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

I found the canopy on my ds's moses basket quite useful- it was indeed one of the broderie anglaise sorts (that was the cheapest I could find!) and I managed to get the canopy to stay up once I tied some ribbon round the screw bits.

The holes in the broderie anglaise were perfect for putting my beady eye up to if I wanted to check he was asleep without venturing into his sight line so the checking could be done without him knowing I was there and therefore without disturbing him if he was just about to drift off to sleep by some miracle.

Otherwise I agree with other posters its completely useless and only so it looks nice!

Thanks juuule, I bestowed on you the title of the 'Queen of Moses Baskets (Knowledge)'! It does make sense what you are saying but I am such a worrier and I would fear cot death more than germs! Gosh, we have really opened a whole can of (moses) worms here, haven't we? We might still end up getting the amby but for now, moses it is!

As a paranoid first timer I took the canopy off ours as I found the wing nut things a bit alarming. I was convinced I'd accidentally gouge a hole in her foot with it or something.

Ours was also a hand-me-down thankfully, as she actually ended up in it, inside the cot in her own room within three weeks, as she snored so loudly (and still does) I couldn't sleep in the same room as her!

Lol @ 'Queen of Moses Baskets (Knowledge)'
As regards cot-death, at one time there was talk of the ventilated mattresses harbouring spores from babies possetting or even just the fact they were lying on the mattress they would build up over time. This was linked with cot-death in that the theory (don't know if it was proved or any further research done) was that the baby breathed the spores in and it affected their breathing. I went with the feeling that for us I would prefer the vinyl covered mattress which I had more control of keeping clean. As I said others might have a better idea of what the latest recommendations are. You need to be comfortable with your choice. It's probably not hugely important which one you choose.
I found the moses basket very useful in the early weeks for carrying the baby up and down stairs asleep. Later we put it in the cot and used for quite a while with some.

Same as food fiend, first timer, paranoid, hood wouldn't stay up on mine (given to me by sil), so took it off!
I don't use the duvet, use grobags. DS is tiny, so will be in his Moses basket a while!
Tip from me - get a spare set of covers from ebay, should only cost you a few quid, ideal when baby vomits in it!
Second the muslin squares, so handy for posseting babies (like mine!). I normally stick one under his head otherwise I'm forever changing his sheets!

Hey juuule,

One last question... What disinfectant do you use then for cleaning the vinyl bit? Thanks!

Ax

Yer i had the same trouble with our moses basket! Ended up troughing the canopy away!!

Usually shortly before baby was due I'd give it a good clean down with soap and water and then a light spray of something like dettox or whatever anti-bacterial spray I had in. This would give it time to air before baby went in it. After that I'd only give it an occassional wipe down if I felt that it needed it. HTH.

NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Did nobody ever find the sun was streaming through their bedroom window, or the ceiling light was on, and baby had it right in his eyes?

Well I did, and wished to goodness that my canopy thing would stay UP!!!!!

I really needed it but it was second hand and very shoddy and fell down all the time

Don't ditch the canopy, people!!!

Sorry just found your post, Juuule! Seems we are oddos here x

Odd we may be, but we know the worth of a moses canopy

Hurrah for yet another useful mn thread. The moses basket I've chosen doesn't have a canopy and I wondered if that was a big issue. Now I feel much better about it.

Thanks for the alternative perspective FlllightAttendant, although thanks to a house sheltered from the sun and full of those pesky 'to-dim-to-be-of-any-use' energy saving lightbulbs I wont be worried to much about bright light waking the baby!

Sun streaming into the windows... SlillightAttendant, we must be living in different countries! LOL... (Anyone else truly fed up with this crappy weather?!)

Thanks juuule...