Why is a baby nest useful?

Let’s think about it: before our baby was born, they spent 9 months in the warmest, safest environment possible. Once they leave it, they encounter so many new and unfamiliar things, even if we don’t take them outside the house. The crib, no matter how small it is, will seem huge to our baby with them inside it, and that’s how they will feel too.

With its softness, a baby nest can help them find that sense of calm again - something essential to them and familiar from before. It is essentially like a mini bed with padded sides that surround them and help them feel almost as protected as they did in their mother’s womb and arms. A baby doesn’t long for anything more than this during the first few months, and this way we can provide it even if, for some reason, we can’t or don’t want to carry them, or if we have things to do and can’t hold them.

Many people also put it in the crib, where the baby sleeps during the day as well. This is useful because we can take the nest out of the crib and bring it with us into the living room, over to the grandparents’ or friends’ homes, so our baby can feel completely at home anywhere. They will always smell their own familiar scent, and there’s no need to worry that it will be cumbersome to carry around, because it isn’t. It’s light and can easily be packed away again, so keeping it clean won’t be a problem either. In fact, if you put something underneath it so it isn’t directly on the ground, you can even take it outdoors. You can change the baby comfortably in it, without having to find a separate place for that.

It can also help those who decide to sleep with their baby, at least in the early days. Many people spend the whole night half-awake and anxious that they might accidentally roll onto the little one. Some people question whether it is completely safe, but it is certainly better than when a newborn simply lies between the parents. The baby also sleeps more peacefully beside relaxed parents. In a later post, we’ll explain why those who are wary of it feel that way and what they say, but for now we would rather point out the positives.

One thing is certain: the baby cannot roll out of it, and it is also difficult for the parents to roll onto the baby if they fall asleep. It is a good idea to be at the same head height as the baby, as this also reduces the risk of accidentally covering their head while asleep.

The nest is safe until the baby starts crawling. From then on, however, you must not leave them unattended on, for example, the sofa - it isn’t recommended before that either, but the chance that a few-week-old baby will climb out and jump down is quite small, although of course anything can happen - because even simply rolling around in it can easily become dangerous. We generally recommend using it until around 8 months of age; after that, it is no longer as comfortable for the baby as it was before.

Before buying a nest, make absolutely sure that its material is easy to clean and that the cover can be removed. No one wants to sleep in a stained place that doesn’t smell its best, and your baby certainly doesn’t either.

As with everything we buy for our babies, we should try to choose the best quality when it comes to a nest as well, especially because the best-quality ones are generally the safest. They don’t have strings sticking out all over the place, and they remain in good condition much longer than their lower-quality counterparts.

We should also say at the end that, as wonderful, comfortable, and beautiful as a nest is, it is not a miracle cure. It doesn’t necessarily mean that a baby who isn’t a great sleeper will suddenly sleep through the night for years without any problems - although it might. And if it helps us rest even a little more peacefully, then it is already worth it. Don’t you think?