How to choose a crib for a newborn: features, types and reviews

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

Pregnant women have many signs regarding childbirth and the unborn baby. One of them: you can not buy any things for a child before his birth. However, there are certain items that must be selected in advance in any case. And children's furniture is one of them. Next, we will look at which crib is best for a newborn.

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The first problem that a couple who are preparing to become parents will face is an extensive choice of furniture. There are many types of cribs to suit different needs. Future mom and dad will have to choose from a huge list of options:

• cot;
• classic crib;
• children's sofa bed;
• transformer bed.

This is just a general list of possible bed types. Each of these options has its own varieties, which we will discuss in more detail below. However, before choosingcrib for a newborn, a more important issue needs to be addressed.

Problem for Mom

Undoubtedly, it is very important to choose the right crib for a newborn. But before that, the expectant mother must come to an unambiguous decision whether she will take the child to her bed. After all, the habits of the newborn, the convenience of the parents, and the calm sleep of the baby will depend on this.

In general, young parents are divided into two opposing camps, and the "wars" on women's forums do not subside for a minute. The arguments of each side can sound very convincing, and even experienced pediatricians and pediatric neurologists cannot resolve the conflict. Supporters of separate sleep believe that this way the child will grow up more independent, and the members of the "joint vacation" camp enjoy a calm child and have more time for leisure, however, at the same time they lie with their child.

In fact, if you decide to put the baby at your side, then perhaps the issue of buying a crib can be postponed until later, paying more attention to the stroller and finding a suitable maternity hospital.

If you doubt whether the child will sleep separately, but do not want to give up buying furniture, you can turn your attention to cribs with removable sides. But first things first.

Cradles

So, how to choose a crib for a newborn? Let's start with the simplest option. Children's cradles were used in Ancient Russia. Now only a we althy family can afford this option. Why? Everything is very simple. Let's take a look at the benefits of bassinet:

• small size;
• relatively light weight.

That's it. A little, isn't it? Now let's look at the disadvantages:

• The small size will not allow the baby to sleep in it for more than six months.
• Because of the high height, it is impossible to leave a child alone in it if he learns to sit and, moreover, to crawl.
• The price of cradles is no different from the cost of full-fledged cribs, so buying furniture for six months without being sure that you will need it is a waste for the average family.
• The inconvenience of the design. If the baby wakes up at night, the mother will have to bend down low to pick it up. Once is not a problem, but running to a newborn ten times a night is easy to get back pain.

Separately, it is worth returning to the issue of price. The cost of such cradles can vary from 5-6 thousand for a simple one and up to tens of thousands for pretentious and fashionable models with ruffles, a canopy and other joys of modern life.

Besides, cradles can have different supports - wheels, arcs (runners) and solid legs, but with a pendulum. If you are going to buy this type of furniture in a store, be sure to pay attention to the movement of the rocking mechanism, its smoothness and softness.

As we choose the best newborn crib to buy, it's best not to stop here. Usually mothers take such things for free from friends or relatives.

Classic

Thisthe variant of beds came to us from the Soviet past. People who are interested in how to choose the right crib for a newborn often come across similar offers in stores. Yes, and the mother-in-law with the mother-in-law, most likely, will advise him. What do we have in practice?

• strong wooden frame;
• mechanism that increases the height of the handrails and "bed";
• safety.

Of the obvious shortcomings, two nuances should be noted:

• bulky;
• impracticality.

In such a bed, the child will be able to sleep for a very long time, even if he is already 6-7 years old. However, until he can get out of it on his own, mom and dad will have to help him, and this is daily physical activity on the back with a 6-25-kilogram child.

Modern classic models are also equipped with pendulums of varying degrees of complexity. These can be ordinary wheels on legs, and an arc connecting the supports, and a pendulum mechanism.

The latter, by the way, should be given special attention. If you choose a simpler and cheaper option, then these can be ordinary plastic holders. But in this case, the child simply needs to be strictly controlled so that he does not jump in the crib and does not rock it. More expensive options also have metal pendulums, and even automatic electronic mechanisms that respond to the crying of a child and begin to rock him to sleep. However, as practice shows, children often need a parent, and automation will not put them to sleep.

Sofa-bed

When considering which cribs are best for newborns, be sure to stop at this option and think carefully. What is the purpose of this furniture? One of the walls of the crib can be easily unscrewed with a screwdriver, and the berth turns into a comfortable fold-out sofa on which a student can sleep. There is also a simpler option - the so-called bed-bed. She removes both sides, and it turns out quite a comfortable and stable couch for an older child.

The advantages of buying such a bed are obvious:

• durability;
• versatility.

Of the minuses worth noting:

• Irrational use of space. Until the child is 5-6 years old, the bed will take up much more space than a cradle or "classic".
• Mobility. The legs of such models are often devoid of wheels, so it will be inconvenient to drag the bed around the apartment.

In general, this type of bed has one indisputable advantage - by removing one of the bars, you can lean the crib against yours, and if the child suddenly wakes up at night, without getting up, breastfeed him or just put your hand on him so that he felt the presence of his mother near.

As for the price, the situation is similar to the cradles. "Sofas" will be expensive, and "beds" vary in cost depending on the imagination of the furniture maker.

Transformers

So we got to the most fertile ground when consideringquestions about how to choose a crib for a newborn. Competitive species have already been considered, the last one remains. Transformers - cribs with two or more modules.

The basic package of the transformer includes three elements:

• bed;
• bottom drawer;
• chest of drawers (sometimes with built-in changing table).

Initially, all parts are assembled into a single structure. As a result, the mother has a classic-looking crib with built-in drawers "for diapers". As the child grows, the sides are first removed, then the chest of drawers is removed. In some cases, a place for writing is collected from the changing table. It turns out a bed that can fit a person 1.7 meters tall or even more.

But not everything is so rosy. Such beds are very massive and heavy, which means that you will have to immediately allocate space for them. You just don't move them. If the child refuses to sleep without mom, you will not be able to move the crib closer to you. Also, kits usually do not include canopies, so they need to be purchased separately.

In the long run, a child may not want to sleep in the same bed for 10 years. In this case, it will either have to be sold or thrown away.

The price category of such a bed depends on the number of modules and the presence of a built-in pendulum. On average, you will have to pay about 10-15 thousand rubles for a budget transformer.

Requirements

The next item is very important when choosing a crib for a newborn. The rules below directly affect the he alth and development of the baby:

• Natural materials. No special explanation is required here. An object with which a newborn will be in contact for almost 18-20 hours a day in the first month of life should be made from environmentally friendly materials.
• Convenience. The best cribs can be adjusted in height. In the upper position, they are used for sleeping a newborn, so that it is easier for parents to take the child. The lower position is suitable for leaving the baby there to play. This rule applies to classic models and transformers.
• Safety. The child should not climb through the bars or get out through the side.
• Reliability. The bed must be securely fastened. Unfortunately, this item often contradicts the presence of a pendulum mechanism on the crib (in 80% of cases it is made of ordinary plastic).

Following these points, you will protect yourself and your child from unnecessary stress, problems and dangerous situations.

Additional help

We figured out the main nuances of the problem, how to choose a crib for a newborn. The tips below are worth paying attention to future moms and dads:

1. Every new thing has its "industrial" smell. In this regard, it is recommended to buy a crib in advance in order to have time to weather it.
2. Prepare a place for the crib. Take measurements so that the furniture can fit in the space allotted for it.
3. The place under the crib shouldmeet certain he alth standards. Adequate lighting, absence of drafts and hazardous objects are vital indicators.
4. Set aside extra space for the pendulum if you plan to buy this furniture.
5. It is better to buy a crib with a mattress that fits perfectly in size. But in this case, pay attention to the quality thereof. We will analyze this issue a little further.
6. Carefully check the crib for manufacturing defects, uneven surfaces and smoothness. Any violation of the integrity of the coating can lead to the fact that the child will be injured or splintered.
7. Good cribs have silicone or plastic edging on the sides. This will protect furniture and baby's teething teeth from damage.

Ratings and reviews

If you are going to buy furniture for your child based on reviews or ratings, be careful. The thing is that people do not like to admit their mistakes. Therefore, after reading good reviews on which crib to choose for a newborn, do not run headlong to the store.

A vivid example. A newly-made mother brings home a child from the maternity hospital and puts it in a purchased (donated) cradle for 50 thousand rubles. It was the first and last time the child lay in it. After another childish tantrum, the mother began to take the child by her side on the parental bed, and the cradle remained gathering dust until better times.

Thus, before deciding which crib to choose for a newborn according to the reviews of girlfriends / relatives / forums, you better thinkfor yourself, weigh the pros and cons of each type of furniture and make your own decision.

The same can be said about the ratings. But here the situation is a little different. If we consider the question of how to choose a crib for a newborn by rating among pieces of furniture of the same type (for example, classics), then it will not be difficult to make a top. For example, "Papaloni Giovanni" and Baby Italia Dolly are in the lead in many ratings. At the same time, the first option, for 9000 rubles, has a bottom box, but without a pendulum, and the second option, for 15,000 rubles, stands on skids, but does not have additional space for things. And here the choice depends on the capabilities and needs of the parents.

If we talk about the rating of types of beds, then everything is more complicated here, and depends on the luck of the buyer and the quality of the purchased furniture. In general, the types of cribs can be arranged as follows.

1. Classic.
2. Crib with removable side walls.
3. Transformer.
4. Sofa bed.
5. Cradle.

This is due to the poor quality of manufactured products. For example, transformers have a low rating due to their massiveness and allegedly narrow bed, although this depends on the specific model. The classic wins with portability and ease of assembly, plus good shops provide free furniture assembly services.

In general, how to choose a crib for a newborn? Based on your housing situation and personal preferences. Every little child is already a person, thereforeif he doesn't want to sleep in the crib, that will be his decision, not yours.

Mattress

So, we figured out how to choose a crib for a newborn. But that's not all. Another important aspect is the mattress on which the child will sleep. How to choose a mattress for a newborn in a crib? It is necessary to take into account parameters such as:

• Rigidity. The skeleton of a newborn in the first months is still being formed and strengthened. Therefore, the firmer the mattress, the better. This will form the correct posture.
• Sustainability. The mattress should be made from natural and safe materials so that the child does not have allergies.
• Dimensions. Naturally, it should fit in the purchased crib.
• Safety. Even when buying a mattress from reputable manufacturers, metal springs should be avoided. If defective (or fake), at best, this system can be uncomfortable or create a load on the child's spine, at worst, it will tear the mattress and may injure the sleeper.
• Reliability. Pay attention to the brand of the manufacturer. Do not be too lazy to ask the sellers for delivery documents, a supply agreement, certificates.
• Buy orthopedic mattresses only on the advice of a doctor.

How to choose with so many criteria? First of all, pay attention to the first two points. Next comes the question of price. The cost of mattresses varies from 2 thousand to 10,000 for innovative models.

After that, you can already pay attention to other details.

Quilt

Have you figured out how to choose a crib for a newborn and a mattress in it? The last step in preparing a bed for a child remains. What blanket to choose for a newborn in the crib? There are several types to watch out for:

• Envelope. A very practical option. Used for discharge from the hospital, and then can migrate to the crib. Be careful not to confuse with the usual decorated envelopes, which are only suitable for the first photo shoot.
• Woolen. Very warm, but at the same time they remove excess heat well and do not allow the baby to sweat. Ideal for winter and cold apartments.
• Down. They also warm well, but can be sources of allergic reactions.
• Wadded. Natural cotton wool is very warm and does not cause allergies, but is very heavy and accumulates moisture (sweat).
• Synthetics. Not every synthetic material will suit a particular child. Sintepon, holofiber, comforel are cheap and lightweight materials that are well suited for the warm season. Of the significant disadvantages - they do not absorb moisture well.

In general, you need to choose a blanket based on the time of year, temperature and financial capabilities, since you can never be sure that it will fit the child. If we talk about the universal option, then in the winter it is better to take a woolen one, and in the summer you can get by with diapers. Remember that the temperature regime for a newborn must be selected wisely. It is not necessary to make a “mimosa” from Mikhalkov’s poem out of a child, but also turn it into"walrus" is also not necessary.