand" and people are taking note.
"Saw this and it’s the BEST THING I’VE DONE YET!" the Massachusetts mom shared on Facebook. "She forever wants to be held and now I get my break … Let me tell you it works."
Abigail tells CafeMom that her baby girl, Anayah, was born seven weeks early and is extremely colicky. Because she also suffers from bad reflux, she's "constantly cranky" and always wants to be held. Abigail, who also has a 16-month-old son, was at a loss for what to do. "It got to the point where I couldn’t put her down for more than 10 minutes without her crying," she says.
But then she remembered coming across a tip on Pinterest for how to trick babies into thinking that mom was still there: a rice-filed latex glove placed on their back. Abigail says that Anayah instantly responded to the sensation of mom's hand still there, even when this tired mom couldn't be.
The hack quickly went viral with more than 75,000 shares and 16,000 comments debating it.
"The moment I laid her down and placed the glove on her back, she stopped crying and that was such a relief!" she says.
Not everyone, however, thinks this trick is a good idea, but Abigail doesn't care about any negative comments. "Of course everyone has their own opinions on it — some like it and some don’t — but every mother knows their child," she says. "My daughter loves it and is doing fine. I posted it because I know how hard it is to not have a break due to kids, and if I can help a mom out, I definitely will."
Many parents are obsessed with this and can't wait to try it with their own kids.
"I’m trying it! " one user wrote.
Besides the parents who are excited to use this tip for themselves, thousands have tagged friends to share the idea.
However, others see this as a MAJOR safety risk.
Parents who are worried about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome are pointing out that babies should sleep on their back.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, SIDS, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, refers to any unexpected deaths during a child's first year of life without any explained cause. These deaths typically occur during their sleep, and to help reduce the risk of any sleep-related deaths, parents are advised to follow safe sleep practices. This includes always having baby sleep on his or her back and keeping any soft items out of the crib.
Others are also pointing out the possible choking hazard that the glove presents.
Instead, many people are suggesting that parents make it out of a glove with a sturdier material.
But parents who have tried something similar are standing up for the method.
"This truly works!" one mom wrote. Instead of rice in a glove, she explained that she would put small pillows on her newborn twin daughters' backs when she would need to use the bathroom.
But no matter their position, others want the mom shaming to stop.
And are supporting this mom for doing what she thinks is best for her baby.
"You know what's best for your baby, and you know you would never do anything to hurt her, you go girl," one user commented.
