Baby cradles – comprehensive purchase advice with top recommendations

How to find the right baby cradle & avoid dangerous mistakes when buying. These are the things that count.

For many parents, finding the right cradle is one of the first “big” decisions before the baby is born.

  • And of course everyone involved is excited and starts looking for “the best” for the addition of the family.
  • For me, the birth of my daughter is a bit behind me and today I can take on the topic with calm and prudence.

In this post you can read what you should really consider when buying a baby cradle. In this way, you can rely on data instead of following your (probably far too excited) emotional decisions.

In my purchase advice for baby cradles, I address the following topics, among others:

As you can see, the subject of baby cradles is extremely extensive. The table of contents helps you to jump directly to the chapters that interest you most.

I very much hope that this purchase advice will help you to find a baby cradle with which you will still be satisfied even after the initial excitement of being a parent has subsided.

Quick overview: the best baby cradles for all requirements

If you don’t have time to read the entire article immediately, you will find a quick summary of the top baby cradles here.

This is intended as an aid to those who want to make a quick decision:

What exactly is a baby cradle?

Anyone who deals with the subject of baby cradles for the first time will certainly be surprised at how many different models and formats there are. A lot of questions quickly arise:

  • Baby cradle, travel cot for the baby or both?
  • What is the difference to a baby nest and do you need one too?
  • How big should a baby cradle be?
  • How long can my baby sleep in a cradle before a proper children’s mattress is needed?

I will answer all of these questions in the following sections.

Babies sleep up to 16 hours a day

Since babies sleep most hours of the day , it is important to make the baby’s normal sleeping area as comfortable, practical and safe as possible.

The time our baby spends sleeping are usually the hours when he is least supervised. The sleeping environment should therefore be all the safer.

Baby cradles vs. cots

The main difference between a cradle and a cot is that the cradle is surrounded by a protective wall that protects the baby from falling out of the cradle.

Depending on the model, there are baby cradles with bars or stable walls. Stable fabrics and nets can also be used for travel cradles.

A cradle is the perfect place for your toddler to sleep without being exposed to any danger. So both you and your baby can relax and recharge their batteries.

Tip: If you are interested in children’s beds, I recommend this post about children’s mattresses .

Baby nest in the cot

In contrast to the baby cradle, in which the baby sleeps, a baby nest is understood as all the pillows, fabrics and decorations that equip the cradle in addition to the mattress and bedding.

 

Since most babies sleep soundly and do not need any baby pillows , baby nests are only partially really useful. Fabrics on the walls of the cradle help prevent bumps, especially when your baby is taller and more active.

You will find a lot of additional information on baby nests, as well as information on the advantages and risks, in the article entitled Nests in baby beds: What you should consider .

What size should a baby cradle be?

There is no standard size for baby cradles, you will find a wide range of variations from 40 × 90 to 60 × 140 cm.

The most important reason for deciding on the size of a cradle should be based on how much space you have available and when you want to switch to a cot.

  • Some parents tend to buy the largest possible baby cradle in which the toddler sleeps until it changes into a “real bed”.
  • For reasons of space, other parents opt for a small baby cradle that enables them to place the cradle next to the parents’ bed for the first few months.

Make sure that the baby cradle is by no means too small. Your baby should have enough space on all sides to move around freely.

Freedom of movement should be ensured until you exchange the cradle for another bed. This then leads us directly to the next question

How long can you use a baby cradle?

It is commonly said that babies should sleep in a cradle for the first two years. However, this period can vary greatly from baby to baby.

Since the most important aspect of a baby cradle is safe sleep, you should switch to a cot at the latest when you discover that the cradle is too small or that your baby can easily get out of the cradle.

It is also very important to see how calmly or restlessly your baby is sleeping. If your offspring moves so much in their sleep as a toddler that you are afraid they might fall out of bed without side walls, you should use the cradle a little longer.

What types of baby cradles are there?

You can find an endless variety of different baby cradles on the market.

There are fixed baby cradles, travel cradles, folding cradles, rocking cradles, bassinets, baby baskets, baby cradles complete sets, pendulum cradles, hanging cradles, electric baby cradles and many other types and models.

However, the most important functional differences are quickly summarized:

  • Can you easily transport the baby cradle?
  • Does the cradle have roles?
  • Can the baby cradle rock?
  • Does the baby cradle have other additional functions?

In the following I will introduce you to the most common types of baby cradles.

The classic baby bed

Imagine a small mattress that is protected on all four sides by walls or bars.

 

This is the classic design of a baby bed. You can put your baby in the cot both during the day and at night and be sure that it cannot fall out or be injured.

This format is not a classic for nothing. The baby has a firm, stable bed in which it can sleep safely and securely.

  • Benefits:
  • good value for money
  • very stable
  • durable
  • disadvantage
  • not mobile

The travel or folding cradle

Travel or folding cradles can – as the name suggests – be folded up quickly and transported easily.

 

Folding cradles are usually made of wood and are not unlike classic baby beds. However, unlike these, they are easily collapsible once you remove the mattress from the bed.

  • Folding cradles are often used when there is not enough space in the apartment to leave the cot mounted for 24 hours.
  • Travel cradles, on the other hand, are usually made of plastic and have mechanisms that you can open and fold in a few simple steps.

They are primarily intended to serve as a cot for your baby when traveling. Many parents also use a travel cradle at home.

  • Benefits:
  • Easy to transport
  • Versatile in use
  • Travel cradles usually have soft surfaces
  • disadvantage
  • not so stable
  • Folding mechanisms can break
  • Lots of plastic

Bassinet

Many parents love bassinets because of their “cute” design. Most bassinets also have a canopy that half covers the mattress.

 

In addition, many models have castors and can therefore be easily moved within the apartment, provided the floor allows it. In this way you can ensure that your baby always sleeps close to you.

  • Benefits:
  • Cute design
  • Mobile thanks to castors
  • disadvantage
  • Relatively small
  • Often rolls too small or too loud

Reading tip: You can find a comparison of the best variants here: Bassinet in the test .

Rocking cradles

This design, in which the cot is positioned on skid-shaped floor rails that cause the bed to rock slightly, is also very popular due to its “child-like” design.

 

Often these variants also have baby mobiles to play with , which entertain your little one.

The actual rocking function is of secondary importance, as very few models can maintain the rocking movement over a longer period of time.

  • Benefits:
  • Kindliches Design
  • Rocking movements can help your baby fall asleep faster
  • disadvantage
  • Relatively small
  • Rocking motion can also have negative effects

Other types of baby cradles

In addition to the models presented, you can now find many other types of baby cradles and combinations of the variants mentioned.

Combination cots , for example, offer the advantage that they can also be used as a changing table or cot after being used as a cradle.

Suspended cradles , on the other hand, offer alternative options when there is little space and a natural swing function.

Eco cradles are made from natural and untreated materials and are recommended for babies who have allergies, for example.

Which baby cradle brand is the best?

This question cannot be answered due to the large number of different models and qualities.

  • Which actually is the best baby cradle depends on your baby as well as on your own personal circumstances.
  • When buying, make sure that high-quality materials have been used and that the baby cradle has a quality certificate.

Use your common sense to avoid safety risks and buy a cradle that guarantees you and your baby the best possible sleep.

You can find baby cradles in special furniture stores, children’s stores and also in large department stores. Even Ikea has baby cradles in its range.

What does a good baby cradle cost?

You will find very different offers on the market that start at around 50 euros and have hardly any upper limits.

Since your baby spends a lot of time in the cot in the first few years of life, you shouldn’t save at the wrong end.

Alongside the stroller, the baby cradle is one of the most expensive purchases for parents-to-be. Pay attention to safety, quality and natural materials. It is very important to consider the space requirements of the baby cradle when buying.

My top recommendations for baby cradles

In this section, I’ll introduce you to some of the best baby cribs available on the market today. There is a selection for every usage option.

The all-rounder: Filikid baby bed 2in1

This baby bed made of pollutant-free materials is extremely practical. The standard size 90x40cm also makes it very easy to find suitable accessories.

In the evening you can sleep side by side with your baby thanks to the height adjustment and during the day the bassinet castors ensure that your child is always with you. Stable workmanship and natural materials offer all-round quality.

In my opinion, you will find a versatile baby bed here for a very good price-performance ratio.

The mobile tip: Froggy travel cot

At an absolutely recommendable price, this baby travel cot really offers everything you could want from a mobile cot. Fast opening mechanism, good workmanship, mattress included in the price and many additional extras such as a changing table and a decorative play arch.

With a size of 60 × 120 cm, the travel cot also offers space for older children, so it can be used for longer.

For nostalgics: the FabiMax bassinet

Even if the bassinet looks inconspicuous at first glance, it has a lot to offer. The wicker basket is hand-woven and consists of untreated natural willow. Mattress and other baby nest details are already included in the price of this complete baby cradle set. Thanks to the castors, you can move the bassinet freely around the apartment.

Customers love the timeless design and the good workmanship, on Amazon there are almost exclusively very positive reviews.

The Mercedes of baby swings: Leander cradle

The price of this hanging baby cradle is really not cheap, but the Leander cradle is not only a real eye-catcher, but also offers a feel-good paradise for your baby. The cantilever bed can move freely in all directions and can even be set in motion by the baby. It is fixed using a ceiling hook or an additional tripod that can be ordered.

Natural materials and the Oeko-Tex standard also ensure a cozy environment. Because it is attached to the ceiling, this baby bed also takes up little space.

Quality made of wood: WALDIN Baby bassinet XXL

The cute handcart from Waldin in XXL size doesn’t just make mum’s hearts beat faster .

  • In the spacious basket measuring 105 x 70 x 80 cm, your darling has enough space to sleep and play.
  • The hand-woven natural wicker basket gives the look of the bassinet the beautiful retro design from grandma’s youth.

The basket sits firmly on a sturdy wooden frame that has been reinforced by steel axles.

Thanks to the simple design, assembly is child’s play and can be done without any tools. The basket can be quickly assembled and disassembled.

The wheels are particularly large and covered with rubber. This means that there is hardly any noise when pushing the bassinet.

More info & a comparison with other models of the manufacturer can be found here: Waldin bassinet XXL review .

What else to look for when buying a new baby cradle

Here I have put together a few more important tips that can help you with the final selection of your cot.

  • Baby cradle with bars : make sure that the bars are close enough so that your baby’s head does not fit through the gaps.
  • Bassinet with castors : Make sure that the castors match the floors / floor coverings in your apartment. In addition, the bassinet should be easy to push and not make any loud noises.
  • Travel cots : Have a demonstration in the shop of how the travel cot opens and closes again. Try out the handling yourself. Sometimes there are mechanisms that make opening and closing very difficult.

Conclusion: A cradle is one of the most important purchases before your baby is born

As you could read in the article, there are many points to consider when buying a baby cradle.

The variety of choices is often the biggest problem. Think carefully about where and how you want to use your baby cradle and how long you want it to last. If your family plans include several children, it is best to get yourself a particularly stable cradle straight away.

All baby cradles currently available from trustworthy dealers normally comply with European safety standards (a list of the most important features, etc. can be found here ).

For this reason alone, I recommend that you refrain from buying used baby cradles. First, you do not know how functional these are, and second, they can be out of date models, including in terms of security.

 

If you follow the recommendations in the text and read the corresponding customer opinions about the products, you will get a good impression of which type of baby cradle suits you best.

Buy the model that makes you feel best.

On the subject of mattresses for cots and children’s beds, you will find a separate article under the title “ The perfect mattress for the cot ”.

I created Sleep Knowledge to share my interests and experiences on healthy sleeping with others. On this page I am therefore dealing with interesting questions about the optimal night’s sleep & everything else that goes with it.

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