How to Chose the Perfect baby Bassinet

Many parents enjoy having their baby close by in the first few months of life. Many times this involves having baby sleep in the same room with them at night or allowing baby to have a safe and comfortable place to sleep, besides a crib in any room in the house.
A bassinet makes a wonderful secure place for a newborn. There are many different types of bassinets, which one would be perfect for your baby?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A baby
• Some time to shop online!

1. 

   You first need to decide if a bassinet is what you want for your baby. It is perfectly acceptable and safe to introduce your baby to a full-sized crib from the onset. However, many parents use a bassinet for the first few weeks or months of a baby's life. The closeness of the small space within the bassinet seems to comfort the infant.

2. 

   There are may different types of bassinets. The stand alone bassinet, the portable bassinet and the portable bassinet are most common. If you think you would like the bassinet to take the place of a crib in baby's room, go for the stand alone bassinet.

3. 

   If you'd like to co-sleep but are a bit apprehensive about having baby in bed with you, consider a co-sleeper bassinet. This allows baby to have their own sleep space. One side of the bassinet is lower than the other and that is the side that should attach the the side of your bed. Now you can be close to baby without the worry of sharing the bed.

4. 

   Portable bassinets are wonderful if you want to be near baby while they sleep securely and comfortably.

Tips & Warnings

• Browse around online to find not only the best selections but also the most competitive prices!
• Check to make sure the mattress pad fits securely. There should never be a gap between the pad and the bassinet edge of more than two fingers width at any given spot.
• Be sure that there are no sharp or rough edges that could cause cuts or scrapes to either the baby or the parent.
• Test the overall stability of the bassinet. The bassinet should be wide enough to provide a safe base, be made of solid construction, and any folding mechanisms should lock securely into place.
• If the unit comes with a hood, make sure it is detachable or that it folds back. Most people find that after a short while it is more practical to have the hood out of the way while tending to the baby.
• Choose a bassinet manufactured by a reputable company, one that stands behind the safety of their product.

Resources

• BabyBox.com
• Baby Bassinets FAQ
• New Parents Guide