A baby's bed is a large and important purchase expecting parents must make. A newborn spends 16 hours or more per day sleeping. Co-sleeping and breastfeeding increase the desire for parents to have their baby close during her first few months of life. The cradle offers closeness because of its size but it is not a permanent sleep option for a growing child due to the manufacturer's weight limits.
Function
A cradle is a rocking bassinet, explains Consumer Reports. A bassinet is a smaller bed made from various materials, sometimes fabric, wicker or wood. It is often on wheels to make it easy to move from one room to another. The cradle is much the same but it also rocks from side to side. Because of the structure and size, the cradle is not a long-term sleeping option for most babies. Depending on the manufacturer's weight limits, the cradle may be suitable for only three to six months.
Features
Unlike a full-sized crib, a cradle can move from one room to another. Co-sleeping is highly debated with the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommends a newborn spend his first six months of life in the same room as the parents, but not the same bed. The cradle gives parents the ability to do just that, but without taking up a great deal of space. A baby may be able to use the cradle for the full six months, as the AAP recommends, depending on the manufacturer's weight limit.
Safety
Like any sleep space for an infant, the cradle should be free of pillows, loose linens or stuffed toys. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, has led to the back-to-sleep campaign and increased awareness of infant sleep precautions. Kids Health points out that caregivers can reduce the risk of SIDS by keeping a baby's sleep space free of any suffocation hazards and putting the baby to sleep on her back.
Benefits
Breastfeeding mothers are typically on demand every three to four hours 24 hours a day during the first months of a baby's life. This can be tiring, especially if the infant is in another room. With a cradle near the mother's bed, she can easily lift the baby out, nurse the child, and place him back into the cradle without having to get up. She may be able to sleep lightly while nursing. Staying in her bed before, during and after the feeding may also make it easier for her to go back to sleep. Utilizing the cradle for as long as the manufacturer allows can help a mother and baby establish a sleeping and eating routine.
Considerations
Like most small infant devices, including swings or bouncy seats, the cradle is for infants during the first year of life, sometimes only the first few months. Every cradle is different but most will accommodate a baby up to 25 or 30 pounds. Keeping a baby in a cradle beyond this weight limit can be hazardous. The cradle could break. An infant who can roll over or sit up may put himself in harm's way by tipping the cradle or causing it to rock forcefully. Consider the baby's physical development even if under the weight limit. An active baby may be safer in a crib despite being under the manufacturer's weight limit.
