Designed to provide a comfortable, independent sleep space for your newborn in those first few months, Moses baskets and cribs are a convenient solution for keeping your baby nearby as they nap.
Of course, it’s possible to use a cot or cot bed from the get-go, so long as your baby is being supervised. Safe sleep guidance advises that your baby must sleep in the same room as you in their first 6 months.
They should be put down to sleep on their back on a flat, clutter-free surface, with their own independent sleep space.
Many parents opt for Moses baskets and cribs in the first few months, as they allow you to keep your little one safe and close as they sleep, and take up much less space than a cot or cot bed in your bedroom.
Still, making your mind up between a Moses basket or crib? Read on as we explore the pros and cons of each.
Moses baskets are designed for newborn babies to sleep in during their first few months. They provide a cosy and confined space for your child to rest.
The classic choice, Moses baskets have been a time-honoured option for parents all around the world. A beautiful piece of furniture in its own right, the Moses basket has stood the test of time thanks to its robust, yet elegant structure and stylish aesthetic.
Often crafted using natural materials, Moses baskets provide a lightweight, highly breathable sleep space for your little one during daytime naps or through the night.
Despite their delicate appearance, our Moses baskets are strong and durable. With a sturdy base and palm leaf structure, they’re tougher than other maise baskets, so you can be sure to get plenty of use out of this newborn essential.
The handles also make them super easy to move around the house as needed. However, for safety reasons, never carry your Moses basket with your baby inside.
It is important to know when your baby has outgrown their Moses basket. Designed for use from birth up to 3-4 months, or until your little one is able to sit or pull themselves up unaided, it is advised that you only use your Moses basket while your baby is a newborn.
For more information about Moses baskets, and whether they are right for your baby, please take a look at our in-depth Moses basket buying guide.
You might instead opt for a crib for your newborn. Cribs are typically made from plastic or wood, and often with mesh or slats so you can more easily keep an eye on your little one from the comfort of your bed.
Though less portable than wicker baskets, a crib offers a sturdy and consistent sleep space for your baby. With plenty of styles available on the market, some even feature additional rocking and swaying motions to help soothe your baby to sleep.
Most cribs can be used for up to 6 months, or until your little one can sit up unaided. However, with the longer life span often comes a higher price tag. Many parents will hold onto a crib for use with future children, or to lend to family and friends.
However, cribs can end up taking up more space in the home when not in use, and can be more difficult to store away than a Moses basket.
Our recommendation is to opt for a good sized Moses basket to start with as it will be easier to carry around the house and take with you when travelling.
Bedside cribs have become increasingly popular over the past few years. These handy, hybrid co-sleepers provide all the benefits of a crib, with a few innovative extras.
A co-sleeper crib can be used as both a standalone crib, and as a side sleeper that can be attached to your bed frame for extra stability. Bedside cribs typically feature a drop down barrier, allowing you to easily reach into your little one’s sleep space to soothe and feed and keep your baby close.
Bedside cribs are an ideal option for mothers who may have experienced a challenging birth, or required medical intervention that makes it difficult to sit up or get out of bed.
Though many co-sleepers feature rocking or tilt options to soothe your baby, these can often only be accessed in standalone mode, which requires some effort when it comes to detaching and reattaching to your bed.
Convenience also comes at a price, with bedside cribs generally totalling up to be more expensive than Moses baskets or standalone cribs. This does not include the additional cost of buying an appropriate mattress, and any other extra bedding or parts
The first few months of your little one’s life are crucial to the bonding process, so ensuring you have easy access to your baby as they rest is extra important. This is something that both Moses baskets and cribs can provide, so it’s really about making the decision that works best for you.
If you have less storage options or space available, but still want your little one to sleep in a comfortable, breathable environment, perhaps a Moses basket is the option for you. With our range of natural, beautifully crafted palm leaf baskets to explore, you certainly won’t be missing out.
Each of our Moses baskets also comes complete with our luxurious natural mattress as standard, carefully crafted with newborn babies in mind to offer the right support from day one.
To learn more about Moses baskets and natural sleep, be sure to browse our blog, and follow us on Instagram for more practical tips and advice.
Whether you’ve opted for a Moses basket or crib, we've highlighted some key tips on creating the ideal sleep environment for your baby.
You can create the perfect sleep environment for your baby by helping them to develop regular sleep patterns and routines from an early age. This will not only make bedtime less of a battle, but it will also ensure that your little one gets the quality sleep they need to grow and develop properly.
The ideal temperature for a baby’s nursery should be between 16-20 degrees Celsius. It’s also important to make sure that the room is well-ventilated, as stuffy conditions can make it difficult for babies to breathe properly.
To help your baby get a good night’s sleep, it’s important to make sure that their bedroom is nice and dark. Blackout blinds or curtains are a great way to achieve this, as they will block out any light coming in from outside.
Babies are very sensitive to noise, so it’s important to create a calm and quiet environment for them to sleep in. If you live in a busy household or there is a lot of noise outside, you might want to consider using a white noise machine to help your little one drift off.
A tidy and uncluttered room will help your baby to feel calm and relaxed, making it easier for them to get to sleep. If your little one’s bedroom is full of toys and other distractions, it might be worth considering putting some of them away until they are older.
We hope you found this article helpful. For more information on Moses baskets or cribs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. Why not explore our range of beautiful palm leaf Moses baskets?
It really depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you have less storage space or are looking for a more portable option, a Moses basket may be better suited. If ease of access is important to you, especially if you’re feeding during the night, then a bedside crib may provide this.
You may find that you only need one or the other, depending on your sleeping arrangements and set up at home. If you have a bedside crib, you may not need a Moses basket as well, as these can often be used as both.
Moses baskets are generally suitable for babies from birth to around 4 months, or until they start to roll over. At this point, it’s usually time to move them into a crib as they will need the extra space to move around freely.
This usually happens around the 6-8 month mark, when the baby is starting to sit up unaided and pull themselves up to standing. Cotbeds provide the perfect transition from a cot to a bed, as they feature adjustable mattress heights and removable bars that can be taken down as your little one grows.
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