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Original poster

Do I really need a Moses basket?

38 replies

Mumtobe193 · 28/10/2018 13:42

Hi ladies,

So I'm currently expecting my second baby, pretty clued up on what I do and do not need to buy this time round. Only thing I'm not sure about is a Moses basket. I had not one by two for my first DD (one in our room and one downstairs for daytime naps) and I feel like it was a massive waste! DD never really settled in them, and was quite a long baby, so wasn't really in them for long. She slept in my arms a lot in the day, and ended up in bed with us an awful lot at night, she was breastfed so this worked okay for us. She slept well in her pram when we were out and about, and if something needed done around the house I'd put her down in her bouncer chair if she was awake or Moses basket if she was asleep (which wouldn't last long before she'd wake up screaming).

Based on the experience I had with DD I plan to buy a snuzpod or similar this time around, so we can co sleep and breastfeed easily without the anxiety of squashing the baby (I never really slept properly with DD in our bed for fear of this). I do not plan to buy a Moses basket at all this time, I don't have DD's old Moses baskets anymore, I sold one on gumtree and donated the other to the charity shop. Plus the bedside cribs I've seen can be quite expensive so it isn't really an option to get a Moses basket aswell. I'm hoping it will work out more economical to buy a bedside crib as they look so much bigger so hopefully baby will be in it for longer (if they settle in it that is).

However a family member said to me the other day 'I bet you regret getting rid of those Moses's basket now don't you?' To which I replied that actually I didn't plan on using one this time. They then raised the question of what am I going to put baby in to sleep during the day, I told them I was under the impression that I could bring the snuzpod downstairs if I wanted, but then it got me thinking, if they're bigger and bulkier won't this be a bit of a nightmare? How big and heavy are snuzpods anyway? Also told them how DD only ever wanted to nap in my arms most of the time, so was pointless anyway, and was basically laughed at, and told how unrealistic this would be with a 3 year old running around aswell, which I guess is right? Would a sling rectify this? Did any of your babies sleep well in a sling whilst you were pottering around the house etc.

Also DD seemed to fall asleep very quickly in her bouncer, she had acid reflux and being upright really helped, of course I know the dangers associated with this so I moved her to her Moses basket after she actually fell asleep, but she'd then usually wake up crying within minutes as soon as she was moved, and we'd start the whole routine again, so I thought maybe a bouncer that converted to lie flat might be good. Are they worth the extra money?

Also I've considered buying a pram with a carrycot that is safe for sleeping for longer periods of time. Can any reccomend any? Preferably something quite affordable.

Or should I just bite he bullet and buy a Moses basket?

Or is there really no need for any of this? Should I stick to Plan A and bring the snuzpod downstairs during the day?

Sorry this is a bit long winded, thanks ladies x

OP posts:

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StarfishSandwich · 28/10/2018 13:59

DS just sleeps in his carrycot. It isn’t a carrycot which has been approved for overnight sleeping because it wasn’t really the plan but as far as I can tell from my research that appears to be because it hasn’t been tested for that function, not because it is unsafe.

He co-slept (following safe co-sleeping advice) in our bed for the first 6 weeks but was waking really fussy and windy at about 4am and I was knackered. My right hip was also really hurting from lying on one side all the time and I missed being intimate with DH (not necessarily sex, although that was a factor). With the carrycot I can prop the head up a little bit which helps with the windy and refluxy episodes.

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 28/10/2018 14:02

I didn't have a Moses basket for either of my children everyone said how rubbish they were as they didn't last long and were expensive for 6 weeks use so we got a poddlepod and just had that along with a bouncy chair which I used for both and loved

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 28/10/2018 14:02

We’ve bought a second hand snuzpid simply because it seems bigger and sturdier than a Moses basket and we’re expecting this baby to be fairly tall if it takes after dh! I was sold on the ability to bring the top downstairs but tbh I don’t think I’ll do that often in reality as it will probably feel fairly heavy. We have a pram that’s safe for overnight (Uppababy vista) and plan to use the carrycot for downstairs

elQuintoConyo · 28/10/2018 14:04

Never used one. DS wouldn't settle anywhere that wasn't with us. We didn't plan on co-sleeping, but that's what happened. DS was 53.3cm at birth, i don't know how long he would have lasted in a Moses.

We sold a still-in-box Ikea cot and the playpen.

justforareply · 28/10/2018 14:04

Never owned or used one

Stephisaur · 28/10/2018 14:07

Mine is going in the carrycot. It’s basically a Moses basket.

We then have a full cot bed in our room for upstairs sleeps, which will move into baby’s room when he’s older.

Don’t really see the point in a Moses basket and your reasons for not having one seem very sensible!

xyzandabc · 28/10/2018 14:08

3 kids, never had a Moses basket. Slept in carrycot part or pram during the day (was one approved for overnight sleeps) and all straight in to their big cot from day one at night.

INeedNewShoes · 28/10/2018 14:10

DD was very content in her Moses basket. It was a hand-me-down so I only had to get a new mattress. If it wasn't for the basket I would just have put DD straight into a cot as I couldn't just the money on the next-to-me style bassinets.

For a pram carrycot to be safe for overnight sleeping it needs to have proper air ventilation and a breathable mattress.

lovewatchingrainfall · 28/10/2018 14:12

Had a Moses basket for my 1st and she loved it. My 2nd hated it, brought a crib, and she loved it slept in it for ages was the best thing I did, it's longer then a Moses basket so lasted longer, she only moved into her cot when she was on the move.

Original poster

Mumtobe193 · 28/10/2018 14:12

@Awkwardasallgetout we've had a look at the uppababy vista online and we really love it, especially as it's been approved safe for overnight sleeping. Only thing is we've heard they're quite bulky and we have quite a small car so not sure if it would fit in our boot. Are they really that big once folded?

OP posts:

Hanuman · 28/10/2018 14:14

The snuzpod is very heavy to carry around but I really liked it so would still recommend.

I would just use the carrycot for naps

Original poster

Mumtobe193 · 28/10/2018 14:22

Would I be able to use any pram carrycot if baby was only sleeping in it for say 2 - 3 hours during the day? Obviously not overnight for longer periods of time. Now that I think about it there were days when I was out and about in town with DD and she'd be asleep in her carrycot for a fair few hours, and I never gave it a second thought. Does being outside make the difference, is it fine to let your baby sleep in pram for shorter periods at home aswell? Or was I actually in the wrong for letting her sleep in her pram at all, whether we were out or not?

I seem to have totally forgotten loads of the advice about safe sleeping in the 2 and half years since DD was born? Need to read up on all of this again

OP posts:

seven201 · 28/10/2018 14:31

We didn't have a Moses basket. We had a sleepyhead that went in the snuzpod at night and then brought just the sleepyhead downstairs for daytime naps not that she ever really slept in it. My dd slept most happily in my arms or in a carrier (ergo 360).

rebelrosie12 · 28/10/2018 14:34

Sleepy head worked well for us for no 2.

Eeeeek2 · 28/10/2018 14:43

I'd go with pram carrycot, you'll be constantly checking on baby during the day as you won't be asleep yourself.

I've bought a travel cot for the living room to protect dc2 from just 2 year dc1. 36 weeks so can't tell if this will work though.

pastabest · 28/10/2018 14:50

All pram carrycots are fine for daytime naps, that's pretty much their purpose for existing- to contain sleeping babies.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 28/10/2018 14:59

If you're in Scotland you'll get the 'babybox' which is actually a sleeping box with a mattress. I reckon a sturdy cardboard box with a mattress would be perfectly sufficient for a tiny baby.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 28/10/2018 15:00

Scottish Babybox

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 28/10/2018 15:36

I worried about the vista being huge too, but I have a tiny little Corsa and it fits fine as it folds from the middle and the frame itself is fairly compact, with easy to pop off wheels. We chose it as dh is so tall and there’s no way he can kick the back of it while he’s pushing, and also the baby is higher up too so less bending down. I’ve had bugaboos for the other dc but am happy with the vista this time. We got a very good second hand bargain from eBay and it’s only cost us £200. A new mattress will be bought closer to the time but that should be £20 or so

Original poster

Mumtobe193 · 28/10/2018 16:10

@chocolatedefecitdisorder unfortunately I don't live in Scotland, kind of wish I did as the baby box looks like a lovely idea!

@awkwardasallgetout that's good, I have a little Clio so hopefully it should be fine if I do go for an uppababy that is. I'm planning on buying my pram second hand this time too, I've had a look on gumtree but the choice is very limited in my area, so probably will buy off of eBay too. Just a bit worried about ordering the pram before I've actually seen it in person, in case it isn't in good nick, it's damaged etc. I'm in two minds, but I really don't want to pay too much, been there and done that with my first DD, watching the pennies this time.

OP posts:

SoyDora · 28/10/2018 16:16

I’m pregnant with my third and won’t be getting a Moses basket this time, I’ll be using a bedside crib at night and we have an uppababy vista for the day time.
I used the vista for both my previous children and we had a tiny 3 door Peugeot 207 then, it fit fine in the boot.

BertieBotts · 28/10/2018 16:25

Do ebay cash on collection and then you can inspect before you buy. Facebook local selling sites are good too, we got our Mutsy Evo pram there.

I've never used a moses basket, DC1 slept in a bouncy chair during the day, DC2 I didn't realise bouncy chairs had changed so much in 10 years and his is too upright to sleep in, so he slept in the pram carrycot I very nearly didn't buy until he got too big at 8 weeks to stretch his arms out. Then we got a wooden playpen where the base comes up to be like a cot (this is common in Germany where we live) and he sleeps there in the day/evening now or on us.

Bear in mind if you have a tiny car the carrycot won't fit in, so choose something which has a lie flat seat too.

BlueBug45 · 28/10/2018 17:04

OP Google "babybox university UK".

You can then, after doing a short free course, get a baby box either free if you are near one of their collection points, or for the delivery cost of about £6 if you aren't.

Current baby boxes come with a pack of Lidl nappies and wipes inside.

They are longer than a moses basket so should last a little longer.

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 28/10/2018 17:15

*OP Google "babybox university UK".

You can then, after doing a short free course, get a baby box either free if you are near one of their collection points, or for the delivery cost of about £6 if you aren't.

Current baby boxes come with a pack of Lidl nappies and wipes inside.

They are longer than a moses basket so should last a little longer.*

Excellent!

SuperstarDJ · 28/10/2018 17:20

DD1 napped in her snuzpod upstairs or in her pram downstairs (monitor attached to snuzpod). I plan on doing the same for soon to arrive DD2.

Have never felt the need for a Moses basket.

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