5 things you should know before buying a Bassinet

Many new parents want to make sure their babies nursery is perfect before their baby arrives. Wanting things to be perfect isn't the only thing that comes to mind, there are also many questions like; What do I need to look for in a bassinet? How do you know this bassinet is safe? Is this bassinet portable? Is it lightweight? How is my babies sleep schedule going to be in the first year?

There are many questions new parents may ask, so today I'm going to provide a list of things to know before purchasing your perfect baby bassinet. 

Baby Bassinet Basics:

Picking out a bassinet is an emotional thing for new parents and can be a bit stressful but with the help of lots of research, this article will help you feel at ease when picking your newborns bassinet. 

There are many kinds of bassinets out there such as portable bassinets, permanent bassinets and there is the classic crib as well. As some parents may decide to use a crib straight away, which is totally fine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey (61 percent) of babies sleep with their parents. This means that most babies co-sleep, so many parents might decide on using a bassinet that way their baby can be near and easily picked up without having to go far, especially for those late night feedings. 

We do recommend a crib eventually for long term but we recommend that babies sleep near their parents for the first few or many months. 

Looking for a perfect bassinet depends on many things. It depends on how much space you have in your bedroom, is it a portable bassinet, as some mothers can't lift or move heavy things after a c-section, and also is it going to be comfortable for my baby and is my baby going to get enough sleep.

Portable Bassinets:

When looking for a bassinet you want to get one that is portable, and lightweight.

According to the AAP Bassinets and cribs are both safe sleeping options for newborns but it depends on your family and what is needed for you. 

Portable bassinets have many benefits, being able to move it with ease from one room to another or up and down the stairs is a huge benefit! Lightweight bassinets are also a huge factor into being able to move it with ease especially, as noted before, if you live in a multiple floor home. 

The next question many parents may ask is will my baby sleep well in a bassinet. 

A babies sleep schedule for the first year: 

According to Stanford Medicine Children's Health, 

Sleep needs for babies vary depending on their age. Newborns do sleep much of the time. But their sleep is in very short segments. As a baby grows, the total amount of sleep slowly decreases. But the length of nighttime sleep increases.

Generally, newborns sleep about 8 to 9 hours in the daytime and about 8 hours at night. But they may not sleep more than 1 to 2 hours at a time. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until they are about 3 months old, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds but this varies from baby to baby. About two-thirds of babies are able to sleep through the night on a regular basis by 6 months.

Babies also have different sleep cycles than adults. Babies spend much less time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (which is dream time sleep). And the cycles are shorter.

Helping your baby fall asleep:

Babies may not be able to create their own sleeping and waking patterns. Surprisingly, not all babies know how to put themselves to sleep. And not all babies can go back to sleep if they are awakened in the night. When it is time for bed, many parents want to rock or breastfeed a baby to help him or her fall asleep. Creating a bedtime routine is a good idea. But don't let your baby fall asleep in your arms. This may become a pattern. And your baby may begin to expect to be in your arms in order to fall asleep. When your baby briefly wakes up during a sleep cycle, they may not be able to go back to sleep on their own. 

This is why it is recommended to have your baby sleep in a bassinet or crib, to not only encourage healthy sleeping patterns but to also keep your baby safe.

Recommended Bassinets based on all of the above information:

Micuna Bassinets are highly recommended to meet all of these standards and their products adhere to the strictest quality control and safety standards, with the child's safety always top priority. Micuna is also eco-friendly: they were the first baby furniture manufacturer in the world to achieve the prestigious IS0 14001 environmental certification. 

The Smart Luce Bassinet by Micuna is a great choice for cradling your new baby. With its warm light incorporated into the bassinet frame, the Smart Luce enables you to make sure your baby is sleeping peacefully. 

Also, thanks to its 6 wheels and foot breaks, it can easily be moved from one room to the other and the soft bassinet builds a perfect cocoon for your newborn.

The Smart Fresh Bassinet by Micuna is also very recommended based on its easy mobility with it also having 6 wheels and foot breaks. Apart from its great mobility, we particularly love its lightness and contemporary design. Thanks to the bassinet's transparent mesh, you can watch your baby without obstruction.