The Whisbear “Humming Bear” is a soft toy that is cot-safe from birth & designed to emit white noise that resembles sounds that babies hear within the womb. “Toy of the Year” and a bestseller in Poland, this little guy was gifted to Princess Charlotte and is now breaking ground here in the UK
So what, if anything sets him apart from other sleeptime companions on the market?
So what exactly is he?
I’m calling him a ‘he’ as although I’m at risk of offending the PC brigade, he would better complement a blue / grey bedroom as opposed to a pink one. However he is intended to be gender neutral and, in fairness, babies do have a natural affinity for black, white and grey tones.
It’s also commonly accepted that white noise can be soothing for babies, right?
Well this little fella has a “shushing” / “humming” heart which can be likened to a hairdryer. This noise will mimic sounds that baby has heard in the womb. Nothing new there I hear you say.
Yet Whisbear is more technologically advanced than other white noise devices. In the first instance, the white noise is turned on by squeezing the heart which lives inside the back of his head within a Velcro pocket (obviously mum or dad will do this) - Then, not only does he then last a full 40 minutes to give baby adequate time to drift off, he also has a clever CRYSensor that swoops into action if your child wakes up. It’s also worth pointing out that the volume is adjustable so you turn it up over baby’s cries if they’ve worked themselves into a state.
He’s a quirky looking guy
Whisbear looks a little like a teddy octopus hybrid. He has a charming and baby-friendly face (no plastic eyes or hard bits), yet he also has 4 long textured legs rather than a traditional bear body. These legs (and his ears) are made from colourful and contrasting fabrics and have crinkle paper embedded within - perfect for curious fingers & encouraging early sensory development.
Another great feature is that the ends of the legs (the feet if you will) have hidden magnets in them. This means you can arrange him around cots bars, a pushchair chassis or car seat handle so he doesn’t physically have to be in the cot with baby if he’s proving too much of a distraction. That said, he is perfectly cot-safe and makes an adorable toy in his own right.
He is washable (as the white-noise maker is removable) and made in the EU from safe fabrics and materials. Handily he also comes in his own dustbag so will travel in style on holiday or to grandmas house (just as well as he’s likely to become an integral bedtime companion for your baby). Most notably there’s a real Scandi influence which all connotes a well-made and design-led product - as well as being practical, fun and stylish.
Heidi’s reaction
I won’t kid myself or mislead you by saying this helped with Heidi’s sleeping in any way. But then, nothing does. My daughter is miracle of science and her sleeping problems have been well documented on this blog. In short, Heidi has night terrors, sleepwalks and wakes several times a night screaming and demanding a bottle. Given her case is now firmly in the hands of paediatricians, it would be pretty unfair of me to road test the Whisbear on such an abnormal sleeper.
So I’ve judged this product instead on it’s ability to soothe her mid-tantrum (and Lord knows she’s had enough of these recently!). In fact the Whisbear was invented to combat colic-induced pain, and has been hailed as a 24 hour remedy for calming little ones:
White noise can be used twenty-four hours a day. You`ll want to play it to calm crying episodes and during naps and nighttime sleep. Babies do best with special rumbling white noise. That`s what mimics the womb the best. The right type of white noise - for all naps and nights - is key to better sleep from day one to the first birthday… and well beyond!
Dr Harvey Karp, US-based Paediatrician
So what do I think?
I love him. He’s fantastic for nipping tantrums in the bud, and great as background noise when we read her a story at night. I can also recall a few times in the night where he’s been triggered into action by her whinging and managed to lull her back to sleep without us having to fetch her a bottle. I only wish we’d discovered him sooner as we might have stood a better chance of counteracting her unique set of sleep problems.
Any reservations?
There’s only one design flaw as I see it. That’s that, once he’s started his 40 minute cycle, if he’s in the clutches of your little one, you can’t turn him off. Owing to the fact his heart is in his head, you’ll find it tricky to extricate it and stop the sound.
I also would have preferred a concealed zip for the heart pouch as this is less scratchy and better wearing than velcro. Again a moot point.
Where can I get one?
Whisbear is available in a few different colour ways (although these are very subtle and limited to the fabric on the legs). You can buy your own directly from the Whisbear website at a cost of £39.90.
Do I consider this reasonable?
Yep. Comparing it to Ewan the Dream Sheep (RRP £29.99) and other sound-based baby soothers, you’re getting a lot of added value here. Whisbear’s ergonomic design and textured ears are also more akin to a Lamaze pram toy than a soother. For me, this puts him in two camps - both toy and soother.
Yet you’re really paying for the CRYSensor technology. This is what sets this toy apart and is yet to replicated by other cot toys here in the UK. I never mind paying a premium for cutting edge products that deliver - I believe Whisbear to be one of those products.
Find out more
Facebook: @WhisbearUK / Twitter: @WhisbearUK / YouTube: @Whisbear
Want to win a Whisbear “The Humming Bear”?
If you’d like the chance to win a Whisbear for your little one, follow the instructions below. This giveaway is open to UK residents only & the lucky winner will be contacted via email shortly after the closing date (19/02/2016) - Good luck!
Win an awardwinning Whisbear “Humming Bear” worth £39.90
