The lowdown on bassinets, cradles, and other sleeping spots Important safety notes What it's going to cost you The lowdown on bassinets, cradles, and other sleeping spotsA bassinet or cradle can be a convenient and comfortable sleeping place for your baby during her first few weeks. A crib is fine, of course, but your newborn may feel more at ease in a smaller, cozier space.Other advantages: You can easily move these baby beds from room to room, letting you keep a close watch during naps. At night, you can put the bassinet or cradle right next to your own bed for easy feedings and comforting.In recent years, cradles and bassinets have gained new features: You can buy ones that vibrate, are on wheels, swivel from side to side, or nestle next to your bed for co-sleeping without bed-sharing.Travel cribs that fold into included bags have gained in popularity, as have combination cribs/play yards; both are handy for visits to Grandma’s house. If you’re leaning toward the latter option, here’s our guide on how to buy a play yard.
Meanwhile, products marketed as “sleepers” and “nappers” have proliferated. Typically small and portable, they might look like a cross between a bouncy chair and a bassinet; some resemble a mini hammock on a metal frame. Some are meant to let your baby sleep on an incline, others recline fully. However, pediatricians may have safety concerns about them (see “Important Safety Notes” below).Babies outgrow bassinets, cradles, and sleepers quickly, at which point parents who tried to avoid buying a crib often end up getting one anyway. Play yards, used without the removable bassinet that sometimes comes with them, typically last longer; most are safe for children up to 35 inches tall who can’t yet climb out (a milestone babies reach at different times, but 18 months is typical). That said, removable bassinets that come with play yards usually have a weight limit of around 15 pounds.Browse dozens of bassinets and baskets.Important safety notesAvoid bassinets and cradles with a motion or rocking feature, as these have caused suffocation when babies rolled against the edge.
If you use an heirloom rocking cradle, supervise your infant while in use.As with a crib, a bassinet, cradle, sleeper or play yard should have a firm mattress that fits snugly without any space around the edges so a baby’s head can’t get wedged in and lead to suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics has not yet weighed in on the safety of these products; some pediatricians have warned parents that they are not safe for overnight sleeping. Parents should err on the side of caution and use only products that comply with safe-sleep recommendations.If you have pets or other young children in the house – for instance, a dog who might knock over a bassinet, a cat who might climb in, or a toddler who might try to lift your baby from a bassinet – stick with a crib.Moses baskets, a woven basket with handles, are often lined with puffy fabric, which raises a baby's risk for suffocation or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and are best avoided.What it's going to cost youCradles, bassinets, sleepers, and portable/travel bassinets cost from $30 to $250;
play yards cost from $50 to $300. Download our illustrated guide to bassinets and cradlesA parent’s guide to safe sleep. /English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/A-Parents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx [Accessed May 2016]AAP. /English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/Bassinets-and-Cradles.aspx [Accessed May 2016]Consumer Reports. 13 dangerous baby products to avoid. /cro/2012/05/13-dangerous-baby-products-to-avoid/index.htm [Accessed May 2016]Consumer Reports. /cro/bassinets/buying-guide.htm [Accessed May 2016]When it comes to sleep solutions for a new baby, many parents enjoy being creative and representing their own personal taste through the style of bed that they choose. Moses basket is reminiscent of the biblical tale of baby Moses, who was put into a basket and left in the river in the hopes that he would escape the Pharaoh's slaughter of infants. The basket is typically longer than it is wide, with a raised section at one end that curves over the baby's head, shading its face. Some top baby care brands produce Moses baskets for parents who want to indulge in this cozy alternative to a
Although these baskets are at baby stores, interested buyers should check eBay for the best prices. The Pure Moses Basket from Mothercare is a beautiful, gender-neutral option for parents who want this particular style of baby bed. It features a deep hood for the head at one end of the basket and a smaller hood at the other end, near the feet. Made of woven wicker in pure white, it works well in nurseries of all different color schemes. It comes with a mattress, lining, and quilt. Owners can purchase the Mothercare Rocking Moses Basket Stand separately. The basket works well for babies of 0 to 3 months. Shnuggle Hypoallergenic Moses Basket Families with a history of allergies or sensitivities should consider the Shnuggle Hypoallergenic Moses Basket for their home. It comes with a cream-colored cover or dressing in hypoallergenic cotton, which is washable. Buyers should purchase the Shnuggle stand to accompany this Moses basket. Maison Bebe Daisy Farm Moses Basket
The Daisy Farm Moses Basket from Maison Bebe features natural maize and includes a dressing, quilt, foam mattress, and hood. The filling of the quilt is 100 percent polyester, while the cover is 65 percent cotton and 35 percent polyester. This Moses basket is an ideal baby bed from time of birth until around 5 or 6 months. Olive & Henri Moses Basket The Olive & Henri Moses Basket features the adorable characters Olive the owl and Henri the hedgehog on the baby bedding. Created from natural maize, the basket includes a hood, a comfortable baby mattress, and a pair of handles for transportation when the baby is not inside it. The basket comes with Olive and Henri toys as well. Baroo My Little Stars Moses Basket The woven design and features of the Baroo My Little Stars Moses Basket set it apart from others in its class. Available in dark or white wicker to match the rest of the nursery decor, the basket includes a hood, quilt, foam mattress, and drapes. Each drape, hood, and quilt set is beautifully embroidered, and the mattress is thick and firm for ultimate comfort.
As with most Moses baskets, owners can buy the stand separately. Micuna Smart Mini Cradle The Micuna Smart Mini Cradle has an oval shape without any hood or cover at either end. It is deep for safety and padded for comfort and works for those from infancy to the age of 6 months, Buyers can purchase the curved white stand to go with it, and the basket comes in 30 different color combinations. Unlike many others, the Moba Basket is not woven from natural fibers. Instead, it is made from a synthetic material that is non-toxic, FDA-approved, and hypoallergenic. The material is easy to wipe down and lightweight to carry whenever the baby is not in it. Air holes supply extra ventilation, and the basket comes in a myriad of bright colors. Its design includes a pair of carry handles, a reinforced base, a baby mattress, and a 100 percent brushed cotton liner in pure white. Daisy Lane Moses Basket Daisy Lane Moses Basket is ideal for infant girls up to the age of 3 or 4 months.