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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Moses baskets - are they safe/any good?

29 replies

beansprout · 28/05/2004 14:05

We have been offered a m/basket, and (stoopid first timer question alert!) I don't know if they are suitable for newborns to sleep in all the time ie instead of a crib/cot?

I think I am asking as someone told me that cot bumpers can restrict air flow, and I am very, very alert to SIDS as we had a death in the family earlier this year. It seems that m/baskets look so small!

Clearly I don't know what I am talking about, so if anyone could give me any views/options here, I would be very grateful!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

secur · 28/05/2004 14:15

Message withdrawn

popsycal · 28/05/2004 14:17

i was the same as secur
a friend lent me one
don't think i would buy one though
useful for the first few months though
borrow one if you can and buy a new mattress

LIZS · 28/05/2004 14:18

We had one and used it for both ds and dd to sleep overnight and had separate carrycot/pram for living room, but the basket could easily have been moved for use during the day too. Ours had quite an open basket weave and was lined with a light cotton liner - no padding or quilting - so different to cot bumpers. They both found it cosy and slept pretty well in it. Many houses these days cannot accommodate a cot in the parents room. Do invest in a good ventilated mattress though especially if the baby is due in the summer.

hth

Twinkie · 28/05/2004 14:18

But sprout your baby will be weeny berlieve me you won;t believe how weeny he/she will be - even 9lbers look tiny when they are new born!!

I thought was good for having in the house as can be brought downstairs if needs be for daytime naps and took up less room inour bedroom!!

You do only use then for a short time though!!

dinosaur · 28/05/2004 14:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Northerner · 28/05/2004 14:20

Same here, we lent one too. Ds was in it for about 4 weeks. Wouldn't buy one next time.

Original poster

beansprout · 28/05/2004 14:28

Aw, thanks so much lad-eez. You have put my mind at rest and on the basis that a) it is being given to us and b) we have a space problem, I will go ahead and stop worrying.

Thanks again from a Bean who is v touched that you all responded so quickly!

OP posts:

secur · 28/05/2004 15:06

Message withdrawn

karen01 · 28/05/2004 17:53

I must admit I have bought one for this baby and my DD was in hers for 11weeks. my friends DD is5 months old and still sleeps in her moses basket day and night, she isn't small either roughly weighs about 16.5lb.

eidsvold · 28/05/2004 18:55

we used one for dd - she was tiny when born - left hospital less than 6lbs and was slow to put on weight - got 8 months good use out of it. Wonderful for when we were in a small flst - could still fit in our bedroom. Great for when we moved into a large 2 storey house - put her to bed in the basket downstairs with us and then take her up to bed when we went.

foxinsocks · 28/05/2004 19:09

beansprout, I feel very broody whenever I see your posts as my first child (rather unplanned, but that's another story ) was nicknamed bean after an internal scan at 6weeks where she looked just like a little kidney bean in my tummy! We still call her that now and she's nearly 4.

Just to let you know, if space is an option, we got a fantastic cot from Ikea that lasted my youngest (who's now 2 and a half) from birth until he was 2ish and then he moved into the Ikea kiddies expandable bed. The cot was narrower and less long than normal cots but just as sturdy. And it was only £50 (but you have to buy mattress and sheets there or at Mothercare as they are the only peeps who do the specific sizes).

Hope it all goes well and you have a lovely little bean aswell

clary · 29/05/2004 00:42

beansprout, moses baskets are safe enough as regars SIDS as far as I know...I do know of someone who carried a basket upstairs by the handles with the baby inside and it tipped up and the baby fell out...horrible, so don't do that, but otherwise a good idea I think. Well worth borrowing as others say. Would get a new mattress tho. We borrowed the same (big wicker) one for all 3 and it was very useful, could put it really close to bed for newborn/take is away for weekends etc. Babies were in it for 3-4 mo IIRC but then it was bigger than most you see.

ChicPea · 29/05/2004 05:04

Hi Beansprout. I would agree with the other mums, babies are generally in the moses basket for up to 3mths unless a small baby so could be longer. They are convenient, so if offered one, why not take it? I would do as Clary suggested and buy a new mattress. I did read sometime ago that there was a concern with bacteria on the mattress contributing to SIDS. This is not a definite conclusion but something that was raised so worth bearing in mind. The thing that is of great concern is babies being overdressed and overheating. I'm sure your health visitor will advise you on this.
Anyway, enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and do announce the birth!

acnebride · 29/05/2004 07:27

hi beansprout, m baskets are great, be careful buying mattresses tho as I got 3 different ones before i finally managed to get the right size. you probably aren't sas much of a flake as me but who knows with pregnancy brain! enjoy the basket, littlies look so cute in them. we actually moved ds into his own room on day 5 or so but put the m basket into the cot so that the stand could live downstairs - less carting about.

geogteach · 29/05/2004 19:40

If you need a new mattress you can have them made to measure - both my kids have used the moses basket that I slept in (so yes its ancient) but I had mattress made for each - cost about £20 I can get you details if you want.

BIBIBOO · 01/06/2004 13:47

Hi Bean,

The advice I've been given is, have a moses basket if you're being offered one free or lent one, otherwise don't waste money, they don't get used long enough. I'm borrowing my brothers as his baby was only in it 8 weeks and it's as good as new.

I'm lusting after one of those gliding cribs in Mothercare but there's no room for it in my house, unless we get rid of a sofa!

Original poster

beansprout · 01/06/2004 13:56

Thanks everyone (and was esp. touched by your bean foxinsocks!).

Another question - what bedding do you use? In M/care they have leedle tiny quilts but surely they are no good? Pram bedding instead?

OP posts:

secur · 01/06/2004 14:00

Message withdrawn

GeorginaA · 01/06/2004 14:00

Yep... we use pram fitted sheets and pram blankets.

Original poster

beansprout · 01/06/2004 14:01

Ah, good idea Secur, thank you! Baby due in October so would be the colder time of year for us too. Thanks!!

OP posts:

Fio2 · 01/06/2004 14:03

is this a record? my daughter was in one until she was about 10 months old! we couldnt get her out of it. I found it really useful, especially for downstairs during the day or say you can leave the baby asleep with you whilst you watch TV, have dinner etc and then just carry the basket up to bed with you (obv do not try carrying up stairs if you have had too much wine)

Samcj · 01/06/2004 22:15

That has made me smile Fi02, swaying up the stairs, happy as larry with poor litte DB in (just!) the basket.... are you sure your not talking from experience??!!

Chandra · 03/06/2004 00:16

Another idea regarding the blankets could be to get the fitted sheets and use a grobag instead of blankets, if your baby moves a lot, that's the only secure way to keep them covered at night (DS moved from foot to head of his 1200mm cot in a couple of hours... since the second week!!!)

hovely · 03/06/2004 11:41

I used a carrycot on stand instead, it just seemed sturdier and ds wriggled a lot. Also I put it on the bed next to me so I could stroke and touch him but still sleep without fear of rolling (on him or him off bed). I bought a coir mattress, also have one for the next stage cot, they seem nicer to me as are totally natural materials.

gloworm · 03/06/2004 11:50

ds would never sleep in his moses basket.
dd would sleep in it for naps, but always slept better in cot.

we used it during the day in the kitchen so baby could nap in it or lie there safely when awake. its easy to carry from room to room.

if i was starting out again i wouldn't buy one. but as its being given to you, it will probably come in useful.

also your baby might not be as fussy as my 2 were...he/she might love sleeping in it!

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