Congratulations on your soon-to-arrive new bundle of joy! Preparing your home and shopping for a new baby is always a busy process and there is plenty to think about! You need to decorate the baby room and hang that mobile up, prepare a high chair and shop for those little jars of baby food, and generally fuss about trying to make sure you have thought of everything before it’s time for the magic hour and you have to rush to the hospital! All of that, and the question of where baby is going to sleep to start with is another thing that is bound to come to mind!
There are a lot of different theories about what’s best for baby when it’s night-night time. Today we will be considering one of the most popular, an old time favourite! Bassinets are a sleeping space made specifically for newborn infants that is smaller than a crib and is placed next to your bed so baby can be right near you all night long. Some bassinets are designed to be mobile so you can let baby nap wherever you happen to be during the day! Let’s learn more about the bassinet and how it might be right for you and your new baby!
One of the most common questions asked is how long can my baby sleep in a bassinet? The answer is that a bassinet is used from day one until your baby grows old enough to be able move around, push themselves up onto their little hands, or roll over by themselves. These developmental milestones generally start happening between the time baby is three months to five months old. There are some bassinets that have weight restrictions, so it’s important to know your particular model’s specific guidelines!
Another question that comes up is whether or not a bassinet is better than a crib? There isn’t really an exact answer to that, it depends on each individual family’s preferences. A bassinet and a crib are both perfectly safe as long as they are used properly, and a crib is where baby will eventually be dreaming, so why not start there from the get-go? The thing that bassinet using parents do say about their experience is that they like having their newborn so close to their own bed, they can easily reach out and touch to give comfort to each other without having to reach over a set of bars!
Here’s a quick breakdown of bassinet advantages to consider.
Bassinets are –
Convenient, they keep baby next to you and easily accessible for late night feedings and snuggling.
Portable, you can keep baby nearby throughout the day, safe in their bassinet while you go about your routine.
Small, their footprint is not much larger than the baby they are designed to hold, so they don’t take up as much space as a crib does.
Flexible, perfect for all-night slumber or daytime naps, whenever and wherever you need to lay baby down for some shut-eye you can do so easily.
Bassinets really are a great way to go even if you have just one child, and more so if you are expecting another little brother or sister in the future!