Baby equipment and paraphernalia don’t come cheap. While you might want to shop like a maniac for your new arrival, you will inevitably find that you don’t actually need everything you see.
My advice? Wait until you are setting up your baby’s own room before going shopping. Holding off for a while will also give you a chance to save up for some of the bigger things you will really need. You definitely don’t have to break the bank – at least for a while.
The leading health organisations recommend that babies sleep (particularly at night) in a cot beside their parents for the first six months. Chances are, you probably won’t want it any other way. So, if you are setting up a baby’s room from scratch, or simply making space for your baby in your own room, you have a few options as to where exactly your baby will sleep.
1. Moses basket
Initially, at night your baby may sleep in a Moses basket beside your bed. During the day, it will likely be in the sitting room/kitchen or wherever you will spend your daytime hours. As a general rule, babies can stay in a Moses basket until they are about four months old or until they simply outgrow it. Most parents will leave the base/frame in their bedroom and just transfer the top part of the basket to other rooms during the day. (I may be stating the obvious, but it is really very important to say this: never carry your Moses basket downstairs or around the house when your baby is in it. Always to place it down on a hard, steady surface, well out of harm’s way.
2. Cradle
A cradle has a lightweight frame and can usually be rocked from side to side. Many parents choose this as an alternative to a Moses basket, as quite often the motion of rocking will help little ones to fall asleep. Do not worry that you are setting yourselves up for a lifetime of rocking by investing in one of these. If the rocking becomes a habit for your baby, this can be easily changed. Cradles are usually suitable for infants up to about six months old.
3. Co-sleeper
A ‘co-sleeper’ is a small sized cot that is open on one side. You can attach it to your bed, or pull it right up beside the bed as you sleep. This enables you to transfer your baby easily during the night for feeds (for those mums fearful of rolling on the baby overnight, do note that this rarely, if ever, happens). If you are using a co-sleeper, some are not easily portable, so during the day, your newborn will quite sleep happily in a pram. Just make sure the mattress* in the pram is a good one.
4. Cot or cot bed
Many parents decide to have their infants sleep in a cot or cot bed from day one because they would like them to become used to the idea of being in their cot from the start. It can also dramatically reduce the expense of buying cradles or baskets for them. It is absolutely fine for a baby to sleep in a cot from birth, from a safety point of view. But I think they look so tiny in there, and in my experience they will sleep more soundly in a more comfortable, cosy space. However, there is no harm in placing your baby in the Moses basket at night and into the cot for naps, if becoming used to the cot is on your list of priorities.
*Just a quick note about mattresses and bedding as they are such an important part of sleeping arrangements:
A good-quality mattress is definitely an investment worth making. Your newborn will spend the vast majority of the first few weeks either in your arms or in a Moses basket, pram or cot, so don’t scrimp when it comes to buying the mattress.
A sprung mattresses is the best option, as it will maintain its shape for longer than other types, so you won’t get much ‘dipping’ in the mattress as your baby gets bigger and starts to roll around in the cot. They may be a little more expensive than others, but they are worth it in the longer term.
If you go on to have more kids, it is a bit of an unwritten rule that you buy a new mattress each time. While recommended, it’s not essential, but bear in mind that your baby’s mattress should be clean and firm, and it should fit the cot correctly.
Your cot sheets should be 100% cotton and should correctly fit your mattress. Buy them in bulk, as in the initial months you may find that not only do some nappies leak but also your tiny, gorgeous ‘bundle of joy’ can release more fluid than you could imagine – from both ends!
Happy, comfortable and most importantly, safe sleep awaits!
Niamh O’Reilly is a sleep coach. She’s also a baby and childcare guru, a ‘parent nanny’ and the answer to many a weary parent’s woes. A regular in the Irish media, Niamh’s book, No Fuss Baby & Toddler Sleep, is now available to buy from all good book stores or online from Amazon.com.
