Getting ready to welcome a new family member into the home? For parents expecting a newborn baby, bassinets are the ideal sleeping arrangement for your new child. Bassinets can fit conveniently next to your bedside so that you are always there to tend to your baby when they need you the most. Whether you are looking for something exquisite or something a little more affordable, there are plenty of options when it comes to bassinets. There are even bassinets designed to soothe your baby to sleep. But finding the right bassinet for your child may require a little work on your part. If you aren’t quite sure what to look for, check out these frequently asked questions to learn more about your options.
Bassinets are designed for infant children up to 6 months. After 6 months, it may no longer be safe for your child to sleep in the bassinet, because at that point they could climb or roll out of it. Additionally, the bassinet may not be able to support their size and weight.
Some bassinets may have a rocking function that can help sooth your baby to sleep. However, not all babies may like this feature. One excellent rocking bassinet is the Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Bassinet.
While a sleeper may often appear to be the same as a bassinet, sleepers are not federally regulated. Often sleepers do not fit in the safety guidelines required to be labeled as bassinets. Therefore, it is recommended that you do not put a child in one unless you will be supervising them during a nap.
A co-sleeper is a type of bassinet that lines up with most mattresses, allowing you to more safely sleep beside your bed along with you. However, this may not be the safest sleeping arrangement possible. One thing is sure – it is not safe to let your child sleep in your bed, as they could suffocate under your bedding or under you if you were to roll over onto them.
If you are having a health pair of twins, you in fact do not need to purchase two bassinets. On the market, you can find a number of different bassinets designed for twins allowing you to keep your babies together in one bassinet such as is the case with the Graco Pack N’ Play with twin bassinets. A divider in the middle of the bassinet allows you to accommodate both children, while preventing them from sleeping on top of one another.
You can use a bassinet that has been recalled, which is quite common. However, you must make sure that either you or the manufacturer has made the necessary repairs for safe sleep. Otherwise do not use the bassinet until those repairs have been made.
Bassinets that make sounds or play music can be a great way to soothe and lull your baby to sleep. Bassinets like the Summer Infant Classic Comfort Wood Bassinet also vibrate which can be incredibly calming for a baby. Of course, it may not be as comforting as the sound of your own voice.
You should never add another mattress pad or any loose sheets to your child’s bassinet. The child could get stuck under the mattress pad or sheet which could cut off their breathing, possibly killing your child. You should also avoid putting pillows and comforters in your baby’s bassinet. You can however, add a tight fitted sheet.