A baby bassinet or cradle often serves as an infant’s very first bed before he moves into a baby crib. These small, mobile beds can be moved from room to room with ease, and some models even fold up for easy travel. As an added bonus, cradles offer a gentle rocking motion to ease an infant into sleep. The typical baby bassinet is motionless, but some models offer a battery-operated rocking or vibrating feature.

Cradle for Baby or Bassinet?

Although many parents decide to start their infants off in a crib, others prefer the portability of a baby bassinet or cradle for the first few months. Benefits of using a baby bassinet include:

• Comfort: Baby has a small, cozy space to sleep in.
• Convenience: Cradle can sit right next to your bed for easy nighttime feedings.
• Portability: Cradle and baby can stay with you and be moved from room to room.

Buying a cradle or bassinet is largely a matter of preference. If portability isn’t a concern, a standard baby crib will work just fine and provide a secure sleeping place for your baby for years, rather than months.

Choosing a Cradle for Baby

Safety is the biggest issue that comes into play when choosing a cradle or baby bassinet. Infants can be easily injured if the cradle collapses or if the bassinet is knocked over by a pet or older sibling. Keep the following safety tips in mind when using a bassinet or cradle for baby:

• Check to make sure the latches lock tightly on a folding bassinet.
• Choose a model with a wide, stable base and a sturdy bottom.
• Don’t allow your child to use the bassinet longer than the manufacturer suggests (usually 15 pounds, or about 4 to 6 months).
• Don’t leave the baby unattended in the cradle or bassinet.
• Lock the wheels whenever the baby is in the bassinet.
• Make sure any bows, ribbons, curtains or other loose materials are either tied back tightly or trimmed out of the baby’s reach.
• Make sure that the mattress is firm and fits snugly against the edges of the cradle. If you can fit two fingers between the mattress and the bassinet walls, the mattress is too small.

Cradle Bedding

Some cradles and bassinets come packaged with bassinet bedding. If your model doesn’t, cradle or bassinet bedding is easy to find and purchase. Cradle bedding should include:

• A snug fitted sheet
• Baby bumpers
• Liners.

Some cradle bedding sets come with loose blankets and pillows. These are for decoration only, and your baby should never sleep with them. Loose, fluffy items in a cradle are a suffocation hazard and a major contributor to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Play it safe and keep the extra items out of the baby bassinet. If your bassinet comes with a hood, make sure it’s retractable so you can safely lift your baby out.