Transitioning From Moses Basket to Co-Sleeper
With a bedside crib or co-sleeper your baby can rest comfortably close to your bed. Many come with additional features, such as music, rockers and night lights.
The Shnuggle Air comes with a mattress for a cot and a conversion kit, which transforms your child's safe and cozy sleeping space into a chic cot. Our mom testers loved this innovative feature.
Sleeping bag
Baby sleeping bags offer the same level of comfort as a blanket but without the risks. They are a great choice for parents looking to move their baby from the Moses basket to a cot or bedside crib. The sleep sacks have been made with safety in mind and conform to strict European standards. The sleep sacks permit parents to bond with their babies throughout the night. This is essential for encouraging healthy sleep patterns and the formation of vital brain connections.
The majority of experts agree that a bedside crib is the safest place for your baby's sleep. It's important to keep in your mind that your baby will be more mobile after six months. This means that they'll likely want to roll, crawl and eventually sit up during naps as well as at night. It is therefore even more crucial to move your child from the basket to an appropriate crib at the right time.
Around four months, babies that have reached this age are ready to step out of their moses baskets into a cradle/cot. However, it depends on the child. Signs that your baby is ready include rolling over in their sleep, pushing up on their arms while lying on their stomachs and becoming uncomfortable in their bassinet.
It is essential to select a sleeping bag that fits well and isn't too tight nor too loose. It's important to choose the right tog to suit your baby's body temperature. You can also alter it as the weather changes. Also, be sure to keep blankets away since they can obstruct your baby's breathing and lead to excessive heat.
When your baby is settled in their cot, be sure that they're not close to any heat sources like radiators or sunny windows. Also, ensure that any curtains or baby monitor cables are safe and out of their reach. Remember that your child is less able than you to regulate your body temperature, so they are more prone to overheating.
Blankets
Baby blankets are a cute accessory to any bedside crib or cot, and it's natural for parents who are new to cover their little one with a warm blanket before they put them down to sleep. It is not recommended to use a blanket for an infant crib cover. This can increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation, or entrapment. The best option is a fitted sheet that covers your mattress. As a top layer, blankets can be used. It is not meant to be a blanket that covers the head of the baby and should be flexible enough to allow airflow.
Many instances of suffocation that is accidental in infants involve soft bedding such as pillows, blankets and toys. This occurs when the blanket impedes breathing or the baby's body is wrapped tightly around it. It can also happen when the blanket gets caught in the corners of the crib.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you wait until your baby reaches the age of one year before introducing blankets for their bassinet or crib. This Web page has shown that blankets increase the risk of SIDS for newborns and infants when they sleep on their backs. The AAP recommends that you avoid crib bumpers and pillows and sheepskin blankets and stuffed toys in the crib. These items increase the risk of suffocation.
If you own an convertible or convertible-to-divan cot, then you can also use a blanket for warmth or as a bedding cover. But, you must ensure that the blanket is tucked in to stop it from becoming loose. Swaddles or sleep bags to keep your child warm during the night.
Another alternative is a portable bedside crib, which attaches securely to the side of the parent's bed to provide an effortless transition from sleeper to toddler bed. This type crib is lightweight and mobile, making it easy to transport between rooms. Some also come with a conversion kit so that you can convert the crib to an independent cot as your child grows. When you are looking for a portable cot ensure that it is in compliance with the current British or European safety standards.
Cuddles
A crib that is placed near your bed allows you to keep your baby close to you throughout the night without having to get up to feed them. They are a great choice for mothers recovering from a c-section who need to be able to reach baby easily, and they are also great at helping babies start to get used to their own space while remaining close to their parents.
It is essential to select a crib that is suitable for your bed. Look for a crib with safety straps and harnesses that can be securely clipped to. Make sure you are able to check the height the crib is compatible with, as some cribs won't fit if you have a high bed frame. Some cribs come with additional features, like a reflux slope or storage shelf. But, they're not essential if you're looking for the simplest solution.
You can also pick cribs with a pivoting base that allows you to move the baby around the room effortlessly which is ideal if you have a small or awkward bedroom. Also, you'll need consider how portable the crib is - do you want it to be able to move from room room, or could it fold flat and/or be detachable to become a moses basket or older baby cot?
Cuddle cots are also becoming more popular as an alternative to a sleeping bag. They allow you to remain in the same bedroom as your baby for the first few months of life. This is particularly beneficial for those who have trouble sleeping or are suffering from post-natal depression disorder. Charlotte Szakacs, 21, and her husband Attila, 28, were devastated when their daughter Evlyn died just four weeks after birth due to a rare chromosomal disorder however they were capable of spending 16 blissful days cuddling her in their cuddle cot. The couple documented their time with her on Instagram which was a huge comfort to the rest of the family.
Baby steps
After you've helped your child sleep throughout the night in their crib at night it's time to think about a step up. At this point, it is the time that they will move from a crib with a co-sleeper, to a standalone crib. This can be a daunting task for a lot of parents. With some planning, the transition will be easy.
A bedside crib allows children to sleep with their parents in a safe and secure setting. The crib, also known as a co-sleeper or side sleeping bassinet attaches to the bed of a parent to allow parents to reach their child at any time of the night without getting out of the bed.
Official safe sleeping guidance from the Lullaby Trust and NHS recommends that your newborn sleeps in the same space as you for the first six months but not in your own bed due to the possibility of suffocation and overheating. A crib for bedside is a safe and convenient alternative to sleeping your baby in the same room as you, giving you a better night's sleep.
The ideal bedside crib is sturdy, well-made and has a safe mattress. It is recommended to pick an air-conditioned crib design to ensure that your child will not get too hot. This will also keep them comfortable all through the night. It is also important to make sure that the crib is compatible with your bed's style - for example, some models can be used with divan beds whereas others can be used with standard frames.
Many experts suggest using a crib for awake times throughout the day, too to help your baby become familiar with their new sleep space. During these periods you can put your baby in the crib for a few intervals while you're in the room. This will allow them to get used to the crib while they're still awake. This will make the transition to sleeping in the crib much easier for both of you.
Mum tester Jasmine loved that this bedside crib has a storage space under it. This is perfect to store extra nappies and blankets. She also believes it's the perfect size, stating that it's a bit bigger than the standard Moses baskets but not as large as larger cribs.