How to Keep a Baby Safe in a Bassinet
Placing your baby in your bedroom to sleep in either a bassinet or a crib is one of the safest options, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics. A bassinet often works well as a baby̵7;s first bed because it̵7;s small and portable. When you use a bassinet as your baby̵7;s bed, keep her safe while she̵7;s in it by following safety standards and inspecting the bed to make sure it meets recommendations.
Instructions
Inspect a bassinet to ensure it̵7;s sturdy and safe according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines. Push on the bassinet base and move the infant bed to ensure it feels secure and stable. Check the mattress -- it should lie flat on the base and fit snugly against the sides of the bassinet. The bassinet should have mesh areas on the sides to prevent accidental entrapment and suffocation, advises the Children̵7;s Hospital of Colorado. Check all hardware to make sure all pieces are secure and recessed within the bassinet to prevent injuries. Avoid a rocking bassinet, recommends Consumer Reports. A rocking bassinet could cause your baby to roll into a side of the bed, posing a suffocation risk. Some bassinets have mechanisms that allow you to choose a rocking or stable base. Keep your bassinet stable unless you supervise your baby continuously while rocking. Read manufacturer recommendations for height and weight limits for the bassinet and follow these recommendations. Every manufacturer sets individual recommendations for specific products, so consult specific details for your bassinet. The weight limit for many bassinets ranges between 15 and 18 pounds, depending on the product. Follow safe sleep practices for your infant, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Safe sleep includes positioning your little one on his back directly on the bassinet mattress and keeping all toys, pillows, bumpers and blankets out of the bassinet. Place the bassinet near your bed to enable you to have fast and easy access to your baby during the night. Maintain a comfortable sleeping temperature in your bedroom to prevent your infant from becoming too warm. The temperature should be warm enough to keep you comfortable while wearing light clothes. If you notice your baby becoming sweaty or flushed, lower the bedroom temperature or redress her in lighter clothing. Move your baby out of the bassinet before your little one reaches height and weight limits for the bed, by the time your baby reaches 5 months of age, when your baby learns how to roll over or when your baby can push up on hands and knees, advises the CPSC.
