I’ve always liked the idea of a hanging baby cradle. We used a cot for our daughter Hannah when she was an infant, and while it worked out perfectly fine, I think I would insist on a hanging cradle for her first months of life if I could go back in time.
They just seem so peaceful, almost romantic, with baby snuggled inside and gently swinging back and forth. I suppose it’s the same sensation that we adults get when looking at a hammock – complete relaxation.
Leander suspension cradle
Cot vs. crib vs. basket
When we were pregnant with our now 3-year-old Hannah, we assumed that we had to buy a Moses basket or crib in addition to a cot because of the size difference. It was hard to imagine such a little baby sleeping in such a big cot!
But while baskets and cradles are perfectly acceptable furniture for babies, it turns out that there is nothing wrong with using a full-size cot from the beginning. Because young babies should not sleep with a blanket for risk of suffocation, it just looks less cosy than smaller sleep areas.
So we opted to save a little money and bought a cot along with a cot separator, which is placed horizontally to keep baby from moving around too much. We have friends who had a baby around the same time that we had Hannah, and they invested in a basket for their newborn. It certainly was convenient for them to be able to easily carry him from room to room without disturbing him.
Leander suspension cradle
Not long ago as I was surfing the Internet, I came across this whimsical-looking cotton suspension cradle from Scandinavian designer Leander available from the Funky Nursery website. This milky-white cradle is oval-shaped and hangs from a hook in the ceiling. I really like that in a design like this, the baby’s own movements will cause the cradle to gently swing back and forth.
This would work great in a parents’ bedroom, where some paediatricians recommend little ones sleep in the beginning. With its airy canopy and refreshing simplicity (no batteries required!), I wish I had a reason to buy one. Our friends who are expecting already have enough baby furniture, and our daughter Hannah, who has graduated to a toddler bed, is far too old for it. Maybe someday soon Chris and I will have an excuse. Here’s hoping!
Tags: cot separator, crib, furniture for babies, hammock, hanging baby cradle, Leander, Moses basket, sleep areas, snuggle