Cradle VS Playpen

You have limited space, and the crib may be too big at first for your new bundle. What do you get in the meantime? While the cradle has been rocking babies to sleep for centuries, the playpen is becoming more common because of it’s portability. It may not be possible to have both so here are some pro’s and con’s for each.

Cradle
Pro’s
- Strong sturdy frame

- Soothing Rocking motion

- Brings Elegance to any room

- May be a heirloom

Cons
- Not roomy, baby may not be able to pivot around

- Baby may only be able to use for a couple of months

- Doesn’t store easily


Versailles Cradle - 450.00 - Includes bedding, Made of an Indonesian Kula,Hardwood, hand painted and hand carved. Beautiful and classic


Pewter Cradle - 459.00 - Bedding is included, decrative spindles, very elegant


Glider/Cradle - 109.00 - changes in a glider after the baby has outgrown it, 4 finishes, practical and inexpensive


Playpen

Pro’s
- Packs up very easily, and doesn’t take up much storage

- Has a changetable

- Baby can use up to a year, possibly longer if they aren’t too aggressive

- Extra pockets on side for storage

- Spacious for baby

- Extras available like lights, vibration, mobile, toybars. Some come with all of these things.



Cons
- Not as sturdy as a cradle

- may not match decor of home


Laura Ashley, 269.99 cad, pretty much fully loaded, pivoting changetable, canopy, 2 speed vibration under the padding, music timer and toy bar.


Evenflo, 99.99 cad, this one is great for the park or taking on vacation. It has some storage on the side, change table, and a removable bassinet.

While there are not many negatives for each the playpen seems to have more going for it overall. Both items can cost about the same. The cradle does have some models that cost upwards of 2200.00. Which doesn’t make sense to me because your baby has limited time in a cradle. For that money you can buy the top of the line playpen, 2 if you want, a “cradle” type swing and still have money left over for the down payment on their first car! For nostalgic reason people usually pick the cradle but then end up getting a playpen to have for later.

If you are using a cradle that has been passed down through your family make sure you check and make sure that the paint is not lead based. It is harmful to everyone but babies and Pregnant women are more at risk. Please also make sure that the spindles on the sides are not spaced to far apart. The has been a lot of safety improvements made in the last few years that may not be included on older products.


U.S. researchers have published a study that Ultrasounds disrupt the brain development of unborn mice, which adds to growing evidence that too many ultrasound scans could also affect human fetuses.

Prolonged ultrasound scans of the brains of fetal mice interfered with a process known as neuronal migration in which neurons move from one place to another, the team at Yale University in Connecticut reported.

“Proper migration of neurons during development is essential for normal development of the cerebral cortex and its function,” Dr. Pasko Rakic, chair of the Department of Neurobiology at Yale, said in a statement.

“We have observed that a small but significant number of neurons in the mouse embryonic brain do not migrate to their proper positions in the cerebral cortex following prolonged and frequent exposure to ultrasound.”

This, I don’t believe effects the mom that needs to have 2 ultrasounds during the pregnancy to check for normal development and growth. The babies that are more at risk would probably be the ones that are being scanned once a week. While I was pregnant I needed to have an Ultrasound every week sometimes more. Our baby arrived early and I had already had 14 full (40-60 minute) scans by the time he was born. I should be part of a study!!

I did a post a couple weeks ago about private Ultrasounds. When I was researching the post I found it hard to find any article that would even suggest that Ultrasounds cause negative effects. Most of the stuff I found was wishy-washy, kind of going there but then pulling back. Lawsuits?? Who knows. It is refreshing to see a study that has proof on what most people are thinking but won’t say. One of my sources for that article also has some great information as well. Check it out!

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