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Original poster

Are you buying a Moses basket?

27 replies

chipsandmushypeas · 12/07/2012 13:46

I've often read that babies grow out of them at 6 weeks, but thought it was a good idea to move them around house with you when asleep?

I've seen some nice second hand ones online, should I get a new mattress or just new sheets for it?

Will you be getting one? Or a crib or cot?

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FluffyJawsOfDoom · 12/07/2012 13:51

I've got a crib for the bedroom, and will buy a moses basket for downstairs I think so I don't have to put them to sleep in the bedroom when I'm downstairs at first. We've been given a cot but won't use it til they're in their own room (there isn't room in ours, really); the crib should do 4 months or so.

I'd buy a new mattress for SIDS reasons - have a look at prices of sheets/mattresses, it can sometimes be cheaper to buy a new one altogether as you can get them for £50 some places.

sammyleh · 12/07/2012 13:52

I got a moses basket, purely for ease of moving baby round house and having her with me. I got a gorgeous Mamas and Papas one second hand on eBay, brand new in the shop the stand and basket cost about £100, I paid £10.50 for the lot and will probably sell it on when I've finished with it. I'm also going to buy a brand new matress, it did some with one but I don't want to use it x

pumpkinsweetie · 12/07/2012 13:55

I had a moses basket with all 4 of my dcs, they are very handy-baby can sleep and be moved around whilst you do housework or have a bath.
Dd1 fit in it until she learnt to sit up (5lb 11oz) dd2&dd3 until 3 1/2 months (7lbers) and dd4 slept in hers until 5 months (6lb 9oz)
Unless you have a very large baby you will get atleast 3 months use out of it Smile
They are cosy, portable, and all the covers can go in the washer if baby is sick

Indith · 12/07/2012 14:03

I'd look out for one second hand, they are used for such a small amount of time you can usually pick a very good one up for £10 or so second hand then just get a new mattress.

I didn't have one for my first 2 and borrowed one for number 3 and have been completely converted. Ds2 has pretty much outgrown it now at 4 months old but it has been lovely having the basket downstairs so that when he finally crashed out after cluster feeding in the evenings I could pop him in the basket. Rather conveniently his outgrowing the basket has coincided with his starting to settle to sleep in bed of an evening so it is a bit redundant anyway.

Original poster
chipsandmushypeas · 12/07/2012 14:04

Thanks for replies! 3 months seems like a good amount of use considering how cheap some second hand ones are, I will get a new mattress though

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PeggyCarter · 12/07/2012 14:06

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Original poster
chipsandmushypeas · 12/07/2012 14:22

That's what I was thinking joyful it seems easier to get them in and out especially during night feeds.

I've just seen one for £15 with rocking stand, might go and pick it up tonight!

Where can I get a new mattress/sheets and are they a universal size?

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patchesmcp · 12/07/2012 15:44

I didn't bother with a Moses basket, just used the carrycot part of the pushchair (minus the wheels) for naps during the day and a crib upstairs at night.

lacroixsweetie · 12/07/2012 15:51

John Lewis do the mattresses in two sizes, Mothercare too I think. The sheets are generally the kind with elastic around the edges and tend to be nice soft brushed cotton. A few muslins are great for putting across the head end so you don't have to wash the sheets every time there's a little milk dribble.
I wouldn't fixate on having one - they can be handy, they can also be a PITA and easily knocked over by animals/larger children. My DD slept really badly in a Moses basket, hated being swaddled and woke herself up constantly by hitting the sides of the basket. Slept like the proverbial babe in a full size cot/travel cot downstairs at 6 weeks. Plus at some point you have to move them into a larger bed and deal with a few nights disruption especially if they are used to being rocked to sleep. Far easier to put them in a big cot (if you have the space) straight off I think. Plus you can buy a cot divider so they use one half to sleep and the other half you can put toys and stuff for them to look at when they are awake.

Pascha · 12/07/2012 15:54

DS absolutely hated the moses basket we borrowed but loved his crib so this time the crib's coming downstairs because its a lightweight canvas portable one.

GnocchiNineDoors · 12/07/2012 15:58

DD lasted about four months in hers, and considering she slept in it every night and most daytime sleeps too, I think they are worth the money.

I didnt bother with blankets, just got large muslin squares to swaddle her in to go in like that.

I'd offer you mine goodwill but the cats have adopted it as their new home so its fit for no human now. They look bloody cute in it though.

slatternlymother · 12/07/2012 16:00

I wish I'd bought a Moses Basket. DS was teeny tiny and it would've been so much easier to cart him about in that before decanting him into his cot at night. We used a bouncy chair instead, but I expect it would've been nicer for him to be in a Moses Basket, flat on his back.

mrsalwaysawake · 12/07/2012 16:01

I am always a bit Hmm when people say their baby outgrew the Moses basket in a few weeks. 91st centile DS was in his til 4 months. It was a bit snug at the end, but he was no less happy.
Made the transition to the cot with no problems.

ChunkyMonkeyMother · 12/07/2012 16:08

My DS was 11lb 13ozs and he fit in his until he was 4 months so I'm sorry but I just don't believe it when people say their kids grew out of them in less time than that - he went straight into 3-6 clothes but there was still plenty of space in his basket!

Unless you bought a particularly small basket then they are supposed to last until they sit up

Badgerina · 12/07/2012 16:24

Yes, we've bought one. I used one with DS1 and it was useful. DS1 had his Dad's one but since I'm with a new partner, we bought one off eBay (£12! Worth £100 - it's a John Lewis one) and a new mattress (£12).

elizaregina · 12/07/2012 17:05

Chips

I was at a baby sale ( not NCT) and saw a gorgeous moses basket for £6 the man then saw me looking at it and offered it for £3. GREAT condition with stand - honeslty as nice as mamas and papas new....also car boot sales...ebay etc..there is so much " stuff" being shifted round out there...then if you dont need it....infact I have JUST realised writing this how useful it would have been to have brought the one I saw to have one upstairs and down stairs...how STUPID of me!

Original poster
chipsandmushypeas · 12/07/2012 18:50

I just bought one for a tenner! Amazing condition with wooden rocking stand, it's a Claire du something or other. Looks lovely :)

Gnocci thank you, I wouldnt dare take it from the cats I bet they love it! Mine are already eyeing it up!! Will keep it locked away until baby comes.

It's the first thing I've bought, exciting! Thanks for all replies, it's quite big so I would imagine it will last a good few months, great tip on muslin cloths for under head too!

OP posts:
iwantbabies · 12/07/2012 20:39

Gnocci and Chips - how do you keep a cat out of the moses basket when baby arrives? I know mine would be in there at every opportunity and that's just disgusting!

GnocchiNineDoors · 12/07/2012 21:48

We put the Moses Basket up a month before dds due date and every time we saw them go anywhere near it we shooshed them away.

Once dd was here, we had her nap in the basket in the lounge in the day so were there to watch and for the first month kept the bedroom door shut just incase. After a month (plus the month of shooshing them away) they were so used to not being allowed in it or being scared away by this.noisy new thing that they didnt even once try to get into it.

After dd stopped using it, I put a pile of clean towels in there (no storage) and came in to see boycat lying in there. Looked really guilty about it too!

Original poster
chipsandmushypeas · 12/07/2012 21:54

Yes, I'm going to put mine away in the spare room until close to due date. After, me and DP said it's best cats aren't allowed in the bedroom at all anymore, so doors always closed. When basket is in other rooms, I'll always be very close or just put cats outside/in other room.

If you bought one especially for them, they wouldn't go anywhere near it! Cats are so typical!

weknowmemes.com/2012/07/fuck-you-im-a-cat/

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justhayley · 13/07/2012 07:15

My DS is 12 weeks and hated his basket. They are handy with the moving around sleep thing but I wouldn't spend a fortune on one encase your baby isn't a fan. He still at almost 12lbs hasn't outgrown it as such but he's a real wriggler and hits his arms off the sides which wakes him up. TBH since 9 weeks I havnt even tried him in it he's been co sleeping and much happier. I am going to transfer him into a crib this week though and see how that works. My DS was 5lbs 3 so can't imagine putting him straight in a crib at that size but for us it was a waste of money so id go eBay.

FrustratedMod · 13/07/2012 07:23

Just a tip: if you buy a second hand Moses basket and you need to get a new mattress for it, get a waterproof one, I got one from mothercare for a tenner. You can use waterproof mattresses for more than one baby (according to fsid guidance) - the ones that are totally sealed in a plastic 'skin' - so you can sell on the Moses basket plus mattress and hopefully make your money back.

ValiumQueen · 13/07/2012 10:10

DD1 loved it, and was in it for about 3 months. DD2 hated it as she would cry if she touched the sides with any part of her body.

Original poster
chipsandmushypeas · 13/07/2012 17:08

Looks like it going to be a complete gamble! I hope baby likes it, they look so sweet in them!

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Original poster
chipsandmushypeas · 13/07/2012 17:17

Frustrated thanks for that, it came with a water proof one and the woman said her dd only used it for 2 weeks, do you think I can use it?

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