6 Things To Consider Before Buying A Bassinet

Before you take your newborn baby home from the hospital, you may want to be prepared well in advance. Since newborns require quite a bit of special care at these tender ages, you want everything that you need already in place. Therefore, if you are like most moms, you will do your research first. In particular, if you want to create a comfortable safe environment for the baby to rest.

With that being said, the bassinet may be one of the first purchases that many moms may make today. Specifically, if they want to keep the baby close by their beds until they are at least 6 months of age. So, if you are looking for a new bassinet for your baby, here are 6 things to consider before buying a bassinet.

#1 – Weight and Age Limits

When you start shopping around, you should know what to look for before you make your investment. Since many moms may keep their bassinet for their next child or pass it to another mom that has a need, there are a number of different factors to consider as the selection is being made. Some of the more common include the weight and the age of the newborn baby. Typically, moms are looking for a weight and age limit that will take them from an infant size to about 6 months. So, if this is the situation, you may find the best selections range from 15 to 20 pounds. In some cases, the bassinet that moms and their friends buy may be able to handle weights that are much heavier. Either way, it is also important to note that the baby may actually outgrow their bassinets developmentally and then transferred to the traditional baby bed or baby crib. Also, when in doubt of the weight or age factor, you can check the instructions on the bassinet to view what the manufacturer recommends, especially for the maximum capacity requirements.

#2 – Portability

In addition to checking out the weight and age limits, the buyer of the bassinet should also factor in the fact that the bassinet must easy to transport. Because most moms want to keep the baby near them in the day as well as late into the night hours, portability is also a must. For instance, moving the baby around from one room to another without any major disturbance is essential for moms who do not want wake the baby up prematurely.

Per babys.reviews, assembling and disassembling a bassinet quickly is also an essential key to buying the best type too. This is because some people may transport their newborns to the babysitter or to another family member on a regular basis. Therefore, when the bassinet is flexible enough in its overall features, the owner can expect a better and easier commute. On the other hand, if these features are not included in the design, most professionals in this industry will tell the new mom to keep looking. Specifically, because portability is not a luxury but a necessity for keeping the baby in the safest environments.

#3 – Check out the Bassinet’s Safety Standards Carefully

In the past, manufacturers were not required to adhere to specific safety standards when a bassinet was designed and shared with the public for use. Over the times, however, things have changed quite significantly including making sure that each bassinet does meet the appropriate standards before they are being sold. Therefore, if you want to know what types of safety standards are included in the bassinets that have been made today, all you have to do is look at the label that says JPMA or ATSM. In fact, these are the symbols that state the bassinet does meet federal standards. Today, these standards are now in place as of April 2014.

Typically, when these standards are being met, the potential risks normally involved are substantially lower. For instance, the mattresses on the bassinets are significantly lower in risks when the manufacturer takes into consideration eliminating the possibility of the baby suffocating. Also, even though little pretty ornaments can be placed all over the bassinet, parents are normally eliminating this part of the design since they are an unnecessary hazard to the baby.

#4 – Mattress Support

When moms and their family members are shopping around for a new bassinet, it is important that they consider the mattress’ support for the baby. Some of the primary features in this case usually includes buying a bassinet that is strong enough to hold the baby firmly in a number of different positions. For instance, one of the best ways to test this part of the mattress’ support is for the buyer to place their fingers in the middle of the mattresses or on the edge to see if the mattress dips easily.

#5 – Buying a Used Bassinet

If you are starting your shopping venture on a low budget, you may need to save money on your next purchase. Fortunately, it is possible to save on the cost if you are willing to buy a bassinet that has been used by someone else. This is one of the main reasons why some people may look for a used bassinet instead of a new one. Before buying a used bassinet, however, one primary caution in making this type of investment is its overall safety. So, before you buy a used bassinet, you should make sure that it meets the latest safety guidelines so that the baby is not exposed to undue risks.

#6 – Bassinet Styles

After you have checked out the weight and safety factors, you may spend a lot more effort on the actual style of the bassinet. In these situations, you may want the bassinet to fit seamlessly in any decor. So, you may choose the traditional bassinet that can be moved around from one place to another. Or, you may begin to look for modern, sleek and frilly options that can help to pick up and complement specific color schemes and themes in virtually any room in your home.