Does the Lulla doll really help babies sleep better?

I’ve been getting many questions about the Lulla Doll ever since it launched in South Africa.

Many moms want to know if the Lulla Doll really does work?

In my opinion, Yes and No. I am going to explain…

This product has done phenomenally well worldwide and in South Africa already.

But the big question is why?!

Can a doll really get my child to sleep better?

Firstly, The Lulla Doll is not just a doll.

For those of you wondering why the name Lulla? Lulla means “nap” in Iceland.

The doll was created by a start-up company called Roro which was founded by three Icelandic mothers.

To be honest, I was very confused when I heard moms going crazy over this “doll”. To me, it seemed overpriced and looked like another stuffed doll that I didn’t want to add to the kid’s toy box.

I was never a big fan of sleep aid products except for the swaddled blankets because the truth is half of them don’t work. My first two kids were bad sleepers and they refused several sleep aids/companions which I spent a lot of money on. I ended up co-sleeping and survived the first year on 4 to 5 hours of sleep per night.

When I heard about the Lulla Doll, my first impression was: “Here, we go again, another gimmick sleep aid product to lure the sleep-deprived moms.” We all know how desperate us moms can get to have a few extra hours of sleep at night.

But I was curious. I wanted to know more especially since a mom at Kitana’s swimming classes kept on raving about it.

What is the Lulla Doll?

The Lulla doll is an Icelandic innovation & was designed as a sleep companion to give babies comfort and a feeling of closeness when their parents need to be away.

“There can be many reasons why parents can’t keep their little ones close. There are everyday situations where babies could benefit from an added feeling of closeness, for example for comfort in the car, to help them self-soothe or as a sleeping companion when mom and dad are still awake. There are also more serious reasons like illness and hospitalization of parents and babies. Indeed, the idea of the Lulla doll was born when my friend had her baby girl prematurely and had to leave her alone in the hospital every night for two weeks. That really struck a chord with me and it was then that I decided to bring the Lulla doll to life.”

– Eyrún founder of Roro

The Look

The neutral look and colors of the Lulla doll were chosen to make the doll a suitable companion for all children, regardless of gender and race. Research also tells us that babies prefer to look at things that have human facial features. The pink on Lulla is the lips and the heart outline which is where you press Lulla to activate the sound.

The Sound

When the chest is pressed, Lulla plays a real-life recording of the breathing and heartbeat of a mother at rest for up to 8 hours. Her name is Gudrun, she is a mother of four and a kundalini yoga teacher. The sound is set on a safe volume of 65dB.

I know this sounds freaky, right? The first day I put Lulla on, I woke up in the middle of the night sweating! Ha-ha!

The Touch

The outer layer of the Lulla doll is made from a soft natural cotton blend. The doll is machine washable at warm temperatures, making it safer for small babies with underdeveloped immune and respiratory systems.

The Smell

The doll can absorb scent from caregivers if they first keep it close to their skin before giving it to their child for added feeling of comfort and security.

We introduced the Lulla doll to Kirav when he was a few days old. Ever since then, we’ve been using the Lulla doll or a white noise app when he’s asleep.

Want a Lulla doll? Shop now! 

What I love about The Lulla Doll:

Honestly, I was really surprised when I received my doll because I expected “her” to be bigger than she actually is but then after letting her sleep next to my newborn baby, I realized that she is a perfect size.

I absolutely love the touch and feel of Lulla. All my kids have been obsessed with her at some stage. She’s cuddly and smell’s a lot like mommy. 😉 Yes, you have to WEAR Lulla for a while so your scent can rub off on the doll.

The sound at first scared me but it really DOES work! Kitana, Kiaan, and Kirav fell asleep with Lulla on. Kirav still uses it every day during nap time and at night.

What don’t I like?

• Some days it works like magic for my kids and then there are other days when nothing happens… I’ve noticed it works best for Kirav at night because of how loud it is when the surroundings are quiet.
• It’s hard traveling with the doll to noisy places like the mall or in the car because you are never going to hear the sound.
• The battery life is a big con for me right now. Since we use it all the time, we need loads of batteries. The reusable batteries do help but it also becomes frustrating. A little birdie told me that the brand is working on improving this feature. The Lulla doll needs a charging component – something like how a smartwatch works.
• The button can be hard to press to switch Lulla on and off.
• The price is a bit steep.

BASED ON RESEARCH:

The Lulla dolls’ unique design is based on multiple scientific research on closeness, kangaroo care, the effects of heartbeat and breathing sounds, and the effects that smell, sight, and touch have on babies and small children. The brand also relied on advice from a team of doctors, nurses, and psychologists during the development.

The positive effects of closeness suggested by multiple scientific research are:

♥ Longer periods of uninterrupted sleep

♥ More stable heartbeat and breathing rhythm

♥ Reduced chances of pane and SIDS

♥ Increased well-being and lowered stress

♥ Healthier sleeping patterns

My last thoughts?

Don’t expect this to be a magic trick because it isn’t. The Lulla Doll really does work but there’s still that 1% chance that it might not work for your child especially if you don’t follow the instructions properly. You really need to spend some time getting to know the doll and how it works. I personally love the product but I am looking forward to an upgraded version of it.

To find out more about how to introduce Lulla to your child, visit www.dudubabacompany.co.za.

To purchase your Lulla doll, visit www.dudubabacompany.co.za

Images and info credit: Lulla doll website.