A bassinet offers a safe and comfortable sleeping environment for babies who are not ready to sleep in a crib. Generally, your baby needs to move to a crib when she can sit up on her own or she reaches the height or weight capacity of the bassinet. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies can sit up on their own between 7 and 9 months of age. Other developmental factors may also influence your decision.
Function
A crib can be daunting to a newborn baby, due to its size. Since your baby was wrapped tightly in your belly for nine months, she will likely want the security of an enveloping bassinet, as opposed to the larger space that a crib provides. Plus, a bassinet is portable. If your baby is napping, you can push her around to other areas of the house you need to be, such as in the living room or kitchen.
Features
Many bassinets have wheels, while others may rock side to side. Some even have both, so that you can tuck the wheels into the bassinet and convert it into a rocker. Bassinets also come in a variety of heights, some of which are adjustable. The AAP recommends that your bassinet have a wide base to avoid the risk of it tipping over.
Weight
The average bassinet is designed for babies up to 18 lbs. or for those who start to sit up on their own. However, you may want to move your baby to a crib if she is particularly tall. You may also want to make the transition when she starts to turn over. Even though bassinets are deemed by manufacturers as safe for 18-lb. babies, the AAP recommends that your baby transition to a crib by the time he reaches 10 lbs. or within 3 months of age.
Location
Unlike bassinets, cribs are not mobile. Your pediatrician may recommend that your baby sleeps in her own room by the time she is 6 months old. However, your baby may not adapt to sleeping alone in her crib so soon, depending on her needs. In such a case, you may want to temporarily place the crib your bedroom. Be wary, however, that your baby may become too accustomed to such an arrangement and have an even more difficult transition to her own room in the future.
Precautions
BabyCenter points out that blankets, comforters and stuffed animals placed in cribs may seem like a comforting mechanism to your baby who is used to sleeping in the tighter quarters of a bassinet. However, such items can be smothering hazards, especially for babies who are just starting to turn. Also, BabyCenter advises not to use bumpers, as there is a risk of them falling on your baby and posing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Still, bumpers can protect your baby's head when she starts to roll over on his own, as explained by the AAP. Use your own discretion and ensure that any bumpers are secured tightly.
References
- BabyCenter: When can my baby move from a bassinet to a crib?
- "Caring For Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5"; The American Academy of Pediatrics, S. Shelov, ed.; 2009
