Parents prepared to pay any price for a decent night of sleep

DESPERATE sleep-deprived parents are paying triple the retail price online to secure a doll, hailed as a miracle soother for unsettled babies.

Tommy May, 11 months, of Everton Hills, loves sleeping with his Lulla Doll. Picture: Liam Kidston

DESPERATE sleep-deprived parents are paying triple the retail price online to secure a Lulla Doll, hailed as a miracle soother for unsettled babies.

The dolls, with simulated breathing and a heartbeat, are flying off the shelves worldwide and in Queensland thousands are on a waiting list. In New Zealand supplies sold out in two days. Facebook is ablaze with parents trying to track down the dolls.

Australian stockist Michelle Green said the last shipment of 5000 had gone as she sold hundreds of the dolls per day. “The main reason parents are buying is to get toddlers out of their beds into their own,” she said.

Queensland child sleep consultant Amanda Bude said there was no magic bullet for settling children and up to 40 per cent had underlying sleep issues, but agreed the success stories were hard to ignore. “Nothing can replace loving human contact, but this doll might be coming in a close second best,” she said.

Three mums from Iceland created the Lulla Doll as a sleep companion for premmies, babies and toddlers. The doll has velcro straps to attach safely to a cot, until the baby is old enough to cuddle. The soothing heartbeat sound plays for eight hours and increases the child’s wellbeing, lowers stress and lessens crying.

“Children have a basic calming reflex that needs to be turned on to help them feel safe and calm to drift off to sleep. The breathing and heartbeat is part of that,” Ms Bude said.

Brisbane mum Rhianon May ordered her doll in March and it finally arrived a couple of days ago. She paid $95 retail but some eBay sales are hitting $300.

“I’m almost scared to jinx it but my 11 month old Tommy is now sleeping all night and taking two hour naps during the day. He previously struggled to settle himself and whinged a lot. So far it seems to be a miracle. A baby is close to the heartbeat in the womb and it makes sense to continue this in the early months,” she said.

Brisbane mum Rhianon May with her son Tommy.