For DD1 she went straight to a cot, but for DD2 we brought a cradle as DD1 was still in the cot when she was born. DS is now in the cradle and DD2 is in the cot.
If i didnt have both my DD's so close then i wouldnthave got the cradle. Personally i think a cot straight up is fine. Babies grow out of cradles/basinettes fast so can be a waste of money in the long run unless you can get good use out of it (eg, more kids).
If you can get a second hand or loan bassinette and you are planning more bubs close together than get one. If not I did not have the need for a bassinette with DD1. She was in a porta cot in a snuggle bed for 4 months in our room then in a snuggle bed in her own cot in her room.
TBH Loren hated the bassinette from 12wks and ended up in the porta cot anyway.
BTW Big W and Target have bassinettes for cheaper than $200.
I never used bassinette sheets. I used muslin wraps and small blankets too.
I got a bassinet cos I had thought I'd have DS in our room (little did I know just how loudly he would snore! ). I did find it good (mine was on wheels) so sometimes useful to wheel him in it & settle him, and also get him used to sleeping in different places. On the flip side, he was out of it before 12 weeks, not due to length, but he loved to sleep with his arms straight out (think scarecrow) and seemed much happier in his cot.
Sooooo IMHO - definitely not essential, but if you're gonna have more than one, helps make it better value for money. Comes down to your budget I guess.
Oh and I did get some bassinet sheets which I found ok, cos he was just in a wrap - so never used blankets with it really. If you buy a set of sheets, you can use either the top flat or the bottom fitted - as your bottom sheet (I only ever had one sheet on it) - so can get away with one set only if you really want 'em. But also, bunny rugs and things do just as well in there.
If I had my time again, I'd probably hunt down a second-hand one, or hire (I hear some councils or hospitals hire?). But, I'm lending mine to friends before I have #2, so I'm happy it's getting used (and I am very emotionally attached to it!). I also managed to buy floorstock on at a discounted price too.
Oh and on the cots, I couldn't live without my single-hand dropside - cheapest one I found with this was the kingparrot. I'd avoid the two button/lever thing like the plague! (so saying, I'm short & DH is tall - hence he always leaves it up, and I'm always putting it down one-handed with a baby on the other arm!)
I'm getting a bassinet or a cradle to sit next to our bed. Have been looking at ebay and looks like there's some bargains! I just do a search for stuff that's 'within 10 km' from our postcode so I can pick it up and then bid a low price that I am willing to pay. If I don't get it, I'll just try again for the next one (obviously this is easier living in a big city). At the moment have the winning bid of $5 on a gorgeous wooden cradle - am willing to bid more, just leaving it to the last minute to see what happens! I've been doing this for weeks and have snapped up some serious bargains. Good luck making your decisions - it's not a cheap process, but it's kinda fun!
This is my first bub and also due in Winter like yourself so that was the main reason.
Also DH wants bubs with us when we first get home and there is no room in our room to put a cot.
We picked ours up from Baby Kingdom for $127 (Snug as a Bug and very cute) and it came with everything the only extra that I need is a couple of small blankets and I also bought two mattress protectors which only set me back $20 each.
I see that your in Wagga and don't think that they have a store there however you can purchase on-line.
With DS1 I had a secondhand bassinette and he was in it for 6mths. It was so good to have it to be able to move it around the house to where ever I was so that I could keep an eye on him... Best thing I ever had.
I'm now pregnant with my 2nd and there was no if's or but's as to whether to get a new one.
Luckily my brother and sister in law gave me there one that was only used a handful of times but I was prepared to spend the $200 on a new one - that's how much I loved it with DS1...
Check out ebay - they go pretty cheap on there. That was where I was mostly looking for mine...
For DS#1 and DS#2 they slept in their cot from day one. For DS#3 i was looking on ebay and stumbled upon a bassinet that i really liked the look of. I won and got it so much cheaper than in the shops.
Our house is freezing in winter. For DS#3 we slept in the lounge room every night for ages where it was warmer. I slept on the couch - i was so tired it didnt bother me ! DS#3 slept in bassinet. DH slept in our bedroom and had the bed all too himself - he was happy !
I think bassinets are good if you can get one. Also gives baby a feeling of security (smaller space - more enclosed). A cot works fine but they are so big and open compared to mums tummy !
I have done both and DS#3 seemed to be alot happier to sleep from alot earlier on - dont know if the bassinet had anything to do with it.
DD was born in winter and lost a kilo in her first week at home becasue it was so cold. The MCHN suggested we use the bassinette from the pram, it was a winner of an idea, it came as part of a package with the pram anyway, and it was handy to have her sleep at family and friends houses too.
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). I did find it good (mine was on wheels) so sometimes useful to wheel him in it & settle him, and also get him used to sleeping in different places. On the flip side, he was out of it before 12 weeks, not due to length, but he loved to sleep with his arms straight out (think scarecrow) and seemed much happier in his cot.
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