There are so many choices when it comes to your baby’s sleep space. Bedside crib, cot, Moses basket, co-sleeping. This was one of the areas that took the greatest mental toll on me when preparing for our baby. I just didn’t know what was right, what was safe and how to get what we needed for our budget.
When you’re parenting with spoons, the last thing you need is extra head-scratching research to do. This is where this post comes in. I’ll look at the options available, make suggestions on brands and where to shop, how to find a good price and what is and isn’t safe.
If you have any comments or ideas, please let me know below, or get in touch with me here.
Safe sleeping: the dos and don'ts
When baby arrives, you’re all going to need to get sleep when you can. In order for you to rest well, you need to be comfortable that you’ve made safe choices for your baby.
The absolute best place to find safe sleep guidance is The Lullaby Trust. If in doubt, check there first.
Safe sleep is essential to reduce the risk of injury or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Newborns should sleep in the same room as you until they are at least 6 months old. So there’s no need to rush out and buy a full-size cot at this stage, unless of course you want to! We have a lovely cot-bed for our little girl which will transform into a toddler bed when she’s ready. However, you may find that you would prefer a floor bed for if and when baba moves out of your room. So take your time to decide and get to know how you and baby sleep best.
There are some key things to remember where safe sleep is concerned:
- Baby should be laid on their back, with their feet at the bottom of the crib.
- New babies should seep in the same room as you (including for naps) until they are at last 6 months old.
- Buy a new, firm mattress which is either waterproof or covered with a waterproof sheet. It is very difficult to clean a second-hand mattress adequately.
- Do not put toys, comforters or blankets in the crib. Keep it clear.
- Keep an eye on the temperature in your baby’s sleep space and adjust their clothing accordingly so that they do not overheat. It is better for the room to be slightly chilly than too hot.
- A separate space is safest for baby, however many little ones enjoy co-sleeping (as do their parents!). This can be particularly handy if you are breastfeeding. Read about safe co-sleeping here.
Safe space choices
So you’ve cleared up the dos and don’ts of safe sleep. Now you need to pick a space. Cot, crib, basket?
Here’s my take on each option.
Bedside-cribs
Most people I know have opted for one of these for their baby. Designed to last past 6-months even for a bigger baby, these attach to the side of your bed and often have a drop down side. This creates a joined but separate sleep space for baby. You can simply reach over to them in the night to feed or re-settle. We had a Snuzpod 4 and it was generally fab. Friends have had the ChiccoNext2Me and enjoyed that too.
However – and here is my single biggest problem with bedside-cribs – when you attach these to the side of your bed, you cannot move them out of the way to get in and out of bed. This may be fine for fit and able parents, but if you’re a spoonie living with pain or fatigue, if you have a disability, or if you’ve had a c-section to give birth, this may not be so practical.
We ended up zipping up the side of the crib, moving it away from the side of the bed (only by a foot or so) and this allowed me to get in and out with ease. I did have to move more to tend to baby though. The reality is, though, that unless you have the space in your bedroom for a full-size cot, this is still the best option for many families.
Just be careful to measure the height of your bed and make sure the crib you choose can be adjusted to this height. It’s important not to have a gap which may cause accidents.
Moses baskets
I loved our Moses basket. It was easy to clean, had a rocking stand, and fit perfectly next to our sofa. We used ours as a second space downstairs, to allow for easier daytime naps and less carrying baby up and down the stairs (ideal for a spoonie).
Whilst I loved our basket, the reality is that it wasn’t totally necessary. My sister-in-law has hardly used it for her baby (we passed it along) as she has bad reflux. Some babies just love to be held for sleeps which makes it hard to put them down in a basket.
We had the classic Shnuggle basket, sourced from the returns section of our local John Lewis at half price. The base is wipe-clean and the covers are all removable.
The reality is, though, that Moses baskets will often be outgrown before 6 months old, which means they’re not ideal as your only safe sleep place. Some babes will get to the 6 month mark in them. Some will outgrow them around 3 or 4 months, risking the need for a second purchase.
Cots and cot-beds
If you have the space in your room, you could go straight for a cot or cot-bed. Just be aware that you may later want to move it and it might not fit through the door assembled.
There are lots of choices when it comes to cots and cot-beds. Consider whether you would like one with under-bed storage. Is style, colour and material important to you? Can you find a suitable mattress the correct size for the cot? Can you change the height of the mattress to make it easier to put baby in when they are immobile?
Cot-beds are much the same, but slightly larger and designed to transform into a toddler bed, often lasting until baba is 4 or 5 years old.
Often cots and cot-beds are best for when baby moves out of your room, although you may also wish to consider a floor bed at this point.
Floor beds: the Montessori way
The Montessori way encourages children to be independent and gives them freedom to make choices. A floor bed does just this. Little one can decide when to stay in bed, and when to get up. This does require you to have made the room they sleep in safe and secure of course!
The advantages of a floor bed stretch beyond the independence they offer. A larger floor bed could be used for occasional co-sleeping. I have ended up sleeping on the floor of the nursery when my daughter has been ill because we can’t co-sleep with my neurodivergent husband. This is absolutely detrimental to my sleep as a spoonie, which makes getting through the next day a challenge too.
We’ve chosen to get a sofa-bed for occasional sleeping now, as we already have a cot-bed we like. However, a floor bed may have solved this problem too, although I think my very wiggly daughter may have got out of it a lot whilst getting used to it.
Options for occasional sleeping
When you’re out of the house or away from home, you’ll need a transportable safe sleeping space for baby. If you have a carrycot (bassinet) with your pushchair, these can sometimes be used for overnight sleep. (Check your specific one with the manufacturer.) For a guide on pushchair shopping, have a look here.
When baby outgrows the carrycot, you’ll need a travel cot. There are options here: you could go for a traditional travel cot (be aware of how easily they fold and how much they weigh). You could also look at a small tent-style travel cot, like the LittleLife Arc 2. They are smaller so may not last as long but often have a more compact fold, are much lighter-weight and are easier to take on public transport.
As your child reaches the toddler stage, there are lots of different toddler beds from roll-up to blow-up ones. They don’ t have tall sides like travel cots so won’t contain your child the same, although they do often have sides to help prevent them falling out the side.
You can also use a full-size bed at this stage, with a travel rail on the side to prevent your child falling out.
How to find your basket, crib or cot
As always, I’m a big fan of second hand shopping. Try Ebay or Facebook Marketplace. Ask friends and relatives if they have cots they are finished with. Remember, though, that you should purchase the mattress new as they are very difficult to clean adequately.
We found both our basket and crib in the John Lewis returned order section. They had been ordered, opened and then returned, and as such we got them half price. An absolute bargain!
If buying new, shop around and try to see what you’re getting in person if possible. That way you can see how easy it is to use and move, how big it is and if you like the style. You may want a crib and a basket, or you may use the carrycot on your pushchair for downstairs naps. You might want to nest and buy your nursery furniture now, or wait until baby is older and see whether a cot, cot-bed or floor bed is for you.
There isn’t a right answer, as long as you follow safe sleep guidance. Co-sleeping is a viable option if done safely, and some families co-sleep until their babies are children. It’s a personal choice, so take your time to decide what’s right for you. And be prepared to change your mind when baby arrives!
I wish you luck with your sleep space hunting. If you have ideas or questions, please let me know! You can comment below or get in touch with me here.
Spoonfuls of love,
Emma
