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Pregnancy

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Original poster

What should my baby sleep in?

28 replies

wondering7777 · 14/12/2019 10:20

I’m so confused about what to buy - a cot, a Moses basket, a Snuzpod or something else?

My plan is for the baby to sleep in my bedroom for the first six months before transferring to their own room (is that what most people do?)

I also want to buy something that will last them as long as possible, as I’m on a fairly tight budget.

I’m taking the baby on a week-long holiday when they’re eight weeks old to a holiday cottage with no cot facilities (so will need to take something for them to sleep in) and will be getting there by train and hire car at the other end.

Any suggestions?!

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HappyAsASandboy · 14/12/2019 10:31

This depends on lots of variables!

If you're open to bed sharing/cosleeping then that's your cheapest option! You'll need to do some research into how to cosleep safely, particularly about how to keep yourself warm without covers that could harm the baby. If you decide to cosleep then I'd still get a Moses basket or travel for for downstairs.

If you'd like baby to use a cot, getting a large cot with either a removable side or that converts to a toddler bed will mean only buying once. Do you have room in your bedroom for a full size cot? Probably still need a Moses basket/travel cot for downstairs.

If you want to use a cot but don't have a lot of room in your bedroom then I'd look at getting a small cheap basic cot for your room, and a Moses basket/travel cot for downstairs, knowing you'll have to buy a larger cot later or jump straight to a single bed.

Going away by train at 8 weeks it will be hard to take a baby bed with you. Does the cottage have a spare bed that baby could sleep on? At 8 weeks there'll be no rolling, so a firm bed mattress is not much different to a cot.

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 14/12/2019 10:33

You’ll need a cot eventually so definitely that. Before that it’s up to you!

I had a Moses basket which neither of mine liked, they both ended up co-sleeping for a while before going into a cot. I set up the cot in my room for the first 6-12 months.

If you’re on a tight budget, I wouldn’t bother with a Moses basket or bedside crib as they don’t last that long.

If I were going on holiday with an 8 week old and traveling by train, they’d be co-sleeping as I assume you’ll already be carrying a car seat, plus clothes etc. Or order a travel cot to be delivered to the holiday cottage (Amazon?)

If you do decide to co-sleep, make sure you follow the safe sleep guidelines (check out the lullaby trust website).

Lilopup · 14/12/2019 10:35

We had a Moses basket and snuzpod. When DS was newborn he hated the snuzpod because he couldn't touch the sides. So we used the Moses basket until he grew out of it and then the snuzpod. We've just transferred him to his cot bed in his own room now at 8 months, because he has outgrown the snuzpod.

It might be worth looking at a travel cot for your break away? And keeping it downstairs at home for daytime naps.

firstimemamma · 14/12/2019 11:01

Moses baskets ate pretty but they don't stay in them long. Sleepy heads etc are expensive.

If you're on a budget my advice would be a next 2 me bedside crib. We had one and got 6 months of use out of it.

Good luck!

yellowallpaper · 14/12/2019 11:27

Don't waste your time with a Moses basket. Neither DC would sleep in it and it was outgrown really quickly. Looks cute but a waste of space

Havana7 · 14/12/2019 11:29

If your room is big enough for a cot then I would just get a cot and travel cot for your trip. If it isn’t then a next to me. I wouldn’t bother with a Moses basket as they usually outgrow them in 3-4 mo this whereas a next to me will last 6 months

itakephotos · 14/12/2019 11:33

We've used a Chico lullago (like the next to me but the sides don't go down) with a sleepyhead inside which fits perfectly. Then at 6 months moved into own room with the sleepyhead and cot.
You can use the chico as a travel cot too for little ones which is handy.
If you did get a sleepyhead you could easily travel with that too and not necessarily need a travel cot?

MissBPotter · 14/12/2019 11:33

Next to me bedside crib was so much better than a Moses basket. See if you can get one 2nd hand. For this holiday i would say use the carry cot element of the pram for baby’s bed as long as it is suitable for overnight sleeping - many are. Then you can use that to take on the train also. However that would mean either taking your car seat as well or hiring a car seat suitable for that age of baby so might be a bit tricky.

If you’re breastfeeding there is no problem with Co sleeping either if you take suitable precautions- read up on them. I know people get worked up about this but it really is safe if you’re breastfeeding. I don’t think it is as safe of not but not an expert.

OhWellThatsJustGreat · 14/12/2019 11:40

I had a moses basket next to my bed until he was 3 months, then he moved into his own room and the cot in there.
I have the cot/basket attachment for the pram downstairs (which we never use, he just naps on the sofa/blanket on on floor. In hindsight of have just had that upstairs and not bothered with the moses basket.

Where are you located I have a spare travel cot (in laws bought one, my parents bought one and my friend gave me hers) if you're local you could borrow that for your break, although it gives you another carry item.

TryingToBeBold · 14/12/2019 11:45

Moses basket here until 4 and a half months and then moses basket in cot for a couple more weeks and then just the cot.

Snuzpods and sleepyheads arent recommended unless you'll be watching them in it the whole time. Normally advertised for supervised used only which you can't do when you're asleep.

TryingToBeBold · 14/12/2019 11:46

Edit.. Ive got a crib (smaller than cot)for now (gifted) and will just get a second hand cot when the time comes.

Celebelly · 14/12/2019 11:48

@TryingToBeBold That's not true about Snuzpods. They are just cots, same as Next2Me, Tutti Bambini etc.

We had both: a Moses basket and a Next2Me. We got loads of use out of our Moses basket downstairs during the day as that's what she slept in for first four months during day. And at night she slept in her Next2Me till six months. Moses baskets are pretty cheap anyway. Ours was £40 including stand and we definitely got £40 of use from it,

TryingToBeBold · 14/12/2019 11:50

@Celebelly sorry that's my mistake I should have checked

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/12/2019 11:50

Get a Tiny Love 3 in 1 Napper for daytime sleeps downstairs. Lasts a lot longer than a Moses Basket and more versatile.

Get a cot from IKEA (cheap) for your bedroom for them to sleep in then move the whole thing to their room at 6m.

Buy a cheap travel cot as it will come in handy for a good few years for sleep outs and also as a bit of a playpen when they become more mobile.

TryingToBeBold · 14/12/2019 11:51

If you have a lie down buggy/pram.. my DD slept in that when we went on holiday (not the car seat type)

Tini17 · 14/12/2019 12:06

Check if your carrycot is suitable for overnight sleeping - some are - we have a Vista and that is, a godsend on holidays! That would save you lugging a travel cot with you although it is doable as they fold down small-ish and generally come with a protective bag.

nomorewinedayfriday · 14/12/2019 12:11

We also used a sleepyhead. In the bedside cot and then later in his big cot in his own room (get a cot that converts into a toddler bed, will save money in the long run). The sleepyhead helped with the transition from our room to his own. Would also put the sleepyhead in bed beside me on particularly bad nights (on top of the covers) and would use it downstairs too instead of a
Moses basket. They are expensive but you could get one 2nd hand. I made more than half my money back selling it afterwards.

Original poster

wondering7777 · 14/12/2019 12:37

If you have a lie down buggy/pram.. my DD slept in that when we went on holiday

Oh great! So if I get one of these (which I’m planning to) there won’t be any need for a travel cot?

OP posts:

CatSmize · 14/12/2019 12:50

We went for a full size cot (120x60cm) where one side comes off and it attaches to the bed. It will last until he's 3 years old!

When he moves into his own room, we'll put the side back on but when he's older we can take it off again and it'll be like a bed he can get in and out of himself.

We got one for €200 on Amazon and it came with a good mattress and mattress protector. Great value for 3 years' worth of bedding.

Oh and since day one, our DS has slept soundly in his 'king size cot' without needing any kind of reducer.

TryingToBeBold · 14/12/2019 18:35

@wondering7777

You want to look for a travel system if you can. Mine was ex display so it didn't come with a car seat so we have a car seat permanently in the car and then we had the lie down bed for the buggy (changing to the more upright one when DD was ready).

Something like this

TryingToBeBold · 14/12/2019 18:38

@wondering7777 our LO hated the travel cot to start with. It was so open and she got cold. So the buggy did just fine.

That will suit fine until baby grows out of it. Or take your moses basket away with you. Mine took up less room than the travel cot. But then if you just use the buggy then even more room

As for home.. to start with a moses basket was just fine. We had a static stand downstairs and a rocking stand upstairs for night time.
It all depends on feeding/co sleeping preferences though.

newbingepisodes · 14/12/2019 18:50

Depends on what you wanna do. Both my kids slept through the night at 8 weeks and 11 weeks. Both were moved into their own room at 8 and 11 weeks respectively.

user1480880826 · 14/12/2019 18:55

Chico next to me crib is brilliant. Attached to your bed if you want it to. You can adjust the height so you don’t break your back leaning over, it’s big so will last until they’re ready for a cot and you can easily pack it up flat and use as a travel cot.

spurlingpipe · 14/12/2019 19:05

If you've got the space in your room I'd just go straight for a cot.

I got a crib for my eldest and he grew out of it so quickly and it was a nightmare to get him used to a cot.
The following 3 have all went straight into a cot from day one and have been fine.

Check the carrycot on your pram is approved for overnight sleeping.
Not all are suitable for leaving them sleeping unsupervised in.

If not you can often buy travel cots very cheap second hand or ask around and see if anyone has one you can borrow

LondonKate · 14/12/2019 20:14

Here is an evidence lead resource compiled by the infant sleep lab at Durham: www.basisonline.org.uk/

I had a bedside cot, but in the end we scarcely used it. I opted for safe co-sleeping (note - all the UK recommendations now include guidelines for safe co-sleeping (e.g. here is the UNICEF info: www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/baby-friendly-resources/sleep-and-night-time-resources/co-sleeping-and-sids/).

Around half of UK families bed share at least some of the time. So even if you plan to use a different method most of the time it is worth knowing how to share a bed safely as well.

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