How Long Does A Baby Sleep In A Bassinet
How long does a baby sleep in a bassinet?
Are you considering putting your little bundle of joy close to your bedside? Do you feel you need a bassinet for that? Or do you already possess a bassinet for the essence of its provision of convenience, even in terms of breastfeeding your baby? You must have found it very essential to consider the time frame in which your baby can sleep in a bassinet, hence the question. First, however, you should know that bassinets are a temporary sleeping solution for newborns before transitioning to a crib.
Continue reading to find tips on how long your little bundle of joy can sleep in a bassinet.
Bassinets are not usually that tiny, but the fact remains that babies grow out of their space with time. Moreover, several factors could determine how long your baby can sleep in a bassinet. Some of which are:
Getting past the bassinet weight limit
Must be able to roll over and pull up on sides
Getting past the age limit
Being able to get up unassisted
Now by following the metric as given by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the answer to the question.
“How long can my baby sleep in a bassinet” is, according to them, said to be around six months old because during this time frame, there would be a lesser risk of SIDS, and this should be done by sharing a room with your baby for at least 6 months.
What is a bassinet?
Are you looking for a baby holder to keep your baby for a long period? Then it would be best if you had a bassinet. It keeps your baby, but it also provides convenience, comfort, and from-cradle-to-sleep peaceful nights.
A bassinet is what your newborn needs right after birth before transitioning to a crib. It is usually used for a temporary period, and unlike cribs, not only that, but it is also very easy to move and very light. Unlike bassinets, cribs are usually safe for older babies due to their ability to make higher side rails by lowering the mattress.
What more? Babies, usually from birth to four months, are specifically recommended to use a bassinet. It doesn’t take much space and can be both sturdy and rocky. Some bassinets are mostly metal, while some are wood or plastic, and lastly, to fit in for comfort, many bassinets, mostly traditional ones, come with a hood to cover the baby while they sleep.
Benefits of a bassinet
Bassinets are of great benefit to your infants, which is one of the reasons why many parents develop an interest in their usage right after the birth of their newborns. If you wonder what benefits come with the use of this cradle, then you will not need to look elsewhere but here.
Below are the benefits of a bassinet. They include;
- Enhances smooth rock-to-sleep practice for your infant
- It prevents infants from having a high risk of death by SIDS.
- Bassinets provide your baby with a safe and secure sleeping place.
- Bassinets are travel-friendly; hence they can be easy to move.
- It is a bit more expensive than a crib
- It has lesser weight than cribs
Do you have to use a bassinet for a newborn?
Have you been trying to know why there’s the need to use a bassinet for a newborn? If you are trying to find out if you need a bassinet, you’re at the right place.
The answer is short and simple; you don’t have to use a bassinet for your newborn. Although by choice, many parents want to keep their baby close to make it convenient for themselves while they breastfeed their babies, so they would mostly go for it and make it a necessity for their infants right after birth.
Can babies sleep all night in a bassinet?
Yes! Bassinets are very safe and comfortable for your baby to sleep overnight. It is a safe sleep environment and is much more regulated than other sleepers. Unlike a bassinet stroller that is likely mobile for parents who are usually on the move, it is very unsafe for your baby to sleep in overnight because of the high chances of rolling over and the limited space to sleep. However, there is a need for parents’ supervision for every standard bassinet while their baby sleeps in it overnight.
Can a baby sleep in a bassinet if rolling over?
While your baby is having a peaceful sleep, it can become frightening to see him roll over and make a fun sight. This can also become less fun when inside a bassinet; however, it is something to worry less about as long as it has enough space or rolling space and your baby is safe to roll over.
One more thing is that babies do this to change their body position, so it will be considerable enough for you to be there for precaution by helping them out.
How long can you use a bassinet for a baby?
Bassinets indisputably offer a comfortable sleep place for your baby and help them feel convenient during their first weeks after birth, including their first few months. However, it makes the bassinet a temporary sleep place hence its relatively short life span. Moreover, many factors determine how long you can use a bassinet for a baby, but it has been generally gathered that when your baby reaches the age limit of 3 and 6 months, there is a need to upgrade to a larger sleeping space.
How much should I spend on a bassinet?
Most of the time, the issue with getting a bassinet for your little bundle of joy is usually not knowing the exact cost or having doubts that you might not be able to afford it, but this should not be a problem anymore.
Bassinets are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, especially because they are designed to place them at arm’s reach and for you to be able to get a close watch over your newborn.
By getting to know the amount to spend on a bassinet, you should estimate about $60 for a mobile or travel model and $135 for a solid wood bassinet.
Is It safe to put a blanket in the bassinet?
The American Academy of Pediatrics warned that using a blanket with a loose grip is not safe for babies during the first year of life. This could lead to many risks such as suffocation, SIDS, and strangulation.
As parents, you are only to allow your baby to sleep using a blanket when they become old enough to move out of their crib themselves, and the ideal age is usually between 2 and 3 years old.
Moreover, blankets help keep your baby warm during cold nights, so you have to be cautious when using them for your toddler.
How do I get my baby to sleep in his bassinet instead of his arms?
Getting babies to sleep is usually a tug of war, most especially at night when you as well need to sleep having had a stressful day.
The joy that comes with hearing your baby’s little sound and snuggles while asleep is usually sweet to crave. Still, when your baby refuses to sleep in his bassinet and prefers to sleep in your arms, you get deprived of sound sleep yourself that night, which can be very frustrating.
You should not get worked up if you pass through this new nightmare as a parent. We will be sharing tips on how to get your fussy little one to sleep in their bassinet.
By following these few strategies or guidelines listed below, you will be able to overcome this struggle just like every mom. Then, hopefully, you will be able to get your newborn to sleep in their bassinet.
Here’s how to do that:
Avoid making your baby stay awake for too long, and get familiar with their tired cues such as yawning.
Please make use of white noise as this would soothe them to sleep. So get a white noise machine to put your little one to a continuous sleep.
Immediately you notice your baby is drowsy, make sure to put him to sleep at that very moment.
Using the stroking method as this tiny truck would help her relax when she is already in her bassinet till she finally falls asleep.
Get a pacifier for your fussy baby, and don’t wait till he bursts out or cries hysterically. Instead, insert it into his mouth.
If your baby’s fuss persists, look for a comfortable snug-like place that gives them this cupped feeling just like when they were still in the womb or more so just like when they are in your arms.
Lastly, let your baby lie down awake.
How do I get my 6 week old to sleep in his bassinet?
Babies easily get acclimatized to sleeping habits right from birth, including sleeping positions. Now for a 6 week old baby, you might have just got him a bassinet, and you want to make him sleep in his bassinet, but you are finding it difficult to do so. That should not be a challenge anymore as we would be offering you steps to follow to get that done easily.
Here’s what to do:
- Practice a steady and a very consistent night routine
- Get to sing them lullabies to help them fall asleep
- Cuddle or rock your little bundle to sleep
- Swaddle your baby using a convenient blanket
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Why won’t my newborn sleep in her bassinet at night?
Newborns do not suddenly have a sleepless night’s streak if not due to some underlying causes that you as a parent are yet to find out. So what could be the cause of your newborn not being able to sleep in her bassinet at night?
According to some who have already done the research and concluded, many causes have been gathered. In other words, you should do well to get familiar with it and then know what you should do next.
The following are why your baby finds it hard to sleep in her bassinet at night. They are:
- Due to hunger
- Inability to regulate temperature. This is mostly impossible for babies until they clock 12 months of age.
- Getting to sleep when not tired enough for one.
- Due to the stress hormone (cortisol), which makes them stay awake for too long.
- It could also be due to the “Moro reflex,” aka the startle reflex, making them stay wide awake.
Other causes such as noise and light also make your baby uncomfortable sleeping in her bassinet at night.
Where should the baby sleep when he outgrows the bassinet?
When you find out that your baby has already outgrown her bassinet, it’s time to transition him to a crib or Pack N Play. Unfortunately, most parents find transitioning from a bassinet to a crib daunting or a hard task for their baby. Still, when there’s a need for it, you have to do so so that the baby gets comfortable and finds convenience in her new sleep environment, the crib.
Conclusion
Babies need somewhere that comfortably suits them for sleeping while they grow and a bassinet in the first few weeks after birth. It is a sleeping cottage highly recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for newborns before transitioning to cribs. By following the guidelines as listed in this article, you would be able to help your baby lead a basic cozy life till when they finally outgrow it.
