So in a fight where a bassinet is facing off against a baby crib, who wins?
In the red corner… Weighing in at just under 8 pounds is the small but quick bassinet
And in the blue corner… Weighing in at just over 60 pounds is the hard hitting baby crib
**Ding ding…**
Okay, in all honesty it’s a pretty a pretty one sided fight… One is clearly better than the other. But before I declare the winner we should take a look at the benefits of each.
A bassinet can benefit you in quite a few different ways. Lets take a closer look at each.
A bassinet is much, much cheaper than a baby crib, particularly if you shop around. While you will struggle to find a crib that is less than $100, you can pick up a good bassinet for a little over $30.
A crib is a big investment and can be an unexpected cost if your little miracle was unplanned. In these circumstances some parents buy a cheap bassinet for an immediate sleep solution while they save up for a more expensive baby crib.
Picture this: Your newborn has just emerged from your snug and cozy womb… Only to be forced to sleep in a giant crib! That’s like going from a single bed to a king size. And that’s a huge difference!
Because bassinets are a smaller, many babies not only feel safer but also fall asleep much quicker than if you were to place them in a baby crib. Parents of preemie babies prefer a bassinet for this very reason.
I hope you like waking up in the middle of the night. Because that’s what you are in for now that your newborn baby has arrived. Fortunately you will not have to walk very far if you choose a bassinet. Due to the small size and the light weight, you will most likely be able to set up the bassinet next to your bed.
WAAAAAAH! When the midnight tears come you can easily roll over and soothe your baby.
Imagine that: Being able to comfort or feed your baby without leaving your warm and cozy bed. It doesn’t get better than that. During the day you can move a bassinet from room to room so that your baby is never out of your sight. Great for when you are cleaning your home!
Some bassinets even have a “Moses basket” that detaches from the stand for extra portability. Unless you have a giant home with plenty of free space, pushing a crib around is nothing short of a nightmare. Even the portable cribs with wheels will still give you some grief.
Because the bottom of a bassinet is at waist height (whether you place it on a table or it sits on a stand), it is incredibly easy to place your baby down. Unless you are of average height or taller, placing a baby down inside a baby crib can be a difficult task.
The crib mattress is a surprisingly loooooong way down. When you lean over the crib rail reaching the bottom can prove to be difficult with many parents “dropping” their baby the last inch or so.
But it’s not just short people that have problems with cribs.
If you have just had a C-section, suffer from a sore back from pregnancy, or are pregnant with another child, placing a baby down in a crib can cause excruciating pain. You will be picking up and putting down your baby a lot more than you realize. Many parents use a bassinet until their C-section or sore back has recovered.
When it all comes down to it there is one major advantage a baby crib has over a bassinet. And it’s a pretty big advantage. Your baby will use a baby crib longer.
Consider this: The average baby will outgrow a bassinet by 6 months. The average baby will outgrow a baby crib by 2 years. Yep…. A baby crib will last 4 times as long as a bassinet.
Now there is one more advantage to bassinets. But this advantage will not apply to the majority of you. Twins can share a crib. They can’t share a bassinet
Jennifer Walker, pediatric nurse and co author of Moms On Call has this to say:
Newborn twins can certainly remain in the same crib initially, they sleep better when they know the other is close by, crib-sharing can last up until they move into their childhood beds.
Like I said, it won't be relevant for everyone but for those of you with twins, a crib will most likely be your go-to choice as opposed to two bassinets.
Kapow! Who knew furniture could be so violent? With a knock-out punch to the jaw of the bassinet, the crib takes the trophy. Yes; even with all the benefits that bassinets have to offer, cribs still win the fight. Why?
Because no matter how much you prefer your bassinet, you are still going to buy a baby crib. A bassinet can be skipped but whether you like it or not, you will end up with a crib inside your house. Babies grow fast and before you even realize it; your little one will no longer fit in his bassinet.
At this point you will find yourself racing down to the shops in a mad panic to buy a baby crib, otherwise your ultimately; it all comes down to this: Bassinets are nice to have.
A crib is essential
If you choose to go with a bassinet before transitioning to a baby crib then that is perfectly fine; as you can see, there are lots of benefits to doing so if you decide to skip buying a bassinet and going straight for the crib, don’t feel guilty! Lots of parents (including myself) skipped right over them.
What do you think is better: Bassinet or Crib?
So you want to buy a baby crib?
You know the drill guys. Leave me any questions, wisdom, love or hate in the comments section below. Stay awesome!
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