Baby Cribs Vs Other Sleeping Options
Some parents might also consider purchasing a cradle, co-sleeper, or bassinet for their newborn but according to safety experts your baby is safest in a crib. To date cribs must meet stringent safety requirements while the other options do not. This is an important factor to consider when choosing where your baby should sleep. Make sure you have established a safe and restful area for your newborn to sleep before you bring him home from the hospital. While a baby crib is often the first purchase parents make when they find out the mother is expecting a lot of care and consideration should be put into what type is chosen. Your baby will spend quite a bit of time in his crib so you want to make sure it’s both comfortable and safe.
In order to take every precaution necessary against the threat of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) the only things that should be in the crib besides your baby is a firm mattress with a tight fitting pad and sheet. You can add a decorative crib skirt or dust ruffle but avoid using puffy or padded bumper guards. If you need to use bumper pads only use those that are thin, firm, securely tied, and meshy. Bumpers should fit around the entire perimeter of the crib and tie or snap in at least six different locations. Make sure that bumper ties are no longer than 7 inches long.
Babies who love motion will often only sleep in a swing. When the motion stops after being placed in a crib, they become restless and wake up. Just as they felt a lot of motion in the womb, it also becomes a source of comfort for them. If this is the case, you can either try patting the baby or getting a vibrating mechanism to put under the mattress. Many of the newer play yards come with these and the motion can be controlled very easily with a switch.
To make the transition from a baby bassinet to crib a smoother one, get your child used to being in a large crib. Perhaps let him play in his crib for a while during the day. The article recommends letting him watch you tidy up from his crib. I let my daughter get used to her crib by putting her in it a few minutes and having her mobile entertain her. I eventually put my daughter down to nap in her crib before she started sleeping in her crib in her own room at night. Then when she was ready, she slept in her crib through the night with no problems.
Also, when you put your baby in the crib, don’t use pillows, comforters or quilts in the crib to prevent the potential for suffocation. Keeping your baby safe while they are in their crib should be your primary goal. No matter how beautiful a crib is for your nursery, it is not worth the risk to your child’s safety if it presents any of the safety concerns outlined here.