Bassinet Mattress Worries- Please Help

ecurley87

We are expecting our first in just a short 8 days and I am having some trouble making a case for my decision over sleeping arrangements. Our lease doesn't end until September 1st, so we won't have a nursery until we move into our new place. It seemed silly to purchase a crib since we are in a temporary arrangement and I will be spending some time at my mother's in FL over the summer.

That being said, we purchased a Bugaboo Pram and I intended on using the carry cot as his bed until we settle. The mattress is firm and breathable and I have heard that a lot of infants actually prefer to sleep in these. My problem is my MIL... She is constantly trying to push old baby gear on me that she has saved from my partner's chilhood. Most recently, a 100 yr old antique bassinet. She has been busy sewing a bedding set for it and my partner seemed really excited, so I figured it might be nice. That was until I actually saw the "mattress" she had fitted for it a few days ago. It's a 3" thick block of foam. I'm not an infant sleep expert, but I have spent the night on a tempurpedic before and in my experience it can get quite hot and since it conforms to your body, I imagine it would be extremely easy for an infant to suffocate. And this isn't even a tempurpedic.

I'm having trouble finding a solid scientific answer to this on the internet to show my partner, so I'm hoping to get some help here on how to handle the situation. Any advice you have is greatly appreciated!

HeyJune

I'd go with your instinct. You can always graciously accept the gift but not use it. Your MIL won't know the difference and you'll have more peace of mind. SIDS recommendations always say the baby should sleep on a firm sleep surface, and I don't think what you described will be firm enough.  I think new foam is also a SIDS risk because it can release some heavy fumes, and the 100 year old bassinet is definitely not up to current standards.

https://www.healthychildren.org/english/news/pages/aap-expands-guidelines-for-infant-sleep-safety-and-sids-risk-reduction.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

 

 

 

gimmietimmies

I wouldn't use the mattress at all that she made, 3" of foam is too thick, it's going to have too much compression (if lo rolls onto the side or stomach, lo's face could go into the depression and potentially smother). I'd have to see the bassinet to say whether or not it would be fine, I've seen solid walled antique cradles that were okay, but like anything, I wouldn't use it past 20lbs or when lo can roll onto side/stomach.

I'd use your stroller bassinet and tell MIL thanks, but you've got it covered. I think it's wonderful she's put forth the effort, but she really ought to have asked first (I would only thank her for the effort, not tell her that she should have asked for, that's my inside voice). If you wanted, take pictures of lo in the bassinet all decked out, at least as a photo prop. Your MIL might enjoy the pictures.

ETA: I found a quick blurb, I'll see if I can also add to pp's link. Again, it depends on the style of the bassinet, if there are no moving parts, it might be okay, but honestly, like I said, unless it's like a cradle with no bars/slats, the likelihood of it passing are slim to none.

Say no to an heirloom cradle or bassinet. It?s a quaint idea to use one that?s been in the family for generations, but chances are it isn?t up to today?s safety standards. Some possible hazards are an overly thick mattress or puffy sides, both suffocation risks, and legs with an old-style latching mechanism that can unexpectedly release.

https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20080625/how-safe-are-bassinets-for-babies

https://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr10/bassinets.pdf <This one is the federal US standard, so in essence, law.

katcarls

I definitely would not be comfortable using something that wasn't specifically sold as a bassinet mattress.  What you described sounds like a big suffocation hazard.  This page on the AAP website has good info about criteria a crib needs to meet in order to be safe.  I would read through and see if you think the bassinet itself would be fine if used with a proper mattress.

Sorry you're stuck in this position, but do whatever you feel is best for your baby, regardless of how it might make someone else feel.  Obviously you should be as nice as possible about it, but don't worry about making someone else happy at the expense of your child's safety.  Good luck!

ETA: I like PPs idea of using it for a photo prop.  You could also mention that you bought a very expensive stroller for the specific reason of also using it as a bassinet and you want to make sure you get a lot of use out of it.

ecurley87

Thanks everyone! I'm thinking she intends to keep this at her house, so the photo op idea may not work. Like you suggested I will probably just need to go with a "thanks for the effort, but i'm concerned about safety". I feel a little bad because almost everything she's purchased for us I've had to return, but I need to put my child first.

 Thanks again!