Bassinet or co-sleeper?

Question

Which one is better and why? I am having a hard time choosing between which one to get or both?!

Answer 1

I used both and I imagine this question will be best answered by your baby. When my third was born, I used a bassinet. I made this decision because my bed is VERY high off the ground and I hadn't found a "co-sleeper" that came to the right height. She slept well in the bassinet as she was not disturbed by my giant husband's flopping around in his sleep all night. She didn't roll until like, 8months old, so I got to use my bassinet until she was just past 6 months old (then she got too long). I had stopped looking at co-sleepers because she was in a bassinet. Once she was outgrowing it, I started looking again. I felt that, since she had a crib of her own in her bedroom, I wasn't really willing to shell out another $500 for the beautiful co-sleeper that I saw online. My sister-in-law was getting rid of the crib that she never ever used. Since she was throwing it out, I took it home, assembled it measured it. I found that if I used zip-ties (like the ones they used to hand-cuff people on "COPS") and secured the legs of the crib to the frame of my bed, that it was incredibly stable. I shook, rattled and yanked on the crib in all different places and it didn't budge. So, I put the mattress holder thing (the impossible metal thing that flops around when you're trying to put it together) at the correct height for my mattress. This is where my 15 month old baby now sleeps. The weight limit issue isn't a concern for me because I stood in the crib section with it completely assembled and bounced with my 135 lbs for about 15 minutes waiting for it to break or for me to fall through. I checked the crib thoroughly for cracks or any other signs of stress but it was completely ok. It never even creaked while I was jumping in it. So, I saved myself the $500 bucks and she is right next to me when she needs to nurse at night. This has also proved immensly important as she will NOT keep covers on her while she sleeps. If I try to use a blanket-sleeper, she sweats until her whole body looks like a raisin. So, being next to my body, I am able to keep her warm enough even without blankets.

Incidentally, my firstborn co-slept until he was around 2 and my second child never ever co-slept (she'd push on my body with her arms and legs until I moved her to her bassinet. My son transitioned easily to his own bed when I was too pregnant for us both to fit in mine and it was not difficult at all. He accepted the pragmatism of it, we simply didn't fit anymore and he was happy to not have to be squished. They were and are and have always been healthy, normal, well-adjusted children and have no attachment issues. Choose what will work for your family, but ignore the people that claim your kid will be in your bed until their twelve because it isn't true.

Answer 2

No question for me, I choose co-sleeper! It's a million times easier having baby so close. Not only does it help to alleviate some of your "omg, is he breathing??" fears that we all have, but nursing is a breeze. Just roll over, latch on baby, and roll back over. No getting up and fumbling through a dark house. If your baby has a need in the middle of the night, he's right there. Plus, you get morning cuddles and snuggles. :)

Huge added bonus: studies have shown that safe co-sleeping actually lowers the risk of SIDS.

Answer 3

Co-sleeping is a hard habit to break when the baby gets older. It is better to have the baby in its own cot/ bassinette from the start. Save co-sleeping for when you have a really bad night and unable to re-settle the baby.

Answer 4

Neither. Put them straight into the cot and buy a $25 baby sleep position so you can have peace of mind that they can't roll and smother themselves. Available at toys'r'us or babys'r'us or target.
don't use cot bumpers, pillows or padded quilts to minimise SIDS risks and stick to growbags or warm jumpsuits and thick blanket. position them in the cot with their feet at the end of the cot and tuck in any excess blanket under the mattress. use a baby monitor if that will give you more peace of mind. This really is the best option, money wise and trouble wise. you will only use a bassinette for 2-3mths so its a bit of a waste really. and you do not want the baby in the bed or you'll end up with so much trouble its not funny. they get used to that really quick, trust me!! I made that huge mistake!! I would rather invest money in a rocking chair for nursing time than a basinette.

personally, i wish someone had told me this when i had mine because it would have saved A LOT of trouble and money down the track.

best of luck with baby!

Answer 5

none. Put them in their crib in their own room. You will be thankful later on when you have a great sleeper!!

Answer 6

bassinette! in a different room! otherwise, you'll be sleeping with a freakin 12 year old in your bed!