Moses baskets, made from woven material, have great visual appeal. Named for the type of basket Moses' mother might have put him in to float down the river, these baskets are similar to a bassinet but often feature a handle for carrying. You can safely put your baby into a Moses basket only if you take certain precautions while using it and only if you're watching your baby at all times. strongly recommends against using them at all. All infants should sleep only on their backs on a firm surface; the American Academy of Pediatrics states that this position reduces the risk of crib death by more than 50 percent. Soft bedding poses a serious suffocation risk for young babies. If you use a Moses basket, place a firm mattress, not soft blankets, on the bottom to support your baby. The mattress must fit tightly to the sides. Because they're made from woven material, the sides of Moses baskets have more "give" than harder material. If you can fit two fingers between the mattress and the side of the basket, it's too loose and poses a suffocation threat, according to the National Safety Council.
Infants don't need and shouldn't use pillows; a warm sleeper is safer than blankets in the basket. The material used to make Moses baskets won't hold up to the weight of an older infant. Your basket's manufacturer should state a specific weight limit, which might be as low as 15 pounds. Putting a heavier baby in the basket could weaken the material, breaking it. If you're carrying your baby in the basket, he could fall through to the floor. Stop using the basket when your baby reaches the weight limit, rolls over or turns 4 months old. It's tempting to put the Moses basket on a table or countertop so you can keep your baby away from pets or other children. But this is an unsafe practice. If your baby moves, he could roll the basket off the surface and onto the floor or roll out of the basket, so it's best to keep the basket on the floor. Moses baskets don't come with seat belts, so carrying your baby in one increases the risk of falls. A 2001 BBC News article noted that the basket handles were often too short, making it difficult for a parent to carry without dropping it.
A weakened handle could also break, causing the basket to fall to the floor. Never carry the baby in the basket; if you move from room to room, carry the basket and baby separately. Don't use a Moses basket as a nighttime sleep environment for your baby, since you won't be able to keep an eye on him at all times. Never put a Moses basket inside the crib for nighttime sleeping; your baby could roll out of the basket and suffocate in bedding in the crib. Loose bedding and suffocation causes two-thirds of crib deaths in bassinets each year, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week Training to Dunk a Basketball When Should a Baby Be Moved From a Bassinet to a Crib? Different Kinds of Basketball Dunks How to Get a Baby to Sleep in a Bassinet
How Do I Successfully Transition My Baby From a Bassinet to a Cot? How to Arrange a Master Bedroom to Include Crib & Baby Storage The Disadvantages of Mini Cribs Should Babies Sleep in Playpens? Is a Bouncer Harmful to a Baby's Development? How to Jump Higher to Slam Dunk How to Dunk a Basketball for Short People How to Set the Time on a Baby G Watch How to Drive to the Basket Strong How to Slam Dunk if You Can Touch the Net Beach Basket Gift Ideas Huffy Bicycle Weight Limits How to Cross Someone Up in Basketball Basketball Rules on Assists1 1 Facebook PinterestMarty Baldwin The Changing TableThis is one piece of furniture for the nursery you can definitely skip. It takes up valuable space in your baby's room, and it can be a pricey. And the reality is that with all of the diapers you'll be changing throughout the day, you probably won't be going to the nursery every time Baby needs a change, especially if you have stairs in your home;
you'll be doing it where it's most convenient.If you'd like a changing area, buy a changing pad and secure it onto a low dresser, which you can use even when your child is out of diapers.2 2 Facebook PinterestBryan McCay Wipe Warmer"I remember being so excited when I got the wipe warmer and proudly plugged it in," says Shannon Duffy, a mom of two from Palm Springs, California. "But it turned out to be one of those things that is pointless. The wipes also seemed to dry out quickly in it, which defeated the purpose."Other reasons to pass it up: Warm, moist environments are ideal breeding grounds for germs, so keeping something that will touch your baby's private areas in that contained space is not a good idea. In addition, 500,000 wipe warmers were recalled between 1997 and 2001 because of electric shock to parents' hands or melting of the product. Finally, a baby who gets used to warm wipes will likely throw a fit when you're out and about and need to change her diaper (unless you're planning on traveling with the warmer at all times).
3 3 Facebook PinterestFancy Photography/Veer Diaper Disposal System"Do you want to keep dirty diapers in your house for a couple of days? I think not!" says Kathi Bertsch, a mom from Owens Cross Roads, Alabama. "If you empty your trash daily, the regular household trash can will suffice. For the poopy diapers, you can flush the solid waste down the toilet and that will take care of most of the problem."Imani Powell-Razat, a mom from New York City, hated her diaper disposal so much she wound up leaving it on the sidewalk! "Old diapers would sit in it as I tended to forget that they were in there. Then I spent time cleaning the thing, which had by then collected a boat load of crummy fumes."), which can seal in wetness and bacteria and keep the household trash odor-free.4 5 Baby Items You Can Live Without 4 Facebook PinterestWin Baby Gear! 5 5 Facebook PinterestMarty Baldwin Special "Baby" DetergentOnce your baby arrives, you'll be spending a lot of time in the laundry room washing piles of spit-up-covered clothes.
Seriously, it never seems to end! Contrary to what you may have heard, you don't need to wash your baby's clothes in a special (and extra expensive) detergent. All you need is a brand that is "free and clear," meaning that it is has no perfumes and dyes that might irritate baby's skin. Choosing a regular free and clear product off the supermarket shelf will save you money and time because you can throw baby's laundry in with the rest of the family's dirty clothes.6 6 Facebook PinterestKathryn Gamble Baby TimersA portable device that keeps track of baby's feeding, changing, and sleeping schedules -- what's not to love? "I thought this was a genius idea before I actually had a baby," says Alison Shields, a mom of two from Fair Lawn, New Jersey. The reality is that you don't need to spend $30 on a timer when you can just as easily keep track of all of those things with a simple pen and paper. //itunes) serve the same purpose at a fraction of the cost.7 7 Facebook PinterestImage Source/ Veer Bassinet"I received a beautiful basinet for my son -- it was stunning and looked gorgeous in his nursery," says Christy Cook, a mom from Toronto, Canada.
"But my son refused to sleep in it! We tried everything to make it appealing and he had no interest. I think investing in a safe crib is more sensible and definitely more cost effective."Samantha Kemp-Jackson, another mom from Toronto, agrees: "While you might save money in the short term by not purchasing a crib, you will eventually have to do it, so why bother with the bassinet?"Still, many moms are torn about the bassinet -- especially if they want your little one in the same room as you during his first few weeks. A Moses basket or a Pack and Play might be a better, more affordable alternative. If you must have a bassinet, see if you can borrow one from a friend or family member -- just make sure the model is still safe by checking on any recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website (cpsc.gov).8 8 Facebook PinterestKathryn Gamble Expensive Crib BeddingYou can make your nursery look stylish without dropping $200 on crib bedding! "My doctor advised me not to put the crib bumpers on the bed, as experts believe that they could contribute to SIDS, and the blanket/quilt that comes with the set is too big and heavy to use with a new baby," says Breanna Welke, a mom from Hastings, MN.
In fact, according to the U.S. Product Safety Commission, crib bumpers have caused a number of death and injuries in babies 2 years old or younger. The study found that many infants lack the motor development needed to free themselves when they become wedged between the bumper pad and another surface. If the pads are too soft, the baby's nose or face can get pressed up against it, causing suffocation. If they are too firm, the baby can climb up on the pads and fall out of the crib.Instead, opt for cute sheets and a crib skirt. If you'd like a bumper, try a breathable one made of mesh, available at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby.Win Baby Gear! 9 9 Facebook PinterestImage Source/Veer High ChairBaby does need a place to eat, but those huge, stand-alone high chairs are costly -- and, again, take up a lot of space in your house. "If I had it to do over again, I would never, ever buy a high chair," says Laura Beck, a mom from Austin, TX. "They are huge and so hard to store between kids. Plus, they just get disgusting, covered with food, and become something you are constantly cleaning, scrubbing, and finding random bits of food stuck to."
Kim Kempinski, a mom of three from Phoenix, AZ, recommends using a Space Saver high chair, which simply attaches to a chair. "It's much cheaper and takes up less room, and you don't have to buy a booster later. We bought a traditional high chair for our firstborn and donated it when the Space Saver came out -- our toddler is still in it."Facebook PinterestScott Little Baby Food Processor"Now, come on, why do I need a special food processor to make baby food?!" Aside from the extra cost, these little appliances clutter up your kitchen counter. A regular mini food processor will do the exact same thing as the baby version, and you can use it well after your little one is off baby food. ), which lots of moms love because it's small and easy to clean.Facebook PinterestBrian Maranan Pineda Diaper BagAlthough you do need something to carry Baby's things around in, what you don't need is one of the super-expensive diaper bags on the market. The truth is, simply marketing something for moms and babies can jack up the price on an item.