Baby Moses Baskets: Do I Need a Moses Basket?

Do You Need a Moses Basket? Do Babies Need a Moses Basket?

One of the biggest decisions to make when you have a baby, is where your baby will sleep. It can be awkward, as they sleep so much, on and off, day and night. So you may be wondering, do I need a Moses basket?

Moses baskets are basically little cots. They are popular among parents of young babies, because they are cosy, comfortable and portable cots for newborns to sleep in at night and for daytime naps.

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They can also make your baby look pretty for photos!

But do you need one? Read on to find out.

Are Moses Baskets Worth It? 

Is a Moses baskets worth it and what are Moses basket benefits? There are pros and cons to this type of cot. Here are your questions answered to help you make up your mind.

Why Do You Need a Moses basket? 

Moses baskets are small cots for babies to sleep in. They are usually made from palm, maize or wicker.

Why do you need a Moses basket and what do you use a one for? If you want your baby to sleep in your room with you at night and you don’t have room to fit a standard-sized cot or cot bed in your bedroom, it is a handy alternative.

Small, light and portable, the basket can be carried easily from room to room and the baby can be with you wherever you are in the house.

If you are going to be away from home with your baby, you can fit it in the boot of your car and take your baby’s bed with you.

Sleeping in a cosy Moses basket can give your baby a sense of security and comfort. And you may think your tiny newborn looks a little lost in a big cot!

How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Basket? 

Like most baby equipment, you can choose from a budget range of baskets, or more upmarket, expensive baskets. 

Either choice will be fine for your baby.

You can pick up a new Moses basket complete with mattress for around £30 to £60.

As previously mentioned, a Moses basket is not an essential purchase and you don’t need to buy one. 

If you are trying to save money, you are adding on an unnecessary expense to your budget.

Do You Need a Mattress? 

Yes, your Moses basket needs a well-fitting, firm, comfortable mattress to support your baby while they are asleep.

This should ideally have a non-removable waterproof cover that is easy to wipe clean, or an outer removable washable cover with a waterproof wipe clean inner cover.

Not all Moses baskets are the same size. If you are buying a mattress separately, or replacing one, be sure to check it is the right size for your basket.

The mattress should have a snug fit with no gaps around the edges.

Baby Moses Basket Bedding & Moses Basket Bedding Sets

Moses basket bedding is pretty much the same as other cot bedding, just smaller!

It can be relatively expensive for what it is, but you don’t need to buy that much of it if you are trying to keep costs down.

But you do need to make sure you have enough to fit in with your laundry schedule! 

To make up the basket you will need a cotton sheet to put over the mattress.

You can buy fitted sheets in Moses basket size, but you can also use small flat sheets or even pillow cases for the mattress.

You also need a flat cotton sheet with one or two lightweight blankets to put over your baby depending on the temperature. (Remember if you have to fold the blanket in half to make it fit, it counts as two blankets.) 

Your Moses basket may come with a cute quilted coverlet, or Moses basket bedding set, but this isn’t necessary if you don’t want to use it. It is more important that the baby is tucked in securely with sheets and blankets.

Place the sheet and blankets no higher than baby’s shoulders and tuck them under the sides of the mattress to prevent them riding up.

Alternatively, you can swaddle your baby, or put your baby in a suitably-sized baby sleeping bag with an appropriate tog rating for the time of year.

Is It OK to Buy a Second Hand Basket?

It is perfectly fine to buy a cheaper second hand Moses basket, but for hygiene reasons you should buy a new mattress if possible, or at least make sure it is in immaculate condition.

If you buy a secondhand basket, make sure the carrying handles are strong and secure and meet in the middle so that you can hold them both in one hand.

This is important because if you are carrying the basket with an infant in it, you need to have one hand underneath the basket for support and Moses basket safety.

Moses Basket Stands

Do you need a Moses basket stand? You don’t actually need one, but you may find it useful.

Some Moses baskets are sold complete with a stand. Or the manufacturer will sell you a stand separately that is designed to fit their brand.

Using a stand means the basket can be placed at a convenient height next to your bed rather than on the floor.  And if it is a rocking stand, you can gently rock your baby to sleep at arms length.

A stand also means less bending down to tend to your baby, which is particularly useful if you are recovering from a caesarean section. 

Some stands are foldable for easy storage.

If you have a stand, make sure it is sturdy and that the basket fits securely on it. You can measure your basket and find a stand to fit, if your Moses basket does not come with a stand.

What Age Should Baby Move From Moses Basket to Cot?

Your baby will likely outgrow the Moses basket at around three to four months old. This is a rough guideline as it depends on the size of your baby.

If you have a long baby, they will grow out of it much earlier. If you have a tiny baby, you will get more use out of it.

So in general, you won’t get that much use out of it compared to the other baby stuff you need to buy.

Considering a new Moses basket and stand could cost you at least £50 with the additional cost of appropriately-sized sheets and blankets, you may decide it isn’t a worthwhile investment.

Some infants may feel restricted in a basket because they don’t have enough room to stretch their arms out fully (as did my child).

If they fling their arms out during their sleep, they can hit the sides of the basket and keep waking themselves up.

In this case moving to a bigger cot early may be the better option, or you could try swaddling your baby to restrict arm movements. (But not all babies like to be swaddled.)

How Do I Get My Baby To Go From Moses Basket To Cot? 

You’ll know it’s time to move your baby into a bigger cot when their head and feet are getting towards the ends of the cot, and when you start noticing the Moses basket is heavy to carry with your baby in it.

Sleeping in a basket could also become a safety issue for babies if they start rolling over, or trying to sit and pull themselves up from an early age.

When your baby outgrows the basket it may be a challenge getting them settled in the big cot with all that extra room, especially if your baby is in their own room.

You can help things along by placing the baby in the Moses basket, inside the big cot. This will help get your baby used to the new view!

Moses Basket Alternatives

Your baby doesn’t have to sleep in a Moses basket; you have a number of options for where your baby can sleep. A basket is really a matter of personal choice. There are Moses basket alternatives.

So, you may be wondering, what can I use instead of a Moses basket?

The closest thing to a basket is probably a carrycot, which is also portable and of similar size. 

This is a more cost effective option if you have bought a travel system that already includes a carrycot.

A Moses basket may look a bit prettier than a carrycot, but your baby certainly won’t be able to tell the difference. 

The other sleeping arrangements you can use instead include:

• Standard sized cot or cot bed
• Small cot
• Crib
• Co-sleeper
• Travel cot

Alternative Uses for Moses Baskets

Are there alternative uses for Moses baskets when babies have outgrown them?

Here is a list of suggestions for what you can do with it once it has served its purpose! There is nothing wrong with a bit of upcycling, it is good for the planet!

• Storage – soft toys, shoes, books, or anything that needs a home!
• Pet bed – do you have a cat or a small dog, even rabbits or guinea pigs that would enjoy it for a bed?
• Plant holder – your basket could make a feature for pot plants. Remove the cover and stick some pot plants in it!
• Log storage – if you have an open fireplace or log burner, use it as an attractive log storage feature
• Bedding storage – use your basket as storage for blankets, pillows, sheets, towels etc in a guest bedroom, or just use it as a laundry basket!
• Gardening basket – if you grow your own veggies, why not use your old basket for gathering your fruited tomatoes, cucumbers or anything else you have growing?

Do Babies Need a Moses Basket? What Are the Pros and Cons?

As with all baby sleeping arrangements, and as mentioned above, there are pros and cons, benefits and disadvantages. Do babies need a Moses basket? You can make your own mind up. To summarise:

Moses basket benefits

• It is portable and you can put it next to your bed, or anywhere in the house
• Your baby can sleep in it day and night
• Your baby may feel cosy and secure
• It is a cute addition to your baby gear, perfect for all those newborn photos!

Moses basket disadvantages

• Your baby will outgrow it quickly
• Your baby may feel restricted
• You need suitably sized bedding
• The transition to a bigger cot may be tricky

Now you have the information about Moses basket benefits, you can decide if you want to buy one. Or you can opt for an alternative sleeping arrangement for your baby.

A Moses basket is not an essential item because babies can sleep in their big cots from day one. It’s really up to you!

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