Collections & Our Stores Sign up for our emailsThe page you requested cannot be found.I’m not a sleep expert or a baby whisperer or any of the other people who might actually want to consult to learn the secrets to sleep. I am a mom to a 12-week-old living in a one-bedroom apartment and a bunch of you have asked about where and how we put Faye to sleep, so here’s an answer.Before Faye was born, one of the very few baby supplies that we purchased was a Moses basket. Because I try to keep things as affordable and simple as possible, we opted for a no-frills, organic basket that didn’t come with a mattress or liner. To cozy it up a bit, we purchased an organic cotton futon. (Note: Check dimensions when ordering a futon and request a custom size if need be.) The futon is a nice base, but actually quite thin, so for the first few weeks we folded up a wool blanket and put the mattress down on top of that. When Faye received a sheepskin as a gift, we began to use that on top of the futon instead.* Faye sleeps in her basket in our bedroom at night.** When she was very tiny and waking up multiple times each night to feed, we slept with her in the bed between us to make middle-of-the-night feedings more tolerable, but we moved her into the basket fairly quickly.
Our tiny bedroom means there’s only room for a double bed, so there’s not a ton of extra space for another human between the sheets, snuggly though she is. Maybe more importantly, Faye seems to be cozy and comfortable in her basket, so for now we’re sticking to that. (In the name of simplicity and space-saving, we opted not to get a stand for the basket, but it wasn’t for a lack of options.)During the day, we take the sheepskin out of the basket so she can loll on the floor and coo at various things on ground level. When I take a shower, I pop her back into the basket. You know, because she might suddenly learn to roll over and scoot about while I’m shampooing. No matter the logic, the basket feels like a safe spot for her to hang out in by herself. When she’s ready for her mid-morning nap (this should probably read if she takes a mid-morning nap) we put her back into her basket and into our bedroom. She tends to sleep more peacefully with the curtain drawn and in the relative quiet of that room (jackhammers, screaming children, and impatient cabbies loitering outside our apartment, please take note.)
As Faye grows, we’ll likely transfer her to a crib, but like most things, we’re taking this bed stuff slowly, so that conversation will have to come later.I think that about covers it.*My sister’s mother-in-law gave Faye her sheepie. She’s mother to six, grandmother to ten (soon-to-be 11!) and something of a sheepie connoiseur. She recommends always opting for the shorn sheepskin and ordering from a reliable source that doesn’t overly process the skins in tanning. Ours is made by Kaiser and imported from Germany.See more Baby Proof posts RIGHT THIS WAY. Quick Overview:Greenbuds 100% Organic Cotton Fitted Mattress Pad is the purest you can get in a supremely water-resistant mattress protector. Quilted with triple layer of GOTS-certified organic cotton for improved water resistance and additional comfort. 100% breathable and hypo-allergenic. GOTS certified organic cotton Toxin & allergen free Naturally water resistant through superior weave technology How to choose the best mattress for your baby
When you’re buying nursery furniture for babies and toddlers, ensuring that you pick a decent mattress will help to keep your baby cosy and comfortable overnight, and will also ensure that he’s sleeping safely, reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death. There are four types of mattress for your baby’s bed. The cheapest is foam, followed by sprung or coiled, then pocket sprung, and finally – and most expensive – natural fibre. Moses basket and crib mattresses range from around £8 to £30, while mattresses for cots and cot beds cover a scale from £20 to £450 or more. Of the four types of baby mattress, foam mattresses are the most economical buy. They’re usually made of a single layer of foam, which should be 8-10cm thick for comfort, with a waterproof fabric cover that can often be unzipped and machine-washed so it’s easy to keep clean. Some have ventilation holes at one end, although this isn’t necessary. They’re a good-value option, but can make babies feel rather clammy and sweaty in bed;
your baby’s weight may also lead to a permanent indentation developing in the spot where he sleeps. Sprung or coiled mattresses are made up of coiled springs arranged vertically next to each other inside the mattress. These are then topped with foam or felt, and all encased in a fabric mattress cover, which usually has one waterproof, wipe-clean side. They’re a little more expensive than foam mattresses, but are firmer and tend not to mould to your baby’s shape. However, the springs can sometimes be felt through the surface of the mattress, which could compromise your baby’s comfort. Pocket sprung mattresses are also filled with springs, but they’re enclosed in individual fabric compartments. They’re comfortable, supportive and hold their shape well, but they are among the most expensive mattresses on the market.Finally, natural-fibre mattresses are filled with fibres such as coir (coconut fibres), coated in latex rubber for extra durability. These mattresses don’t get deformed by your baby’s weight so they generally last a long time, which could make them a wise investment if you’re buying a cot bed that converts to a junior bed that your baby can use for several years.
The natural fibres also let air circulate so your baby doesn’t get so hot and sweaty. However, they are expensive and aren’t as widely available as other types of mattress.Some baby mattresses have a hypoallergenic covering that can be unzipped and machine-washed. This helps to prevent allergic reactions caused by dust mites, pet hair and other allergens. Baby mattresses come in different sizes to fit Moses baskets, cribs, cots and cot beds, but it’s important that you carefully check the dimensions before you buy. Not all baby beds are regular sizes – for example, cots come in standard and continental sizes – and it’s essential that you buy a mattress that fits the bed snugly to prevent your baby getting an arm or leg trapped between the mattress and the side of the bed. You can get mattresses made to measure if your cot is an unusual size, but this can work out as quite an expensive option. Cot mattresses should meet the safety standard BS 1877-10:1997, so always check this out, especially if you’re buying online from a lesser-known retailer.