Hanging cradle for newborns: features, types and reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Today we will try to figure out whether a newborn (or his parents) needs a hanging cradle, or, as it is also called, a cradle. In ancient times, almost all babies of the first year of life both slept and were awake in such cradles, but now they are not found in houses so often. Despite the fact that they are regaining popularity, not all young parents decide to purchase baby hanging cradles for their child, although they look at them with interest in stores. Let's see how the main models of cradles differ from each other, and also take an interest in what parents think about them, who have already bought similar accessories for their babies.

The wisdom of generations

What is so interesting hanging cradle? What is special about it and why should you use it when caring for a newborn baby? small cradles,attached to the ceiling or a wooden stick holder, were a safe haven for babies from birth. They felt comfortable and safe in them. The houses of our ancestors were very different from the modern dwelling of people, besides, they had completely different standards of hygiene. This was especially true of village huts and poor city estates. Often the families were large, and there was simply not enough space for everyone in the house, so several people slept in one bed. Naturally, the newborn needed to allocate its own place. They became the hanging cradle.

A separate bed of this format is good for several reasons at once:

• in the cradle the baby is safe, because it will not roll over by itself or because of the negligence of older children;
• caring for the cradle is very simple - you can simply wipe the base with a damp cloth, and wash the textile elements;
• being in the cradle, the baby experiences about the same sensations as in the mother's tummy - high sides make the space small and closed, slightly darkened, and smooth rocking calms the baby;
• as a rule, babies who are placed in a bassinet instead of a traditional crib sleep longer and more soundly, so they rest more and develop better.

An added benefit of hanging cradles for newborns is that the mother needs to rock the baby less in her arms.

What are hanging cradles?

First of all, the materials from which the cradle itself is made differ. In our country, children's cradles were woven from willow twigs or carved from wood. The wicker cradle is light and affordable, so any family could afford it. Actually, such a hanging cradle was most often made by hand.

A wooden cradle is most often also handmade. Experienced craftsmen decorate such products with beautiful carvings and ornaments. Our ancestors applied to the cradle not just arbitrary patterns, but runes and various esoteric symbols that were supposed to protect the child during sleep.

There are also a variety of textile options for shaking, made in the form of hammocks or woven from ropes using the macrame technique. There are also more practical cradles made of fabric - with a hard base, a comfortable mattress and high sides, as well as additional accessories. Actually, it is these cradles that are most popular with buyers.

Ceiling hanger

The hanging cradle is attached directly to the ceiling with one large hook. The ropes are first fixed at the corners of the cradle, and then converge into a cable, which is tied to the ceiling mount. Being engaged in the installation of the structure, it is important to correctly calculate the load on the hook. If it is too weak or not driven deep enough, the cradle may break. Newborns gain weight very quickly - in the first half of the year, almost 700-800 gmonthly, and this must be taken into account. A big plus of hanging cradles is that they do not take up precious square meters on the floor. This is very important for those people who have small apartments. In addition, these beds for newborns look very beautiful.

Cradle on stand

No matter how attractive the idea of saving space by hanging a cradle from the ceiling may seem, it is far from always possible to bring it to life. Modern houses are built by no means according to the canons that were a hundred years ago, and now fashionable stretch and suspended ceilings simply cannot withstand such a load. In addition, you will need a hanging cradle for not so long - a maximum of one year.

Alternatively, a more practical baby crib can be used. For example, such a cradle, as in the previous photo. The stand for a hanging cradle can be made in the form of a tripod, arc or supports, like a baby swing.

Two in one

When discussing this topic, one cannot fail to mention the cradles that are hung directly into the crib. They are also different. The simplest are stretch hammocks, but there are also cradles that have a hard bottom and sides. The elongated straps allow you to rock the bed a little, but with a small amplitude. Such liners allow the child not to "get lost" in a bed that is still large for him, to feel secure and comfortable.

What should I look for when making a choice?

The main thing is that the cradle is safe. Before parents put their baby in it, they should double-check that the ropes and holder are securely fastened several times. No less attention should be paid to the integrity of the cradle, as well as the availability of any removable parts and elements for the child - everything must be firmly fixed. Such baby accessories are usually made from natural materials - wood or textiles, but it is necessary to pay attention to the quality of painting of individual elements of the cradle, because manufacturers often try to save money and deceive buyers on such trifles.

Parent Experience: Owner Reviews

Surely readers will be curious to know how customers respond to hanging cradles. Those who have already used them say that this is a very useful acquisition. In a hanging cradle, the child sleeps much better than in a simple crib. If it is located right next to the parent's bed, then the child does not even need to get up every time he wakes up at night. It is enough to gently rock the cradle, and the baby will soon fall asleep again.

You need to be careful when choosing a shank. You should not buy models that are too closed, which have excessively high sides - because they complicate the process of laying the child down, air does not get inside the bed. Also, according to parents, it’s good if the cradle has outer pockets for various little things and special grooves forsetting arc with educational toys.