As parents, before giving birth to your lovely baby, one thing you should start planning for is your baby’s nursery.
When your child leaves the womb, the next best place to spend most of his or her time is a place that is safe and comfortable.
In most cases, getting a bassinet should be at the top of your list because it is more comfortable for a newborn.
Now, there are some safety questions surrounding bassinets and one of such questions is about the mesh sides. Do parents need to worry about a bassinet not having mesh sides? We’ll go into details on this!
Let’s start with the first question…
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Do Bassinets Need Mesh Sides?
Yes! It is good for bassinets to have mesh sides because it allows for free flow of air to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) which may be caused by suffocation.
At a very tender age, babies have very delicate organs that are at high risk of SIDS. Therefore, parents need to apply the best safety measures possible to prevent any mishap.
So as parents, if you decide to use a bassinet for your baby, the product must be in compliance with CPSC safety guidelines.
If bassinets need to have mesh sides, does it mean that all bassinets have mesh sides? This takes us to our next question.
You may want to read this: quick facts about jogging strollers with bassinets.
Do All Bassinets Come With Mesh Sides?
While it is good for a bassinet to have mesh sides, not all bassinets come with mesh sides. As a matter of fact, I have seen parents who struggled to find a bassinet with mesh sides in the marketplace.
So, does it mean bassinets without mesh sides should be avoided? No, most of the bassinets you see today don’t have mesh sides but have undergone a series of testing that certified them safe to use.
Before a bassinet can be called a bassinet, it has gone through some critical testing. The sides of the bassinet are also tested to know if they are breathable or not.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some strict compliance guidelines for companies involved in baby nurseries.
As a mom or a dad, if you take your time to test a bassinet without mesh sides, you’d see that the materials used are actually breathable.
You can carry out the test by putting your face on the side of the bassinet to see if you can breathe. You should be able to breathe because these products are made with extra precautions.
Therefore, even though not all bassinets have mesh sides, they are all made to meet the strictest guidelines set out by the relevant regulatory agencies.
Read more on: The benefits of bassinets and safety rules for the best sleep.
What Are The Implications Of Using A Bassinet Without Mesh Sides?
For most first-time moms and even some experienced mothers, it is okay to be worried about a bassinet not having mesh sides. It shows that you are sensitive to your child’s safety.
However, you shouldn’t worry about it because bassinets without mesh sides have been tested and certified to be safe for babies.
If you are still not convinced about the whole thing, then you can take your time to find one that has mesh sides.
The essence of the mesh sides is to prevent suffocation peradventure your baby rolls over to the side of the bassinet. We’ll talk about when to stop using a bassinet for a baby as you keep reading.
You may want to read this: Do bassinets come with mattresses.
If Bassinets Without Mesh Sides Are Safe, Why Are Cribs With Bumpers Not Safe?
First, you need to understand that bassinets without mesh sides have gone through rigorous tests before being certified as safe for babies.
On the other hand, cribs are not made with bumpers. These bumpers are external materials used to provide extra support and comfort for babies inside a crib.
Moreover, bumpers come in varying sizes and some can fall inside the crib, which might lead to SIDS.
This is why CPSC recommends that a baby’s crib should be free from bumpers, pillows, or any external material.
So, having a bassinet without mesh sides and having a crib with bumpers are two different things.
While the former has been tested and proven to be safe, the same cannot be said of the latter because bumpers are not made together with the crib.
At What Age Should A Baby Stop Using A Bassinet?
Once your baby starts rolling over, you should not hesitate to transfer him or her to a crib with much space. Typically, a baby starts to roll over at about 4 months old.
Since the causes of SIDS is still not very clear, it is essential for parents to take every preventive and safety measure.
Can a baby suffocate on the sides of a bassinet? Normally, this shouldn’t lead to suffocation because bassinets (be it the ones with mesh sides or no mesh sides) have been properly tested to be safe.
However, we shouldn’t take chances by leaving a child to keep rolling inside a bassinet. Therefore, once a baby is about 4 months old or begins to roll over, you should move him or her to a bigger crib.
Final Thought: Should I Be Worried About Having A Bassinet Without Mesh Sides?
No, you don’t need to be worried if you have a bassinet without mesh sides. As a matter of fact, most of the bassinets in the marketplace don’t have mesh sides.
Nevertheless, since there are strict safety guidelines in place for the manufacturers of these products, most of them have been certified to be safe for babies.
If you are interested in buying a bassinet with mesh sides, you can get some pretty good ones on Amazon. Check out some good bassinets with mesh sides on Amazon.
