When looking at where baby will sleep, you should initially just think about the first four months.

For those first weeks it is usual for baby to sleep in the same room as their parents, the smell and sounds of parents close by will reassure baby, being close means that baby can be monitored without the need to wander through the house, at feed time you are close and if you are breastfeeding you may not even need to leave the bedroom.

Moses Baskets & Cribs

Having decided that your bedroom is where your new baby will sleep - what to sleep them in. A favourite choice is a Moses basket, this could be placed on a stand close to the side of the bed and would be used for around four months, another option could be a crib - this can be used for slightly longer - around six months.

Moses basket are generally purchased fully dressed in various colours of your choice, cribs on the other hand are generally sold undressed and you choose the style and colours of dressings yourself.

The advantage of the Moses basket over a crib is that it can more easily be moved downstairs during the day, baby can sleep near you where ever you may be working - no up and down stairs to check on them. Going out for an evening to friends (yes it does happen, even with a new baby) take the Moses basket with you in the car (baby cannot travel in it) but it could be placed in the centre of a double bed or between two chairs when you arrive at your friend's house and baby would not know that you are anywhere but home, as a rule they settle well.

Cots & Travel Cots

If space is not a problem you could put baby straight into their cot, but this will mean you would need a travel cot if you were to go out in the evening - or a baby sitter.

The cot would initially need to be assembled in your room, moving it into the nursery bedroom later. (To move it later would mean completely dismantling and reassembling as they seldom fit through doorways).

It is no longer recommended to fit your cot with a soft fabric bumper, so it is hard to make a tiny baby look enclosed and comfortable in such a large space. It is generally advised to sleep baby at the foot of the cot 'feet to foot' (baby's feet to the foot of the cot) this is to stop baby wriggling under the bed clothes and over heating, so you may be advised to look for a cot with solid ends rather than bars.

Carrycots & Carcots

If you were considering a carrycot option with your chosen pram, you will need to find out if the manufacturer intends the carrycot to be used for overnight sleeping, (some are no longer suitable) it would need to be ventilated at the bottom and have a safety mattress. Many carry cots are now designed without ventilation and are supplied with a comfort mattress, more comfort for daytime use but not necessarily advised for over night use - check your instruction booklet.

There are a number of products, the Windoo car/carrycot from Bebe Confort, another, the Auto carrycot from Jane - both of these can be used in the bedroom for over night sleeping.