Last year over 3 million babies were born in the US. Becoming a parent is an amazing time but it can be overwhelming. Having everything ready for when your baby’s born will relieve a lot of pressure.
Finding the perfect baby bassinet is an absolute must. Newborn babies sleep for around 17 hours every day (although not in one solid block!) This means they’re going to spend a lot of time in their bassinet and it needs to be a good one.
So what should you look for in a baby bassinet? Well, there are a few things to consider. Read on to find out everything you should think about before buying yours!
1. Are Bassinets Safe for Your Baby?
New parents will be bombarded with information about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. This is horrible for any parent to think about but you can reduce the risk for it by creating a safe environment for your baby to sleep in.
Bassinets and cribs are safe for your baby provided that you stick to these newborn bassinet safety guidelines.
- Choose a bassinet with a firm mattress that will support your baby. If the mattress starts to sag then this increases your baby’s risk of SIDS.
- Make sure the mattress fits your baby’s bassinet and doesn’t leave gaps around the side.
- Ensure that any slats around the side of your baby’s bassinet aren’t too far apart. If they are then your baby could get their head stuck.
- Avoid bassinets that have rocking motions. These might seem great to get your baby off to sleep but they increase the chances of your baby rolling in their sleep.
- Always remove excess bedding for your baby’s bassinet.
- Avoid bassinets with excess material around the sides. Instead, you should go for one that has gaps around the sides in case your baby rolls into it.
You should also make sure that you buy a bassinet with a sturdy base. This eliminates the risk of it falling over when your baby removes around.
2. Does It Have a Weight Limit?
There’s no knowing exactly how much a newborn baby will weigh. It can be anything from five ounces to thirteen ounces!
Take this into consideration before buying a bassinet with a weight limit. You don’t want a bassinet that your baby will outgrow in a matter of weeks! And exceeding the bassinet’s weight limit isn’t safe for your baby.
Most bassinets have an upper weight limit for twenty pounds but some only go up to fifteen pounds. This doesn’t give you a lot of use if you end up with a thirteen-pound baby. So make sure you buy a bassinet with some growing room!
3. What’s It Made Of?
What your baby sleeps on or in can have a huge impact on your their health. It’s important to double-check a bassinet’s specifications before you buy it.
The mattress materials, sheets, and bedding all need to be breathable. Ideally, you should go for organic materials such as cotton.
When a baby sleeps in synthetic materials they risk overheating, which is extremely dangerous. So you want to get a chemical free bassinet.
If you choose a painted bassinet, you should also check that this is non-toxic paint as babies love to put everything in their mouths!
4. Should You Buy a Used Bassinet?
In theory, there’s nothing wrong with buying a used bassinet. This can save you money and is eco-friendly.
Once you’ve cleaned it down and replaced the mattress it’ll be like a brand new bassinet. Or jazz it up completely with a new lick of paint!
However, you should only ever let your baby sleep in a bassinet if you know where it’s been. Ideally, buy one off a friend or speak to the previous owner about its history. And, of course, make sure you give it a full deep-clean before putting your little one in it.
5. How Big Does It Need to Be?
Babies all grow at different paces. And, as we’ve already mentioned, some come out bigger than others! So choosing the right size of bassinet for your baby can be challenging.
That’s why we’d always advise on choosing a bassinet that is on the big side. This means that there will be more room for your baby (provided they don’t exceed the weight limit!)
Sleeping your baby in a bassinet that is too small can be dangerous as it increases the risk for them rolling into the side and suffocating. And if they don’t have room to stretch out then they won’t sleep as well.
6. Can You Transport It Easily?
A bassinet that you can transport isn’t on everyone’s list but it is useful.
The early stages of a baby’s life can be exhausting for everyone so a weekend of back-up is always welcome. If you have a bassinet to take with you then you can pop over to a friend’s or to your parents’ without difficulty.
And using the same bassinet will massively improve your baby’s sleep when traveling. It will make them feel more at home and less disturbed by their new environment.
7. Think About Your Budget
Your baby might not spend very long sleeping in their bassinet. So it’s important to think about this when buying it.
Most babies will only sleep comfortably in a bassinet until they’re 6 months old. After this, you’ll have to move them into a bigger crib.
So avoid the temptation to splash out on an expensive bassinet that your baby doesn’t use for long. Instead, put your money towards the perfect crib that they’ll use for the next few years.
Time to Get Baby-Ready!
Keep these seven tips in mind when shopping for your baby bassinet and you won’t go far wrong! And for more tips on getting baby-ready, keep checking back for more blogs!
