Why choose a cradle?
There are plenty of advantages to choosing a cradle. After nine months, your baby has gotten used to being rocked around in the tummy. The cradle recreates the rocking movement, your baby knows so well from mom's belly. This makes it feel safe, natural, and relaxing for your baby – just as it feels natural for you to comfort by rocking and carrying him or her in your arms.
Additionally, it can also be easier to stay warm in a crib or smaller bed. The smart thing about the cradle is that it has a rocking chair-feet. They initiate the rocking motion, which helps stimulate your baby's sense of balance, which is the foundation of the future development of your child's motor skills. The sense of balance is connected to the child's other senses - especially the sense of sight and sense of touch. Stimulating the sense of balance will help develop your child's other senses.
Baby wants to be put in the corner
Newborn babies shouldn't have too much space around them, as they are just getting used to being out in the big world instead of being in mom’s safe, but confined belly. The cradle is good because you rarely have to adjust the size of the sleeping area. At the same time, the slightly smaller size is practical when you have to find space for it in your bedroom. For your baby’s safety, it is recommended that the baby sleeps in the same room as you for the first three months.
Cradle for baby - more sleep for you
The cradle is your baby’s first real sleeping place after being carried around in a belly for nine months. Therefore, the sleeping place must be a safe and comforting place, where your baby can adjust to being outside in the real world. And the cradle gives the newborn that feeling of being safe.
The time with a newborn is always tough. Not only because you won't get as much sleep as usual, but also because a new, little person, who has to be watched and cared for, has arrived. Some parents choose to let the baby sleep in their bed - which can be a solution - as long as you do not place the baby between the two of you.
Lying in between you creates a greater risk of injury and authorities advise against it. Your baby will need as much space in your bed as in their own, and it can be a challenge to fit three people in a bed meant for two without losing sleep. The cradle makes sure the baby has their own space while still being right next to you. And when the cradle is right there, it is still very easy to comfort and breastfeed without really having to get out of bed.
For how long, can a baby use a cradle?
A cradle can be used for approx. 6 months, until the baby becomes too big to sleep in it. It's no secret that you have to buy a lot of stuff for your newborn. That is also why it might seem over the top to buy a cradle that will only be used as a sleeping space for about six months before it gets too small.
Life of a Cradle after the First 6 Months
At Hoppekids, we want all of our furniture to be used – and reused – for a long time, as it is far better for the environment if only a few pieces of furniture have to be produced. That is why the cradle is made from solid wood, which makes it sturdy and very durable. It can also be reshaped into a great little bench that your child can use for many years. If a little brother or sister arrives, it can easily be made into a cradle again. And because it is so durable, it can last for generations to come.
Why choose a crib for your baby?
When choosing a crib as the first bed for your baby, you will have a bed for multiple years and your baby will have plenty of room to grow. The bed makes you feel comfortable, as it makes sure that your baby can't get out of the bed. The bars also create a small cave that can provide your baby with a cozy and comfy feeling. With a bed bumper around the inside of the crib, you can make sure to cut out draughts. A bed bumper also protects your baby from bumping in to the sides of the bed.
Life of the crib after the 3 years
When it, after the approx. 3 years, gets time to switch out the crib with a junior bed, the crib from Hoppekids can be turned into a bench. In that way, the life of the piece of furniture is extended, and you get a cozy little bench to use in the kids' room. If you want to use it as a crib again, you simply turn it back into a bed.
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel - better for the environment
The crib from Hoppekids is awarded with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. That means, the bed follows strict requirements about the environmental impact, the use of chemicals, and durability. It's good for the environment and your child's health. At Hoppekids, you can also get a mattress awarded with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in 60x120cm that fits the crib.
When can my child use a crib?
A crib can already be used from day one. It can be used for a longer period of time than a cradle, as it has a bigger lying surface. That also means, however, that it is bigger from the beginning and your baby won't get the comforting feeling as they would in a small cradle. The illusion of the small space can be created using a baby nest or by simply placing the baby lift directly in the crib.
For how long, can my baby use a crib?
The crib can be used from day one and up until approx. year three, where the child usually outgrows the bed. Then they must change to a junior bed. The bottom of the crib can be adjusted in 2 different heights: 19,3cm above the floor and 38,5cm above the floor. At first, it makes it easier to lift your baby up from the crib and later, it keeps your child from climbing out of bed.
