A good sleeping environment for your baby is mandatory. According to various SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Studies, experts have found out that 90% of the infants pass on before they get to their seventh month.
Doctors, pediatricians, and federal governments have put forth strict rules to ensure that manufacturers produce excellent baby products.
In this article, we will review the differences between a bassinet and a crib so that you can know which one you should take when you go for shopping.
There have been many questions arising from parents about which product is the best among the two.
Why Should You Not Sleep With Your Baby On The Same Bed?
Most parents prefer sleeping in the same bed with their infants. However, this can be dangerous to the baby as it is easy to roll over the baby during sleep. This can automatically cause the baby to die and cause SIDS.
Also, the baby’s body is not mature enough to comfortably sleep on an adult bed.
In other studies, they found out that babies who learn to sleep alone from a young age become independent and have no problem when the time to move into their room reaches.
The Bassinet Review
This baby product is good for babies to sleep while they are as young as 1 to 6 months. The bassinet is well made to ensure that your baby can enjoy his/her sleep comfortably. So, why should you buy a bassinet?
- The bassinet is portable. You can move it from room to room with ease. They have standing legs that provide balance. Different bassinets have different physical attributes.
Some have wheels which assist in movement while others have legs that can rock and play while the baby enjoys his/her sleep. Also, you can move it from one room to another with ease so you can easily monitor while the baby sleeps.
- Bassinets are small hence beneficial for people with small houses. Your baby will wake several times during the night. It would be stressful for you as a parent to wake up from your bed to go to her baby who is in another room.
You can keep the bassinet on your bedside making it easy to check on your baby.
- Bassinets provide enough snug for the baby. Thus, the baby feels comfortable while sleeping. For instance, a rocking bassinet will rock the baby until it falls asleep.
- They also have small sides. This makes it easy for you when putting the baby in the bassinet and when taking him/ her out of it. Some have foldable sides as well.
- Bassinets are affordable for parents who cannot afford a baby crib. Therefore, it is a great option to give you some time to save up some money to buy a bigger baby bed.
- Bassinets come with hoods that protect the baby from any light that may wake or distract the baby’s sleep.
However, on the other hand, these bassinets can be limiting because:
- They become small with time since the baby is growing. Manufacturers state a recommended maximum weight for a child who sleeps in it. If the baby becomes heavier than it allows, then he/she can topple the bassinet hence dangerous for him/her.
Therefore, if your baby has outgrown it, then it is time to buy a bigger one. You can move the baby to a bigger bed once you notice he/she can sit up by himself, can easily roll over, or feels uncomfortable when he/she sleeps on the bassinet.
How to purchase the right bassinet for your baby
- Look for its ability to rock the baby. Some bassinets can rock the baby in an unsecured way.
- Make sure it has a firm mattress and sheet to prevent suffocation
- The bottom should be sturdy. A bassinet that cannot hold a baby’s weight is dangerous.
- Scrutinize the bolts to see if it is stable enough.
- Ensure that the slats are farther away from the baby’s head.
Baby Crib Review
A baby crib is a smaller bed specially made for infants. They are a few things to consider before you purchase a baby crib.
- Make sure the mattress is firm. Also, the size of the frame should accommodate it
- The slats should be high. They should have a 2-3 inches separation
- The sheet should also be firm
- Place the bed where there are no strands or anything that can fall on the baby
- Examine the baby crib keenly for any stability issues if you have bought it from a second-hand retailer
So, why should you purchase a baby crib for your baby?
- You can use them for longer. However, these cribs are expensive and you will need to save up. On the other hand, the investment is worth it because of the long duration of use.
- They are stable enough to handle the baby’s weight even as he/she grows. In fact, there are different sizes available in the market. Therefore, you can choose one that your baby can use for a longer period.
- You can keep the baby crib if you have a bigger bedroom. This teaches them to be able to sleep alone. You can also convert the baby crib to a toddler bed when the baby grows.
One the other hand, they can be limiting since they take up so much space in your house and it is hard to move the crib from one room to another.
The sides of the crib always have to stay up to keep the baby from falling off the bed. However, this can be traumatizing to mothers who have back pains and those who have undergone the C-section surgery. Therefore, it was difficult to place the baby inside the bed.
However, ensure that you position the baby in the middle of the bed while he/she sleeps on their back. Remove any additional blankets and pillows from the bed to prevent suffocation.
Conclusion
There you have it. The baby crib stands out from the bassinet because the baby can use the crib for longer. Let us know what you think.
Feel free to post a comment and share the article with your friends.