• Save when buying for baby
• The bassinet: necessity or not
• At the rear
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• Don’t Blow the Baby Budget!

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The bassinet: necessity or not

There is debate amongst some mothers: should a new baby sleep in a bassinet or a cradle and then move into a cot, or go straight into a cot. What are the pros and cons? The big plus is how gorgeous bub looks in a cute white cane bassinet. However, the fact is your baby will well and truly outgrow it before you get your money’s worth. Really, that cot will need to be purchased far sooner than you realise. You will also find the bassinet takes up valuable space.

Placing your baby in a cradle is similar to a bassinet. However, you may have one or two extra months worth of use. Most cradles rock, and I don’t mean rock in a funky sense. Cradles usually function by rocking baby to sleep in a side to side motion. The pleasure of rocking your baby to sleep may be enough to out-weigh any practical considerations for a few months, but a cot will eventually have to take its place.

Placing your baby straight into a cot will not cause any harm. Bassinets and cradles look great, but babies generally out-grow a bassinet within three to six months depending on the baby’s birth size. I was determined not to spend any more on sleeping arrangements than absolutely needed. Purchasing a cot was expensive enough without adding on the cost of a bassinet as well. At first I used the pram bassinet, and was amazed that within two months Jer’tarme had outgrown it to the point that it kept her awake. Her arms would hit the sides and she would immediately wake. There went the routine! When the second came along, I placed him straight into the cot, right down at the bottom, all wrapped up. You can save money by simply using a cot as soon as you bring bub home. Bassinets, pretty as they are, will last just a couple of months at best. Is it really worth it?
 
Before we tell you some things to look for when buying a cot, take note that a portable cot is not a cot, it is a temporary sleeping arrangement. Nevertheless, even with portables excluded, there is a huge range of cots available on the market.

To help you identify the best cot to suit your needs, we have some tips to consider.

• You can save money over time if your child’s first cot converts into a bed.
• If you are buying a second hand cot, check for any signs of peeling paint.
• Does the cot come with an adjustable base? Once your baby can sit up you will need to lower the base to protect baby from falling out.
• If you are buying a mattress and cot separately, ensure the mattress properly fits the cot. A baby can suffocate by falling into a gap between the mattress and the side of the cot. The gap should not be greater than 25mm.
• Is the cot compliant with the Australian Standards? If it is new, there should be a label on the cot clearly indicating its compliance.
• Cots with a side drop-down rail are great in that they help you to get baby in and out of the cot without straining your back.
• Check if the side rails have teething strips, these are plastic strips on the top of the rails. These stop baby from biting chunks of wood from the cot.
• Check the cot for protruding knobs or screws that could easily catch baby’s clothing.
• Make sure there are no more than two legs with castors. If all legs have castors, be sure they have brakes on them—and use them.
• Test the side rail bar with a doll, and or a friend’s baby. Not all cots with side rail bars are the same. It’s better to try before you buy.
• Check out warehouse or factory outlets to see if you can better the retail price.