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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Crib or moses basket?

33 replies

custardandrhubarb · 31/07/2012 13:19

I was just wondering whether any mumsnetters who've been there before can advise about whether a crib or moses basket might be better for my needs? I live in a flat on one level, so don't have the issue of needing to take a moses basket downstairs when baby is sleeping during the day, but wonder whether the portability is still an advantage over the crib?

On the other hand, I gather a crib would last longer meaning baby could stay in our room for longer before moving to a cot.

Also, I'm confident I'll be able to hear baby from wherever I am in the flat, so is there really any need for him to be sleeping anywhere but our bedroom to start with? How easy is a crib to move (just across the hall)? I might have to have a caesarean but would I be able to drag it across my carpet if I wanted to have him in the lounge with me during the day?

Any other pointers gratefully received!

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CountryKitty · 31/07/2012 13:36

Hi I'm expecting number 3 and am going to have both - but not for any real reason other than I've only ever had a crib and I like the look of moses baskets!

I'll keep the crib in our bedroom and the moses basket downstairs where I can move it between the sitting rooms/ kitchen / etc. We've always found that the crib was fine alone and used to use the pram carrycot in the downstairs sitting rooms during the day. Our crib is much larger than a moses basket so I think you are right in thinking that it would last longer. x

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 31/07/2012 13:41

There's a good chance your baby will sleep in neither! My dd never slept more than 5mins together in beautiful rocking crib or her moses basket. Just to warn you. Of course they're not all like that.

As for where the baby sleeps, as I understand it it's important that the baby is in the room with you until 6 months because it helps prevent SIDS - it's not about you being able to hear them. I think the theory is that the sound of you breathing stops them falling into too deep a sleep.

Can you fit a cot in your room? Because not many babies would fit in a moses basket until six months. Then perhaps have a moses basket for naps in the living room?

Original poster

custardandrhubarb · 31/07/2012 13:51

Thanks CountryKitty - maybe one of each is the way forward! Although I feel like it's hard for me to justify with a cot as well - he'll have more beds than we have bedrooms!

That's useful to know, thanks FruitSalad A cot would fit in our room. Did your DD sleep in a cot from newborn? Must be tricky to stay in the same room with them if they won't sleep in a moses basket!

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 31/07/2012 14:01

I had a wooden crib for DD1 - it was not slept in though it made a nice nappy store and bed rail. I got a cot for DD2 which also made a nice nappy store and bed rail but when DD2 was a bit older she did actually sleep in it and it moved with her when she went in with DD1 when she was about 15m (she was in our room until then). We used it for DD3 too as she was in our room for a similar length of time (so much easier when they are having night feeds to just get them out of the cot and open your nightie than drag yourself down the landing into another room!).

It's also recommended that daytime sleeps are in communal areas not in a room by themselves now too for SIDS reasons.

KatAndKit · 31/07/2012 14:07

Crib. Moses baskets are a bit pointless in my opinion as they only last a couple of months and you are supposed to keep your baby in your room for six. Mine is nearly 4 months and I reckon he could stay in the crib for another month at the most. But we don't have room for a cot in our room.

FruitSaladIsNotPudding · 31/07/2012 14:10

Yes, she was in a cot from newborn - we altered it ourselves to make it into a sidecar cot - attached to the bed with the side off. She would only sleep in our actual bed when very small though. Sidecar worked really well from about 1mo. Don't get me started on daytime naps...

She is an ace sleeper as a toddler though!

vodkaanddietirnbru · 31/07/2012 14:11

I've never had a moses basket and used a crib for both of mine and then they moved into a cot. Luckily the cot fitted in our room along the bottom of the bed so they were able to stay in our room until they were over 6 months old

TheJoyfulTripleJumper · 31/07/2012 14:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elizaregina · 31/07/2012 15:56

i went to a baby sale the other day adn there was an amazing moses basket - great qulaity - being sold by a man who had twins for £6 pounds - when I looked at it and walked away he said £3. stupidly i didnt buy as have one even though not as nice - then i thought i should have brought so can have one upstairs and one down.

go to a baby sale - look for moses and buy it - you can wash it all etc....get new matress if you want but for those prices - just get one and try it! cribs i imagine cost more.

blackteaplease · 31/07/2012 15:58

I had dd in a crib in our roon until she was 5 months old then she went into her own room. Got a cheap one off ebay.

I know a few people who had big babies who grew out of the moses basket really quickly.

CinnabarRed · 31/07/2012 16:05

All three of mine hated a moses basket (I tried them in several) but slept very happily in the detachable carry-cot part of their pram. Go figure.

My advice would be to borrow whatever you can from friends because sods law dictates that your baby will loathe anything you fork out good money for.

And they'll be out of them in about 3 months anyway.

On the other hand, I really recommend spending the money you save on the most expensive cot mattress you can afford. Worth its weight in gold, it will be.

PeazlyPops · 31/07/2012 16:05

I had both -a crib in our bedroom, Moses basket downstairs.

DS grew out of his Moses basket at 10 weeks, but is still in his crib at 4 months. I think he'll be ok for another month of so before its too small for him.

I have the Anna gliding crib from John Lewis, it's fab! If he wakes in the night I can gently tap it with my foot & he falls straight back to sleep.

Original poster

custardandrhubarb · 31/07/2012 16:08

Thanks for all the replies so far - I can see this is going to be a difficult decision! I'm pleased I asked though as I hadn't realised about needing to be in the same room as the baby when he's asleep to reduce the risk of SIDS. I knew that it was advised for night time sleeping but hadn't made the connection for during the day still a lot to learn!

OP posts:

blackteaplease · 31/07/2012 17:52

The kids advice is for night time. You don't need to be in the same room fir daytime naps

GnocchiNineDoors · 31/07/2012 17:59

What kind of pram will you have? Mine had a flat carrycot part on it, so dd slept in moses basket in the bedroom at night and the pram.in the livng room in the day.

By 6weeks she was going in our bedroom at 7pm while we stayed in the lounge,and mixed her naps between bedroom and lounge (sometimes she would lie on her chamge mat on the floor with a blanket over it).

We live on one level too, it has been brilliant for us. Also, dd lasted til 4mo until she outgrew her basket but someone had donated a travel.ct which we put up in the bedroom for.sleeps for another.month.

GnocchiNineDoors · 31/07/2012 18:01

blacktea the advice states All Sleeps. Not just night time ones. But as it is just advice, you are not legally bound to.follow.it of.course

blackteaplease · 31/07/2012 18:09

Fair enough, it's been a while since I read it as dd is 2.5 but I do need to refresh my memory as dc2 is due in 7 weeks.

Pascha · 31/07/2012 18:11

DS hated the moses basket we borrowed but loved the canvas crib he slept in at night so this time we're not bothering with the basket at all. The crib is foldable with a quick turn of the allen key so it can come downstairs during the day and go back up at bedtime.

propercharlie · 31/07/2012 18:22

We started off with a moses basket in the living room and one in our bedroom.

DS outgrew them within a matter of weeks so we got a wooden crib for the bedroom and he then slept in his pram for daytime naps downstairs.

We moved him into his cot at 3 months.

This time we aren't even bringing the moses baskets out of the garage! We have the crib in the bedroom and I bought a second-hand M&P cosy crib for downstairs. The cosy-crib is great as it has high sides but a gauze window in one side so DS won't be able to reach in but can peek through the window :)

www.madeformums.com/reviews/cots-night-time-and-nursery/cribs-and-moses-baskets/mamas-and-papas-cosy-crib-/1193.html

rogersmellyonthetelly · 01/08/2012 09:39

I've had a Moses basket for my first 2, worked fine, this time I'm having 2 cribs, one upstairs and one downstairs as I now have 2 energetic kids and a very bouncy dog and I don't think Moses baskets are particularly stable should one of them bounce into it!

Badgerina · 01/08/2012 09:53

I got a beautiful John Lewis Moses basket from eBay with x3 organic sheets for £16. Just need to get new mattress (£10). Baby will use it for naps during the day.

We're co-sleepers though so would never think of getting more than one sleeping "receptacle".

PeshwariNaan · 01/08/2012 10:41

I've purchased a Moses basket because it suits our small amount of space. I like being able to port baby from room to room and keep an eye on him/ her. We'll get a travel cot in when baby outgrows the basket.

Katienana · 01/08/2012 11:02

I'm in a flat and have gone for a moses basket for portability. It's nice and light and will be easy to move from bedroom to lounge. I am waiting to purchase a cot but will be putting it.up.in our bedroom to start with and aiming to move it at 6 months+. My pram has a carrycot so thats an option if baby hates the basket!

Original poster

custardandrhubarb · 01/08/2012 11:35

Thank you all for sharing your wisdom I'm leaning towards moses basket and then putting the cot in our room when he outgrows that, before eventually transferring baby and cot to their own room.

Next step...to decide on a pram! I almost wish there weren't so many options to choose from!

OP posts:

SarryB · 01/08/2012 13:04

If you're getting a pram, just use that - we have a travel system, with car seat attachment and pram attachment, and is also a regular buggy. LO slept in the pram bit until about 8 weeks, and now sleeps in a cot-bed in his own room which will last until he is 4 years old.

We also live in a flat, and I found the pram ace, as I could just wheel it from the living room into our/his own bedroom at night or when he was sleeping.

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