Newborn sleeping arrangements

[Maisey281]

Hi.
I'm a first time mum (18 weeks) and could really do with some advice from any experienced parents out there!

We have a room that will be a nursery so do we put a cot in there for when the baby reaches 6 months and buy a Moses basket or crib for our room initially?

(We plan to have a second baby so will hopefully be re using whatever we buy)

How do I choose a cot?!

Is a Moses basket a waste of money as they grow out of them so fast? But this has the benefit of being portable to go downstairs in the day

A crib will last longer (until they go in a cot) but is not portable

Am I missing something or do I need all 3?!?!

If I buy a crib then where will the baby sleep downstairs?!

As you can tell I'm overwhelmed by the options

Thanks in advance x

I felt similar OP.
We went for a next to me bedside cot, and then the carrycot portion of our buggy is suitable for sleeping in so we use that downstairs.

Congrats on your pregnancy

I use the buggy downstairs. Baby sleeps in bed with me although I do have a side by side cot which I have hardly used. I'll get a cot later when she goes in own room.

Our plan is to have a bedside crib (Chicco next2me) plus a cot (hand-me-down), and experiment with babywearing for daytime naps. If it doesn’t work out, we will be reconsidering!

Some people use a pram for daytime sleeps, and some people acquire a baby box for baby to sleep in. Another tactic I am considering is a Sleepyhead on the floor for daytime naps. Trying to buy a cheap second-hand one on eBay, but not having much luck!

I bought a cot from Ikea that also turned into a toddler bed. I used it for DD1 to sleep in during the night in our bedroom until she turned 6 months. I then moved it, into her bedroom/nursery.

For downstairs, I used a Moses basket in the living room and when she outgrew that, I put her in the pram to nap.

She's 14 months now, and still naps in her pram or on the sofa.

I'm due to have DD2 any day, and I'm going to do the exact same. I've kept the Moses basket and just bought a new cot from Ikea.

Firstly congratulations.
We had a crib in our room for baby to sleep in for the 1st 6 months and used the carrycot part of the pram for downstairs.
We decorated the nursery and had the cotbed in there for when he was ready to switch rooms ( letter than planned and stayed in our room for 9 months)
It does all seem overwhelming at first but you will find what's right for you and baby.

You don’t have to buy the crib straight away, especially if finances are a concern. Dd is 5 and a half months and still doesn’t have one!

We have a chicco Next2me in our bedroom and a sleepyhead for naps.

I found the chicco next to me absolutely invaluable. My daughter slept in there next to our bed for about 7 or 8 months. Then she was just in our bed for ages (rubbish sleeper) then went into a cot bed in her own room at about 15 months.

For naps during the day she always went into the next to me or in bed with me, because I literally did sleep everytime she did

We had a cot in his room for when he was 6 months, a Chico next to me in our room and he slept downstairs in the day either on the sofa, in his sleepyhead or in his mamaroo

We have a crib that converts into a cot (stokke sleepi) it’s on wheels so will move from our room to the nursery when baby is 6 months. We did this with our son and it worked well. I have a Moses basket for downstairs

A bedside cot (for a cheaper option a few of the IKEA ones have an option to build 3 sided), you might find it easier to keep baby with you beyond 6 months especially if you’re breastfeeding. One of mine slept in a Moses basket downstairs and a travel cot downstairs until 6 months once he outgrew the Moses basket. The other only ever slept on me or in the car. I’ve bought a Moses basket again for baby3, I suspect it’ll end up storage or with the cat in it and baby will sleep mostly in the car/sling.

We used the buggy downstairs. Uppababy bassinate is detachable and then pram seat when older. We had a next to me crib and a cot that were occasionally used but DD mostly slept in bed with me.

I'd be tempted to wait and see what sort of sleeper you get. After about a month mine simply wouldn't be put down to sleep during the day so walks with the pram, co sleeping or babywearing were what worked.

We’re using a chicco next to me for 5 week old DS. Got a Moses basket downstairs for daytime and a cotbed in his nursery for when he’s older.

I like the Moses basket for daytime because it’s portable, he can sleep in whatever room we’re in.

We have a sleepyhead. He sleeps in that on the sofa/table in the day (or in the pram/sling/car if we are out) and at night he’s in the sleepyhead in a next to me. I can’t recommend a bedside cot enough - so handy to slide them across to feed without getting out of bed and you can reach across to pat them, put dummy back in etc. When he grows out of the next to me he’ll go into a cot in the nursery.

I had moses basket and cot bed (you take the sides off and it becomes a bed) lasted till mine were about 6.

Wow, thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

This is just what I needed to hear and I am so relieved to know that I was actually thinking along the right lines

My friends that had babies a while back all said they wished they had the next to me crib for easy transfers when feeding-so this is definitely what I will go for in our bedroom

Hadn't considered using a pram for downstairs-fab idea!

I feel better already!

We have a tutti bambini cozee crib for our bedroom. For downstairs, I have a Moses basket that we got very cheap in the Asda baby event (think it was about £25 including stand and mattress). Otherwise you could use the carry cot part of the pram? X

We had a crib for our room and a Moses basket for the living room. Was great having somewhere for her to sleep upstairs and downstairs.

We went for a mothercare furniture set. We chose by walking round the shop and deciding on which felt the most sturdy xx

I've bought a next2me, and pram was also my thinking for downstairs.

I think a Moses basket is a waste of money if I'm honest. I would buy a travel cot with a bassinet in it they're really usable I used dds as a playpen as well when she was a bit bigger when needed if I was nipping to the toilet etc. Something like the one I've sent a photo of.

@Spargle check these out on Etsy, same thing quarter of the price. Please remember they are only safe to use when you are awake and watching baby...

I will defo be getting one of these again for baby#2 as it was great for when I would spend the day at my mums much easier to transport than a moses basket 😁. And all the cute colour choice is just a bonus 🤪

Dd1 had a Moses basket. Grew out of it way to quick. After an emcs I found a faff getting in and out of bed to get her then get back in bed to feed. Unfortunately couldn't just sit up twist n pick her up. Plus she had really bad reflux so was in her room by 6weeks

Dd2 is 4 weeks now. This time we have a snuzpod and its tons better. It's bigger for a start, has an optional tilt to it, attatches to the bed and the sides zip down so you can have it open as a 3 sided cot

As for downstairs we use the carrycot from the pram

Helps to add pic!!! Shipping is £16 but still works out at half the price of sleepy head! X

I'm expecting my first baby soon and so have been researching similar stuff.
As babies apparently grow out of Moses baskets quickly, I've got one off Freecycle which I'll buy a new mattress for (£9 from ASDA)
If you're not already on Freecycle, it's definitely worth a look (I've got a couple of other baby things for free from there)

I'm reliably informed that the cheapest cot from Ikea (around £40 I think) is very good.