Buying for the cot/ Moses basket, feeling a bit daunted?

[everythinghippie29]

Can anyone give me an idea of what bedding I will need when my baby arrives?

He will be sleeping in a Moses basket in our room for at least the first 6 months.

What bedding and how much of each peice will I need and does anyone have any good links to a site (ideally with pictures) to set up the basket for safe sleeping/ how it should look when made?

Think it's pregnancy hormones but feeling a little bit panicky about the new arrival and everything I need to learn!

Any help appreciated.

TIA

I had a crib by not a Moses basket but same principle!! I had 2 or 3 sheets and put a folded muslin cloth under the head end to catch vomit, thin ish blankets that could be layered, am on phone so can't check op but hope that answers your questions

Feet to the foot of the basket and I tucked blankets under armpits so DS couldn't wiggle under

3 or 4 fitted covers for the Moses basket mattress and several small cotton sheets and cellular blankets. Then if you have a pukey baby you will have spares while some are being washed. A bunch of muslin cloths are useful too.

For a cot or cotbed, again you need a few fitted mattress and either a few sheets and cellular blankets, or instead a baby sleeping bag. All bedding as the dimensions on it so you can see if it will fit your cot or cotbed. They are in two standard sizes normally.

Remember, if using sheets and blankets, to put your baby with his or her feet at the foot of the Moses basket or cot so s/he can't wriggle under the covers.

You don't need a pillow.

Ds is 14 weeks so still pretty fresh but sorry can't link.

We bought a crib but a friend gave us a moses basket.
Used Moses basket for around 6 weeks and ds is now in crib.

We bought 4 fitted sheets from John Lewis (to fit Moses basket, pram and crib).
2 flat sheets from John Lewis for Moses basket and crib.
2 small cellular blankets. Aldi do good ones in their baby event.

We were given a couple of gro bags too (used instead of flat sheet and blanket) but baby needs to be a certain weight before can be used.

For the cot (which ds will use after Christmas) we bought a set from mothercare which has fitted sheets, loose sheets and cellular blanket. They do them in different sizes to fit cot, Moses basket etc but I feel the John Lewis sheets are softer.

In first few weeks we also tried swaddling, we bought a gro swaddle wrap (used instead of flat sheet and blanket) but I know friends who recommend a large muslin for swaddling.

Some people don't recommend bumpers for cots now, but we have a breathable one for crib as I kept finding ds's arm sticking out the side

Yes to feet to end of Moses basket/cot if using sheets, I tuck the sheet or blanket under the mattress to secure ds in so he can't wriggle too much!

Ps, there is a chart ( you can probably google it) that gives guidance on how many layers your baby needs. Eg 24c - one sheet, 21c one sheet and single blanket layer (not folded) etc

I have used Moses basket for first few months. From Mothercare, cheapest one fine as doesn't last that long at all. And matching stand. 3 fitted Moses basket sheets. I used Gro Bag swaddling for first month or so (also from Mothercare) then first age group Gro Bag Sleeping bag (also Mothercare). Bought loads of sheets and blankets but didn't use them and swaddling/sleeping bag so much simpler and no worrying about face being covered etc.

When my dcs outgrew Moses basket (about 4/5mths) put them in a cotbed (John Lewis has a good one called Alex at 99 quid) as this lasted til dcs were 3/4. Bought cot bed fitted sheets and dcs continued to sleep in their sleeping bags in it. Hope this helps.

You don't need sheets for a moses basket - you can just use pillow cases as sheets.

My DD was a good size at birth so she slept in a grobag from the start.

I used grobags for both mine - can't recommend them highly enough as they are safe, baby can't slip down, and you can pick them up and cuddle if needed and pop back down without having to tuck up again in sheets / blanket. But yes, baby has to be a certain size before you can use them and I think I had a couple of weeks with dd2 where I put her feet at the bottom of the crib and tucked a cellular blanket over her - under her arms, and tucked it under each side of the mattress. Exactly the same for moses basket, which we used for ds1. I had 2 or 3 fitted sheets for the crib and for cot. You shouldn't need a mattress protector for a moses basket as they usually have waterproof covers, but when you progress to a cot these are fab:

www.amazon.co.uk/Hippychick-Pram-Mattress-Protector-Sheet/dp/B001B2I5HQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380404377&sr=8-1&keywords=hippychick+mattress+protector+crib

Not noisy and crackly as they are just like a thick layer of cotton, yet waterproof. Washable and tumble dryer. Just pop it at the head end to catch any spills. I found it so good I promptly purchased a cot bed one for ds1, and to be fair it has withstood both of them having norovirus!

Don't feel daunted - I know there are all sorts of different bits of equipment and paraphernalia you can get bogged down by needing for baby, but really you'd manage just fine with a limited stock of anything, and just go out (send hubby) and buy more of anything else you find you're in need of after baby comes. People have babies in developing countries and manage okay without all the various sheets / cribs / other useful but not essential gubbins that we all panic before baby arrives and think we absolutely have to have! Minimum required: some sleepsuits, bodysuits, nappies, baby wipes, muslins, 2x sheets for moses basket, 2x cellular blankets, grobags when baby is big enough. And a nappy bin is a good buy as it reduces the paralysingly awful smell of day-old dirty nappies which you get from an ordinary bucket or bin. All the best - you'll be fine!

Do you have room for a cot in your room? we improvised a cot into a side car onto bed. much better and cheaper!

I only ever used pillowcases for moses basket sheets, and grobags for sleeping. all my DC were over the minimum weight for them at birth!
I also tucked muslins round the head end to catch possets.

Pillowcases are much easier to locate in the dead of night when faced with a soggy mattress!

Our DD is nearly 6 months and slept in a Moses for about 3 months (they never last in them for 6!) then went into a cot bed (which seems terrifyingly big!)

In the Moses she actually slept on a lambskin as it was much softer and warmer than the hard, cold mattresses. I just tucked it all in underneath so it was completely flat. Babydan do a good one and they are cheapest on eBay - we bought 2 as we use the other in the pram. Then in the basket she wore a vest and a babygro and when it was colder a cardigan. We covered her with a knitted wool blanket (natural fibres are better for regulating temperature). She wasn't a sicky baby so we didn't need to use a muslin, etc under her head.

In the cot bed we have a fitted cotton sheet and then I use a big fleecy blanket (tucked in) for her to lie on. She sleeps in a vest/babygro and grobag and depending on the temperature I put the wool blanket over her (and will add more blankets as it gets colder).

another pillowcase user for the moses basket cheaper to buy! We were hoping to use for 3-6 months but my month old is already filling it out and we may have to be moving him to cot in the next couple of weeks. I look at the temp on the monitor to decide what to put over him usually just a blanket tucked in under the arms and around the feet.