You are a new parent or will be one soon. Perhaps you are pregnant and want to get everything in order before the little one arrives. With our guides, you will be taken by the hand so that you get the best start with the little one and have everything you need in place.
In this post, we will take a closer look at choosing a bed for the newborn. What should you pay attention to and what should you completely avoid? We will try to help you with that in the article right here.
Crib or cradle? – From crib to junior bed
The first question you might ask yourself is whether you should get a cradle or a crib for the little one? The question can be difficult to answer, but in this post, we will try to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of both options – so you can assess what fits best for your needs.
Cradle
Newborns are used to lying inside their mother's womb. Here, space is limited and they are tightly wrapped. Therefore, it is important that you have a similar mindset when choosing a sleeping space for your newborn. A cradle is very small and can easily create the closeness and security that the baby knows from the mother's womb. The advantages are also that a cradle often does not weigh much and is easy to move around. They often have wheels, so they can be moved as needed. Likewise, they have a 'rocking effect' so they can be gently rocked until they fall asleep.
The downside is that due to the size, the baby will relatively quickly outgrow it and then need to transition to a crib. Therefore, you only benefit from the cradle for a very limited time. For this reason, many choose the crib from the start.
Among cradles, there are the so-called 'bedside cribs', which are cradles with an opening on one side. Since babies often want security and like to lie close to their mother, a 'bedside crib' would be a good choice.
You place the bed next to your own. If the baby gets upset during the night or wants to breastfeed, you can easily unzip the cradle and pull the baby over to you. As soon as the baby is asleep again, you can put the baby back in.
Crib
The crib, as a starting point, cannot create the same sense of security and closeness as a cradle can. However, this problem can be relatively easily solved, as you can either place the stroller basket in the crib or you can also buy a baby nest that will create security and limit drafts and cold.
As soon as the baby gets bigger, the stroller basket or baby nest can be removed from the crib and replaced with a crib bumper. The downside of a crib is that it is not as easy to move, while the advantage is that it can be used for a longer time.
Summary
For many, the cradle is therefore not a must, and it is certainly not a must for you either. If you choose to skip the cradle, we strongly recommend that you invest in a baby nest or use the pram carrycot, as otherwise you will experience problems getting the baby to sleep, as you will not create the necessary security that the baby knows from mother's womb.
Price, quality, and design
Like everything else, price, quality, design, and not least functionality depend on each other. You can find beds ranging from around 600 DKK to cots for over 5,000 DKK. Whether a cot or cradle for 600 DKK is good for you, you can best assess yourself.
Be aware that many mothers value that the bottom of a cot has a function for adjusting the height. Typically in two levels. This makes it easier to pick the baby up and ensures that the baby cannot climb over the bars when he/she gets a little older. It is smart and should be a given in all cots. However, it is far from the case, which is why we recommend being extra attentive to this function.
Also, be aware that there are incredibly strict requirements regarding safety for baby beds. Among other things, how large the distance is between the bars in the cot. To ensure that your bed meets the applicable safety standards and legislation, we recommend that you buy from a European webshop and preferably a Danish webshop. If you choose to buy your bed from Mammashop, we can assure you that all beds are approved and tested according to applicable safety standards. This applies regardless of whether you choose the cheapest or the most expensive bed we have.
As we have a large selection, you will find beds that suit your needs regarding both price, quality, functionality, and design. For example, see the popular beds from Sebra which are a design classic beyond the ordinary.
When does the baby transition to a junior bed? – Junior bed when?
When your baby has used his or her cot and reaches the age of 2-3 years, many parents begin to look towards a junior bed. At that age, the little one often wants to be able to get in and out of bed without help from mom and dad. During the same period, the bed also begins to be a cozy place for reading, playing, and creativity. Parents can sit on the edge of the bed and enjoy time with the little one. Therefore, the age of 2-3 years is the perfect age to transition from a cot to a junior bed.
A junior bed is typically 140 or 160 cm long and can function well up to school age, after which we recommend transitioning to an adult bed measuring 90x200 cm.
