Bassinets are a popular alternative to cribs, when the baby is younger and the parents want the child to sleep in the same room as them. When looking for a suitable bassinet, you should know that all are not created equally. Some violate safety standards and are not good choices for your little one. When you bring the bassinet home, follow strict safety rules to ensure that when you lay your baby down to sleep, you do so in a safe and comfortable manner. Bassinet safety is not a topic to take lightly for new parents.
Mobiles and Accessories
Bassinets often come with attachments, lullabies and mobiles to help soothe your baby to sleep. Beware of the safety risk this could pose to your child. Never use any type of attachment that leaves toys or strings hanging into the crib, as they could be a strangulation hazard. "Consumer Reports" recommends that you always place accessories well out of the baby's reach, for looking at only.
Blankets
Although your baby might look chilly lying in his bassinet, you should never use blankets or pillows in the bassinet. In the small, enclosed environment of the bassinet, these could become a suffocation hazard. Instead of adding blankets, use pajamas. Never put anything in the bassinet that didn't come with the bassinet originally.
Sleeping Position
When in a bassinet, you always need to place your baby on her back to sleep, according to the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP). This is the position that is less likely to cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Some parents may think that if their child is in their room, that they can place them on their tummies to sleep. Not so, according to the AAP. No matter where the baby is, she should be on her back. A bassinet is no different from a regular crib for sleeping positions
Bassinet Safety Standards
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets forth certain standards for every bassinet to have. A bassinet should have a firm mattress for the baby to sleep on. The sheet that covers the mattress should fit the mattress snugly. The edges of the bassinet should be made of a breathable material, preferably mesh, so that if your child rolls in the night, he doesn't become suffocated when his mouth is pressed against the edges of the bassinet. Your child should only sleep in a bassinet until he is old enough to roll over on his own; then he should be moved to a full sized crib. Take note of the manufacturer's recommendations for the size requirements so that you can be sure that your baby is safe.
CPSC Warnings
Some bassinets are not safe for any baby. In 2008, the CPSC called for a recall of all Simplicity bassinets that had a drop down leaf for co-sleeping. The leaf was held by a metal bar. When children slipped out of the bassinet, they were caught by the bar and strangled to death. The CPSC notes that any bassinet with moving parts can be hazardous to your baby, and to not buy Simplicity Co-Sleeping Bassinets.
Heirloom Bassinets
Unfortunately, thought you may want to use a bassinet that you slept in as a baby, or one that has been in a family, bassinets made more than 5 years prior to your baby's birth do not conform to the latest safety standards and are not safe to use as a sleeping situation for your baby. Use the heirloom bassinet to hold toys and purchase a new one for sleeping.
