How to Choose Bedding For Your New Baby
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Ensuring your baby’s bedding is as cosy, comfortable and as safe as possible is going to help all of you get a good night’s sleep – which, as a new parent, is the most valuable commodity in the world!To begin with your new baby will sleep in a bassinet or a Moses basket. Moses baskets are portable and quite solid, made from wicker or traditional woven palm.
Ensuring your baby’s bedding is as cosy, comfortable and as safe as possible is going to help all of you get a good night’s sleep – which, as a new parent, is the most valuable commodity in the world!
BASSINETS
To begin with your new baby will sleep in a bassinet or a Moses basket. Moses baskets are portable and quite solid, made from wicker or traditional woven palm. Their portability make them appealing as you can allow your baby to continue sleeping as you move from the bedroom to other room around the house.Bassinets still need a mattress and the mattress must be quite rigid to pass safety tests that prevent a chance of SIDS. Older bassinets were only subject to voluntary safety standards so if you’re using an older bassinet, check for safety issues.
MATTRESSES
Babies sleep on a firm mattress, not in the over luxurious comfort that western adults have become accustomed to. Sleeping on a hard surface is probably better for your back too. Babies are perfectly comfortable to sleep on a hard surface, so don’t be concerned that they need extra cushioning and be tempted to add liners or cushions. Babies can’t have any bulky bedding with them while they sleep – no pillows, quilts, even soft toys. They need a firm cot mattress that complies with Australian cot safety standards.
BOORI COTS
Boori/ Boorie is an Aboriginal word meaning child or baby or boy and so refers to a bed for a child. Boori cots are just a little larger than standard cots - longer and wider. The most important thing when buying a mattress is to make sure it will fit your bassinet/cot/bed/floor space. Because they are a little bigger they will last that bit longer as your child grows. If you have long legs in the gene pool, maybe opt for a Boori cot.
WATERPROOF
For obvious reasons you should pick up a few mattress protector covers to go with your mattress. Also for not so obvious reasons – if your baby is bottle feeding, there might be a chance of spilt milk on the mattress. However it happens, if your baby’s cot gets wet, you want to be able to clean and dry it quickly and effectively without too much hassle so that your baby can get back to sleep (hopefully). Over the cover, all your baby needs is a fitted sheet. Keep your baby’s bedding as simple as possible - the simpler, the safer.
SWADDLING AND SLEEPING BAGS
Most newborn babies like to be swaddled, others don’t. If your baby cries and kicks every time you try and swaddle her/him then it’s okay to find alternatives, such as sleeping bags. As your baby grows you should sleep them in zippered or buttoned sleeping bags. It’s impossible to kick off a sleeping bag, so you can rest assured knowing that they will remain warm and cosy throughout the night. The good thing about sleeping bags is that you don’t need to use blankets as well, unless it is extremely cold. There are various sleeping bags available of different thickness and warmth so get a few that range in warmth to keep you covered if the temperature drops or rises.
Once you’ve taken safety and your baby’s needs into account then you can worry about style. Bassinets and cots come in a huge range of different styles from traditional and frilly to modern and sleek or polished wood, so take your time to find one that you love and fits in with your house décor.