I need it!!!!

Last weekend I walked into my first baby store. I've been avoiding them so far in an effort to convince myself I can raise this baby mainly with love, not possessions. That I don't need the latest stroller or the most-streamlined high chair to be a good mom. That my kid will be just fine even if I don't have the newest, fanciest, state-of-the-art high definition TV baby monitor.

But then I saw it. It was green (my favorite colour). It had a cushiony soft  inside and was attached to a fun swingy arm that I can push. The swaying will make my baby giggle with glee.

It's a hanging crib. And it's awesome.

I can just picture it dangling from the ceiling or swinging from the giant cantilevered arm which will attach at its base if I'm nervous my ceiling might crumble from its weight.

My baby will be the coolest.

And by extension, I will be the coolest. And I've always wanted that.

That's it. I need to have this - for the baby.

"Forget it," my husband said. "The baby will have enough places to sleep. It doesn't need a hanging crib."

"But the baby neeeeeeds it!!! And the baby wants it!!!" I shrieked. And then it occurred to both me and my husband that I was being a baby. I want the crib for myself, I can admit that.

Sure, the swinging crib may make it more difficult to put my child to sleep in a still position once I get it used to all that swaying.... but... okay. Fine. No crib.

Darnit.

Comments

[Ellie]

Just be careful to avoid bedding packages with bumper pads. The nurse running our prenatal class stressed they are correlated to an increased risk of SIDS, yet it's impossible to buy a nursery bedding set that doesn't include them.

A friend decided to hang hers on the wall as decoration, but that solution didn't float my boat.

[Michele Henry]

Mine neither. Don't love the bumper pad as art aesthetic. Although it is innovative - good on your friend!
I've heard about the correlation between bumpers and SIDS. I'm just starting to learn about everything I should never do/give/have/put on my child. It's daunting.

[Ellie]

It is totally daunting. In this case, researchers think bumper pads contribute to reduced air flow in the crib, but they're not sure.

The two factors that are undeniable are letting the baby sleep in any position but on his/her back and exposing him/her to second-hand smoke.

We were told in the class that if smokers want to hold your kid, they should change their shirts and wash their mouths and hands since the residual chemicals left there are just as bad for a kid as blowing smoke directly into his or her face. I knew smoking wasn't healthy, but I was surprised by how pervasive the chemicals can be even an hour after a cigarette.