So you’re anticipating a brand new baby and you’re a new comer to the whole raising a child thing. It’s your first child and there’s a lot of questions that you might want answered. Everything is buzzing around in your thoughts because you’re not quite certain which way to turn.
Being a first-time mother or father is difficult. You learn on the job, and there is lots to learn. A new baby does not come with an instruction manual and so you need to work a great deal out for yourself.
Among the eternal concerns is should you use a bassinet or crib. Is it best to start your child sleeping in a cradle or should you simply go straight to a crib?
It is a good question and something with no particular answer. It all boils down at the end of the day to a matter of choice and like everything there are positives and negatives to each.
A cradle is small, easy to move around, may be put in your bedroom next to your bed very easily, and looks great. Your first baby can cuddle in a beautiful cradle surrounded by frilly edgings and bedding and all your friends can ogle jealously at the new addition to the family.
A good cradle is designed on a stand to ensure that it will likely be right at eye level beside your bed if you need to have your baby sleeping in your room during the night with you. Plus a good cradle should have a basket which can be removed to enable you to take your baby and its bassinet with you where ever you go very simply.
However bassinets have very low sides, and are only designed for very young babies who are unable to stand or to climb. In a few months your baby is going to be understanding how to become a lot more mobile and the likelihood develops of him or her falling over the sides.
As well the baby outgrows a bassinet in a short time. For these reasons the bassinet is really only useful for the first few months of life. You will move your baby to a crib in a short time.
A crib is big and less portable. It can be more difficult to keep in your bed room and many bedrooms don’t have the space for a child crib. It is harder to move around and a tiny newborn baby seems almost as a speck in a huge crib.
If you opt for the bassinet first you also have the added cost of purchasing the cradle and then purchasing the crib.
Welcome to the crib bassinet argument.
Ultimately it’s just a matter of choice. Whether you choose the bassinet for the initial few months of life or simply go right to the crib doesn’t really matter so long as it works for you. There isn’t any right and wrong, consider the benefits and drawbacks of each one and go with your decision.
And enjoy your new child, your entire life just changed.
