Are Moses Baskets safe?

[Serenissima123]

Hi all :)
I was thinking of getting a moses basket for the first few months, as our flat is small and it would fit nicely by the bed. It's also very mobile so I can transport it by the handles to different rooms during the day, e.g when I'm working at the computer for several hours and baby is sleeping, I can keep the basket next to me.
They also look adorable!

My only concern is that a lot of them are lined, e.g. clair-de-lune.co.uk/collections/moses-baskets/products/waffle-palm-moses-basket
and I worry the baby might wriggle or role into a position where their mouth is pushed against the side and they can't breathe. Is this a valid concern? Would it be safe if you used one with holes and no lining?

Thanks!

I just bought one from that website. My understanding is that you stop using them when baby can roll anyway, regardless of if they are lined, so that shouldn't be an issue. But you can get them without linings too, in wicker and in materials like silicon.

Baby would probably outgrow it before they're able to wriggle or roll and have their pushed against the side, IME

@Mamamamasaurus @mayihavesomecakeplease Aah ok... For some reason I thought even new newborns were able to wriggle! Doh! I have so much to learn

They are safe. But I don’t think you are meant to carry them by the handles. I did. But I don’t think it’s recommended.

Babies don’t really roll over til about 4-5 months old. So they stay where you put them. Get one with a rocking stand.

Also don’t bother with specific Moses basket sheets like I did. A pillowcase is the same size and works the same. Put the mattress inside like a pillow and tuck the corners in.

e.g when I'm working at the computer for several hours and baby is sleeping

Moses baskets are fine for the first few months, but you might need to revise your expectations about baby sleep patterns….

@DobbyTheHouseElk

Also don’t bother with specific Moses basket sheets like I did. A pillowcase is the same size and works the same. Put the mattress inside like a pillow and tuck the corners in.

Good tip!

Moses baskets are absolutely fine but I guarantee your baby will not want to be put down and will want to be held by you. I would cancel all expectations of working at the computer while baby sleeps soundly next to you. Google the 4th trimester

Actually newborns can and do wriggle! They don't stay in the same position you put them in FFS!

A problem with moses baskets is that putting the baby to sleep with their feet at the end of it isn't as safe as in a cot - in a moses basket, of the baby pushes down with its feet it won't move them up the cot (away from any bedding that might have come untucked and be covering its nose and mouth. A cot with a rigid base is safer - a moses basket is for supervised naps.

@Serenissima123

Hi all :) I was thinking of getting a moses basket for the first few months, as our flat is small and it would fit nicely by the bed. It's also very mobile so I can transport it by the handles to different rooms during the day, e.g when I'm working at the computer for several hours and baby is sleeping, I can keep the basket next to me. They also look adorable!

My only concern is that a lot of them are lined, e.g. clair-de-lune.co.uk/collections/moses-baskets/products/waffle-palm-moses-basket
and I worry the baby might wriggle or role into a position where their mouth is pushed against the side and they can't breathe. Is this a valid concern? Would it be safe if you used one with holes and no lining?

Thanks!

Expect not to be working for several hours a day until baby starts school.

Could you get a next-to-me cot? Safer than a moses basket. They can be expensive but look on eBay, Facebook etc. for a second hand one, baby won't know or care if it's not brand new.

@HavelockVetinari

Actually newborns can and do wriggle! They don't stay in the same position you put them in FFS!

A problem with moses baskets is that putting the baby to sleep with their feet at the end of it isn't as safe as in a cot - in a moses basket, of the baby pushes down with its feet it won't move them up the cot (away from any bedding that might have come untucked and be covering its nose and mouth. A cot with a rigid base is safer - a moses basket is for supervised naps.

I see... interesting, thanks @HavelockVetinari

@HavelockVetinari

Could you get a next-to-me cot? Safer than a moses basket. They can be expensive but look on eBay, Facebook etc. for a second hand one, baby won't know or care if it's not brand new.

Was thinking about it but they harder to move around and more bulky. I like that you can lift moses baskets of the stand and bring them to different rooms

Ignore the comments about not being able to work - i took my son to work with me and whilst work was sporadic is it achievable.

I personally went for a snuzpod but we used a sleepyhead for daytime naps, or the carrycot of the pram. Or even better, a soft wrap sling so I had my hands free to work and baby was snuggled against me. I found that Moses baskets didn’t last the test of time when my friends had them.

Never had a Moses basket, think they are a waste of money, they out grow them so quickly. Baby's also do wriggle and move about else we have fairy's that moved my 10 week old up his next 2 me last night lol
Have a look at some sort of next 2 me they last until baby goes into their own room / cot at 6 months and now days have lots of styles and slimline ones

I've used Moses Baskets for both of mine as have many people for years!

As long as they are put foot to foot they will be fine. I tended to use sleeping bags or swaddles over night to avoid any chance of slipping under the sheets. We had a stand by the bed and one by the sofa in the living room.

Just be careful using the handles when baby is in it (not sure your meant to really), a friend did and the baby fell out and down the stairs.

Mine wouldn't lay flat. I lived in a tiny flat with dd1 so I took the carrycot off the pram and tried to use that but to be honest I just used a baby carrier most the time. For Dd2 we had a swing that rocked, she loved it

@Keepingitreal14

I've used Moses Baskets for both of mine as have many people for years!

As long as they are put foot to foot they will be fine. I tended to use sleeping bags or swaddles over night to avoid any chance of slipping under the sheets. We had a stand by the bed and one by the sofa in the living room.

Just be careful using the handles when baby is in it (not sure your meant to really), a friend did and the baby fell out and down the stairs.

Thanks, @Keepingitreal14. What do you mean by foot to foot?

Oh poor baby!

@Ogwen

e.g when I'm working at the computer for several hours and baby is sleeping

Moses baskets are fine for the first few months, but you might need to revise your expectations about baby sleep patterns….

Christ, why is there always one?

We’re all first timers the first time 🙄 just be nice.

Ignore the comments about not being able to work - i took my son to work with me and whilst work was sporadic is it achievable.

Haha! Ignore everyone else's experience because mine was different, and theirs are all therefore invalid!

All babies are different. OP might have a sleeper, or she might have one like many of us who wouldn't be put down.

@Serenissima123 feet touching the foot of the basket (or cot), stops them slipping under the covers.

Moses baskets are fine short term, they outgrow the quickly.
We have a cot for bedroom and a travel cot for living room, both safe and last much longer.

Moses baskets don't last very long, especially if you have a long baby (are you or your partner tall?) Maybe 10-12 weeks usually?

We used the pram carrycot, which was handy as you could still get out for a walk even when the baby was deeply asleep. But for the first few weeks no, he didn't want to sleep anywhere except my chest. You might find a soft sling better if you need to work.

We had a snuzpod and then used the pram bassinet for daytime naps downstairs so that might be another option. Moses baskets don’t last that long so I didn’t bother

I Whole heartedly recommend the Moses basket by schnuggle. My 75th centile baby slept in in over night for 6 months. It's extra long and it's all breathable. Perfectly safe. I wish she still fit in it now.

https://www.uberkids.com/shnuggle-moses-baket-1362955/?sku=SCGSHN-WHT-WAF&istCompanyId=37dca0b5-f08f-460a-9189-9153d7108287&istFeedId=b9ff17e0-1a2f-4169-bb0c-0c815ad88867&istItemId=willqtltm&istBid=t&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMHDpveo8QIVgWDmCh0HTw92EAQYECABEgIMBDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds.

I didn't get the hood or the stand as I don't think they're necessary but you can get it with a stand too.