Guide

6 sleeping options for your child when you're at home

15.10.2019

Translation: machine translated

In the first few weeks after the birth, your baby needs a lot of closeness, security and sleep. This makes it all the more important where and how you lay it down. Not just at night, but also during the day. Here are six ways to put your child to sleep at home.

Closeness, security and sleep are important factors that a baby needs in the first few months of life in order to develop well. Some parents prefer the family bed, where everyone sleeps in the same bed. They don't mind if the child suddenly hits them in the face with an arm or squeezes a foot in the rib. On the other hand, there are parents who let their child sleep close by but in their own bed. For the latter, I present six potential sleeping options for the home.

1. co-sleeper bed - breastfeeding at night without getting up

With a co-sleeper bed, you can stay close to your baby at night. As the name suggests, you can place the cot directly next to your bed or attach it to it. The bed extension helps you to strengthen your relationship with your baby and offer them a sense of security and safety. During the night, you can breastfeed or soothe your baby with this sleeping solution without having to get up. The additional space created also reduces the risk of smothering your child underneath you during the night.

Remember: Not all co-sleeper beds fit every parents' bed. Therefore, measure the height of your bed and the edge of the bed. With some co-sleeper beds, you can conveniently close the open side panel and use it as a bassinet during the day.

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2. bassinet - Maximum flexibility thanks to wheels

A classic bassinet has four wheels, is woven and has a canopy and a nest. The bassinet is practical because you can move it from room to room. As the border to the cradle flows slowly, some bassinets can also rock.

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3rd bassinet - Soothing through rocking

Swaying soothes your child and rocks them gently to sleep. Some of the rocking cradles can be locked in place to prevent that sailor feeling. Some models now have wheels and can be pushed back and forth like a bassinet. For me personally, this is one of the best and most flexible solutions for the first few months of your baby's life.

Alternatively, your child can also take a short nap in the rocking baby bouncer. However, bouncers are not suitable for continuous use or naps due to the fixed body position and lack of freedom of movement.

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4th baby cot - The first four walls of your own

Sooner or later, most parents switch to the cot. Whether it's in the parents' room or already in the actual nursery is up to you to decide.

Standard cot sizes are 60 x 120 cm or 70 x 140 cm. I would recommend a bed where you can adjust the height of the slatted frame and remove some of the rungs. This way, your baby will be higher in the first few months and it will be easier to get them out of bed. As soon as it moves or stands up, lower the slatted frame. As soon as it walks, you remove the rungs and it climbs in and out on its own. At night, it's best to put the rungs back in as a safety measure so that your child doesn't fall out. With an optional kit, you can convert certain cots into a toddler bed.

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5th child's bed - Well provided for until the teenage years

At some point, the day will come when all the sleeping options mentioned above are too small and you need a larger bed for your child. The mattress base of a cot is usually 70 x 140 cm or 90 x 200 cm. The first option is often a converted cot. It is therefore only a temporary solution. For this reason, I recommend that you choose a larger model straight away. These are usually a little more expensive, but they last until your child is a teenager. If you often lie down to sleep with your child, a width of at least 120 cm is ideal. Bed safety rails protect against falling down.

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6th playpen - Ideal for napping during the day

Not a bed, but definitely an interim solution for during the day. A playpen is worth its weight in gold, especially when you have to shower, cook, clean and wash or when you leave the room for a short time. Its bars make it a safe place to play or take a nap. Nothing falls off, the baby won't hurt itself on an edge or the corner of a table and it won't come into contact with a socket, sharp objects or poisonous plants. Many models are height-adjustable like a cot, have wheels, movable doors or rungs. They adapt flexibly to your needs.

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Accessories - Accessories to make you feel good

Borders mean security when sleeping. Be it with a nursing pillow, nest, sleeping bag, bed guard, ZEWI blanket, playpen insert or canopy curtains. So the little body feels less lost in the big bed(s). Cute and cosy gadgets such as bed linen, nightlight, cuddly toy or playclock make dreams even sweeter and give the child something familiar.

Tip: Check whether a mattress is included with the chosen sleeping option.

Sleeping options for on the go

Your child sleeps a lot and everywhere: whether in the car, at a friend's house or in the pushchair. Find out how to keep your little one comfortable and cosy on the go in the next article. Follow my author profile and you will receive it personally. <p

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Myrtha Brunner

Editor

myrtha.brunner@digitecgalaxus.ch

I’m the cook, cleaner, police officer, nurse, entertainer, motivator, author, storyteller, coach, organiser, chauffeur, lawyer and judge. To put it simply, I’m a mum to a daughter and not just a (Content) Manager at the office but also at home.

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