Canopy on Moses basket: What is it for?

[angel1976]

First-time mum-to-be here (Can't you tell?!!)... I've been given a really good condition Moses basket on a freecycle network as I am still undecided about the Amby Nest and thought the Moses basket would be good for the first few weeks anyway. The only thing I can't work out is how to put the canopy on with the damn thing collapsing every time. The thing just doesn't stay up (uses these screw things with lots of round metal discs ). Before I give myself any more grief about it, what IS the canopy for? I mean, a Moses basket is for use mostly around the house (I can't imagine taking the baby out with the basket especially in the first 3 months of baby's life anyway!). Does it really matter if I just take it off and NOT use it? Any ideas? Those who have used Moses basket, did you find the canopy useful?

Thanks, Ax

it's to make it look cute and is of no practical value whatsover

It's just there to take your mind off the fact that you've paid £50 for a wicker basket
(well not you cause yours was free)

@ connor

In theory I think it helps to keep the air warm and keep babs asleep, but the slow creaking as it collapses wakes babs up which defeats the purpose of putting the hood up in the first place...

it's for those lazy summer afternoons when you and your baby are dozing prettily on a rug in the garden.

you will NEVER need it

Nicely put, Porpoise!

I have decided not to get a moses basket, as we're planning to use the carrycot part of our buggy for the first few weeks, and then get bubby into the cot asap. Am I doing the right thing? Just couldn't bring myself to spend on something we will probably only use for a short while... Any advice much appreciated!

lol porpoise

I took the canopy off the moses basket I got (second hand) cos it was hideous.

Carrycots are fab, Cara1 - and, because they tend to be bigger than Moses Baskets, may last you a little longer.

Yay, that's good news. I could well be having a whopper so bigger is better!

Ha, thanks! I did think the reason for putting a canopy up is to make it look 'pretty' and to distract you from the fact that you have just shelled out a huge amount for something you are going to use for 2-3 months but kept my mouth shut just in case there was an incredible safety reason why it's there. We got carried away in the post-Christmas sales and paid £90 for a 'discounted' M&P Moses basket and stand and am so glad we took it back when common sense prevailed... Baby's due late Feb / early March so I think any sitting outdoors in the garden ain't going to happen in the first 3 months of his life! Thanks all!

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The canopy on ours was pretty useful to deflect toys that were inadvertantly dropped or launched in the direction of the baby's head by our younger children
Also, kept the sun off baby's head when it came in the window at a particular angle.
Also, reassured me that there were no draughts on baby's head.
But apart from that it looked pretty.

Hi juuule,

I can see your point about the sun coming into windows but honestly, I would think it was easier to move the whole basket than to put that stupid thing up! It's our first so no other children to worry about... Draughts, I don't think there's any drafty bits in the house. Also, we inherited the sheets/bedding and not to sound horribly ungrateful, they are a bit too lacy for our liking but hey, baby's not going to notice right? LOL!

Ax

I never actually managed to get either of mine to sleep in a moses basket for more than 10 minutes. (and took the canopy off it too due to frills)

The frilly sheets/bedding bits I never bothered with. Much too fussy and my cotton sheets and hand-knitted (gift from a friend) cover was usually enough. Oh and a pillow case (no pillow) or muslin just under their head to catch any posset.

Thanks juuule. Good suggestion. You sound like a Moses basket expert . Half the mattress has holes and foam exposed and I imagine this is the side for the baby's head in case he goes facedown (for whatever reason!) so he can breath... Am I right? (God, I sound so stupid!)

effect!

As as another first-timer, this is really helpful - I've got a moses basket but the hood thing keeps falling down so reassuring to know I might as well just leave it down!

Another naive first-timer question - about that little quilt/cover thing that comes with moses baskets. I assume that it actually has no practical use and that I can just ignore it given that it's not really a blanket and just use normal sheets/blankets instead?

moses baskets and cribs would have first had canopies in the days of 4 poster beds and would have been there to stop cockroaches, fleas and other household infestations dropping on you in your sleep

if you are mercifully free of infestations they serve no practical purpose i think

Angel The foam bit is intended to be the part where the baby's head goes. My own personal feelings on that, though, are that it's better for the vinyl? covered bit to go under the head especially if the mattress has been used for another baby previously.
My reasons for this is that the foam could have absorbed the possets of another baby and unless the mattress had been boil-washed (which would ruin it) then I would be concerned about lurking germs. With the vinyl bit then you can at least wipe it down with a disinfectant.
As I said just my personal view other people might have a different view.
Holidaysqueen The baskets that I've used usually have one of those wing-nut things to tighten the canopy/hood. The tighter it is then the stiffer the joint and so there's more chance of the canopy staying up. Don't know if that's the case with them all.

Holidaysqueen No you don't need the quilt cover thing ( I gave it my younger children to play babies with their dolls). Your own bedding is fine and I found it much better to use.

Tighten the wing nuts all you like ladies, they will still be hopeless and collapse within minutes ime.

We took hoods off as soon as we got baskets this time.

thanks juuule

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