Out the Moses basket and into the big wide cot?

[mamabrownbear]

My 6 week old and first child is nearly bursting out her Moses basket. I'm trying her out in the cot just now and looks like she is loving the space! Wriggling her legs and arms around. Very happy, smilie and gigglie!

However, the cot was providing valuable space for her toys and blankets etc so now I assume everything has to move out?
I've read you shouldn't cover a baby with a blanket in the cot incase she suffocates so what exactly should I do to ensure her safety and comfort?
No toys and blankets?
Just a sheet on the mattress?
Should we use those sleeping bags at night?
Will she get cold? How do I keep her cosy? Swaddle?

Sorry if this all seems so basic and dumb but 6 weeks still seems so small, at least the Moses basket was a cosy fit.

But also, if she is too big for basket and the cot isn't portable, what should I pop her in during the day when she is awake? I like having her in the same room as me and although the sling is fab, i do need to put her down at times too. We have a dog so I want to have her in something secure and safe which the basket was perfect for...anyone else had this situation? She is too floppy/wobbly still for the bumbo, I think i need something in between the Moses basket and bumbo stage.

Sorry, feel like I'm being really stupid and asking obvious questions but I'd appreciate advice on these basics!!

[mamabrownbear]

Should say, cot is still in our room, right beside my bed so I can keep an eye on her...:)

[dizzy77]

They don't take long to burst out of the Moses basket do they! Sleeping bags are great - check the minimum weight as otherwise there is a risk the baby can wriggle down. I'm pretty sure they start quite small now though (8-10lb) which hopefully is fine for you.

Ds1 slept in a sleeping bag on a sheet (with a load of muslins under his head as he was sicky), during the day downstairs I just laid him on a blanket on the floor as he was safe there, and if not (or i had plans to go out) in the pushchair, fully reclined.

[melliebobs]

If they are foot to foot they can have a blanket. But more a cellular one than a full on quilt

[dizzy77]

Just saw you have a dog so pushchair/pram may work. Also I use a bouncy chair with (3wo) DS2 when he is awake and I'm just getting on round the house.

[Fairydogmother]

Hi there I'm expecting my first so no expert but a friend of mine has a 3 month old in the same situation as you!

She puts her in the bottom of the cot with her feet nearly touching the base. Those sleeping bags go from a certain weight so if shes heavy enough you can use one of those. I've also seen cot dividers which split it in two which might be useful for you.

Her wee girl sleeps in the pram downstairs during the day - can you do that? I'd also put a waterproof cover on your cot mattress with a sheet over the top to protect it.

I would also say that if she is well away from toys etc in her cot it shouldnt be too much of a problem but someone might be able to correct me on that!

[melliebobs]

As for the putting her Down somewhere how about a cheap bouncy/rocker chair. Loads on free cycle/Gumtree

Or how about a wrap?

[Fairydogmother]

Mellie - the OP has a dog so the child would need to be in something possibly higher and more secure.

[mamabrownbear]

Thanks so much, great idea about using the pram during the day, the bassinet is larger than the basket so that would work well. Will just need to remember to take the frame out the car every time :(

Will check the sleeping bags sizes, we have been given so many but all look so long I would be worried about her drowning in them!

Definitely the concern during the day is keeping her safe from the pooch who is very very good with her but that's not really the point.

[CaurnieBred]

For safety around the dog, I would suggest a play pen and put DD in a bouncy chair inside the play pen. That way she is supported upright but the dog can't get to her/slobber on her.

[rcs19]

Have you got room downstairs for a travel cot so you can put her down out of reach of the dog? I had one in the kitchen when dd1 was small. When she started moving around it was useful as a safe place for her while I was cooking.

[melliebobs]

I only suggested a chair for if your all in the same room but need to get stuff done

Cue the flaming cos that's what I did. Dog wasn't bothered in dd. obviously I'd never leave her in a room alone with him

[noblegiraffe]

Can you use a stair gate to keep the dog in a different room to the baby?

[Fairydogmother]

some pram manufacturers make a stand for the bassinet bit to go on. the uppababy vista has one of those so might be worth a look instead of getting the frame out of the car!

mellie - nobody is going to flame you! i have 2 jack russells so my baby will sleep in the pram during the day and i dont need to worry as they arent tall enough to peer in at him. helps to have small dogs lol

[dizzy77]

The sleeping bags will often have poppers under the arm holes which you can fasten to prevent the baby slipping down. They do seem hugely long on newborns and when you move up to the next size - amazing to think your tiny person will fill it in a few months!

Re getting pram bits out of the car, does the bassinet fit on the Moses basket stand? I have a stand that's just a fold out wooden X with straps I can balance the carrycot on.

[mamabrownbear]

The pram is working well! She loves it as she can see more over the top than the Moses basket. I didn't get a stand for the basket incase the dog knocked it over or jumped up. Not that she has shown signs of that. Thanks so much all. Next step will be a play pen...

[PigeonPair]

If you can bear it (I know she is only little!), it might be worth putting her in her cot for naps. I know it seems a long way away but if she gets used to it now, it will be so much easier if you are keen for her to proper naps when she is a bit older - meaning some much needed free time for you.

[Clargo55]

Pigeon - SIDS advice recommends baby under the age of 6 months to take all naps in the same room as someone. It is currently identified as a risk factor for SIDS.

[DoodleAlley]

Good thing you made the move to a cot ok

We tried it with DD at that age and she hated all the space!

At eleven weeks now she is crammed in and so has no choice. Tonight is cot night!

Thankfully we have got her used to a gro bag but she has had to have a light sheet over her feet as they jerk sometimes. I think that will need to stop in a cot so I predict a disturbed night ahead of us!