Cots/Cribs/Moses baskets - what’s for the best!?

[HopefulBump]

Hi all,

I’m very confused as to what I should but for my baby to sleep in when they arrive.

I was planning on a Moses basket for downstairs in the living room, more to have somewhere safe to put them more than anything.

I’ve been advised that most babies won’t sleep in a Moses basket and a next to me crib would be best for the bedroom with the side down as they’re a lot happier being close to you and being able to see you.

However, I’ve been doing all my ante natal classes trying to learn about safe sleep and reducing chances of SIDS etc. Tucking in blankets tightly and letting the arms free. Cellular blankets only so there’s holes to breathe if it does end up over their face etc etc…..I don’t understand how a next to me crib can be safe?? Surely if it’s at the same height as my bed with the side down, there’s a huge danger of our great big adult winter duvet (baby is due in Jan) flopping on top of them and suffocating them!?

Please could someone explain how a next to me crib could be safe/what you recommend for the baby to sleep in? Apologies if I’m being daft!

Baby sleeping bags are good because if they roll over they stay warm. Moses basket only safe for about 6 weeks. My children all slept in normal cot upstairs in my bedroom. When they are small babies you can put base up higher so easier putting them in and out. As they grow, lower the base.

I wouldn't go for a Moses basket unless you plan on giving it away. They are almost always given away for nothing here, where as a Next to me or similar you could sell on.

My baby hated the next to me initially but slept well in the Moses basket for about 2 months. It was easy to move around the house and worked really well for us. DH could also have her in the living room for the first part of the night while I slept and then just carry the basket into the bedroom (we had one basket and two stands). Now she is a bit big and startles herself when she touches the edges of the Moses basket so we have gone back to the next to me. I use it as a stand alone crib a foot from the bed, both because I tend to throw the duvet around and I also like sitting on the edge of the bed to feed her and then place her straight down in the crib (we are FF as breastfeeding didn’t work out).

I really like the swaddle sleeping bags -easier and safer than traditional swaddling and they have a guide on what baby should wear in them. My baby kicked off any blankets even if they were tightly tucked in. We tried a couple of types but she seems to prefer the arms up position of Love to Dream and sleeps well in them. I’m now dreading transitioning her out of them.

I think snuzpod is better than next to me because it rocks. If your baby stirs or gets unsettled when you put her in a next to me, you have to get her out again (and youll eventually give up and put her in bed with you!). You can just rock a snuzpod.

having said that, proper cosleeping = more sleep so I often don’t use the snuzpod either except as a bedside table like others have said.

I was worried about that with the snuz pod but found the raised sides stop it ever happening. I also woke anytime baby did the tiniest movement so you are hyper alert.

We had a basket downstairs and a snuzpod in the room for ease

I remember my first. Would sleep in crib or cot. Slept a week in her pram basket, her swing and kept going between them. She finally went into her cotbed at 10 weeks. Every baby different, it's so hard to judge what yours will prefer.

We have a Moses basket for the living room and a next2me for upstairs. But initially would put the Moses basket inside the next2me at night as she didn’t like the crib. Have now managed to get her sleeping in the crib a bit but she would prefer to co-sleep - which we do when she just won’t settle.

I can’t see how the duvet would go into the next2me - it would have to be oversized and you would have to be a very energetic sleeper. You can easily keep it back and tuck in around you if you’re worried.

Mine had the big cot upstairs, they wore gro snuggle sleeping bags and the pram for downstairs naps. I do own a moses basket but both of mine hated it. Really good sleepers in the big cot though!