A bassinet is very comfortable and safe for newborn babies due to its large, safe area. But the baby grows up too fast, and the bassinet gets smaller.
Sometimes, the crib is suitable for that age, but most of the time, the crib is too large for the babies. Or maybe you do not want to shift your loved one into a crib yet.
Then what to do when your baby is too big for the bassinet but not ready for the crib?
Try a play yard or playpen with multiple layers of thick blanket. It will provide ample space without sacrificing safety and comfort.
You can also try bringing a crib into your room and putting your baby in it. This will prevent the distance between the mother and child.
Putting your baby with you in the bed is another good option if you have a large bed.
How to know when the baby is too big for the bassinet?
This is when you will know when the baby is too big for the bassinet.
The disturbance in the movement of the baby
You can see babies’ growth through the difference in their movements. When babies discover that they can not move their limbs ideally or can not do various activities like rolling over, sitting up, and moving in the bassinet, they feel frustrated and start crying. At that time, they start hitting the wall of the bassinet. It indicates that the baby has outgrown the bassinet.
When the baby crosses the weight limit,
Every bassinet has a maximum weight capacity. Typically, bassinet weight limits range from 10 to 20 pounds. A 3-month-old boy’s weight is about 14.1 pounds, while a girl’s is about 12.9 pounds.
Their weight is gradually increasing with their age. When a baby has more weight than the carrying ability, the bassinet can’t hold the baby’s weight any longer. So know the weight limit of the bassinet to understand if the bassinet is shorter or not.
When the baby’s age increases more than the bassinet age limit
Bassinets are appropriate for newborn babies because they are tiny in size. They have little weight. So, they feel comfortable in the bassinet. They do, however, start to become mature after four months.
After six months, their size and weight become larger. So, the space of the bassinet slowly decreases for them. You will then know when the baby is too big for the bassinet.
They don’t want to stay inside the bassinet anymore,
If your baby is protesting in the bassinet by crying or moaning, you need to understand that your baby is unwilling to stay in the bassinet. It is because either they are not getting proper comfort or the bassinet space is shorter.
As they are gradually growing, they need more space to grow faster. The little space of the bassinet disturbs their growth, so they start hating it.
They start standing when you want them to lie down.
When the baby is too big for the bassinet, they don’t want to sleep in it anymore or don’t want to lie down. They start standing up when you try to put them in the bassinet. It is a sign that they are not getting proper comfort or they don’t have enough space.
What to do when a baby is too big for the bassinet but not ready for a crib?
Follow these steps when a baby is too big for the bassinet but not ready for a crib.
Try to use a playpen
If your baby doesn’t fit in the bassinet, try using a playpen. They are bigger than bassinets and provide extra space for a baby. As a result, a baby can move more easily. While choosing a playpen, make sure to select a movable one.
When your room doesn’t have much space, you can just carry it in your room at night so that your baby can sleep there. The next morning, carry it to a separate room to free up space.
If your bed has enough space, co-sleep with it
People may think that if babies share their room with their parents, they may not sleep alone in the future.
But according to cosleeping.nd.edu, sharing a bed with babies at an early age( from birth to 6 months) is good for their safety and helps them grow more. So if your baby can’t sleep in the bassinet, you can share a bed with him/her.
Start transitioning your baby to the crib
You must start transitioning your baby to a crib when it doesn’t fit in the bassinet. However, www.halosleep.com says babies don’t start sleeping in a crib right away. So try to start transporting your baby to sleep in the crib. To do it,
- Choose a period when babies will sleep and put them in the bed area at that period.
- Cuddle or sing for him so that he feels sleepy.
- Put it in the crib for some time (30 minutes to 1 hour) every day so they can slowly adjust to the new environment.
- Do not just leave him in the crib; check if he is getting proper space and comfort in the crib or not.
Change the mattress of the bassinet
The mattress that comes with the bassinet may sometimes not be the exact size as the bassinet. It could be a reason that your baby requires more space.
In that case, you should change the mattress to increase the space of the bassinet. When choosing a mattress, choose one with an accurate size and a foam topper. It will give your baby extra space and comfort.
Try to use a pack and play
Using a pack and play is also a solution for babies who are slightly bigger than a bassinet but not ready for a crib. They have a bigger structure so the baby can have more space( 27 to 39 inches) than a bassinet and can easily be folded.
As a result, storing them is easier. Just bring it into your baby’s sleeping room when they sleep and set it up faultlessly. So you don’t have to move the baby to a crib immediately.
Conclusion
The babies usually sleep in the bassinet from 3 to 5 months of age. At that time, their size is enough to accumulate in the bassinet.
However, with the baby’s age, you will see that the baby is too big for the bassinet but not ready for the crib. The babies no longer like sleeping in the bassinet as they don’t have proper space.
As an alternative to a bassinet, use a pack-and-play or playpen. They have more space so that the baby can move around more easily. Also, start transitioning the baby’s sleeping into a crib so that you can move it there after some days.
