https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 10 May 2026 20:19:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-131596 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:09:28 +0000 babynumber1 131596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a cradle that was passed down to us also. We didn't have an issue with paint, since it was stained, but with the mattress. There are websites that you can buy new mattresses for specific dimensions. I used <a href="http://www.ababy.com-" rel="nofollow">http://www.ababy.com-</a> it came in within 2 weeks and was perfect. Our cradle also is a little smaller and instead of sheets, we are able to use a king sized pillow case to cover the mattress. It was much easier and cheaper :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-131582 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:59:49 +0000 PBandBaseball 131582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: I'm glad that you're going to be able to use it. It sounded like it was important to you that you uphold the tradition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-131262 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:40:32 +0000 SugarplumsMom 131262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We found out that lead paint was banned in Sweden in 1929. So it was before this was purchased/built. I'm waiting for MIL to get back and confirm who painted it last. DH thinks it's his uncle for his grandchildren (3 of them). Their moms are around our age. It really seems like they actually used it.</p> <p>Because of this, I've decided to try and use it as well. After the paint is confirmed new, I'll be spending less than $100 plus some alterations of my own to have it baby friendly. It's a lot more effort than buying a new one, but it's important for me to try to keep with tradition.</p> <p>I won't be buying too many sheets for it and plan to use receiving blankets (that we already have) on top of the sheets for easy changes and to save some money. </p> <p>I'm telling myself not to be cheap and the $100 for a new mattress, waterproof cover, and sheets is worth upholding the tradition. I honestly think people will be offended if we don't use it - if it's good enough for their babies, why isn't it good enough for ours? So it's a gesture of good faith, I suppose. </p> <p>Thanks again for all your responses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127996 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:48:32 +0000 tequiero21 127996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wouldn't use it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127913 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:13:00 +0000 Cole 127913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like the idea of using it as a prop for some cute pictures but if you would like to consider using it there are lead test sticks that are available at hardware stores for a few dollars. You could start there and then decide about a mattress if the paint turns out fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127825 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:23:11 +0000 MsMini 127825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a family cradle, but it was stained, not painted, and has been maintained over time, so we are going to use it in our bedroom. If I was concerned I would get the paint checked out, and make a new mattress if there is time. </p> <p>My families cradle got its new mattress a few years ago, no one gets upset/offended as long as the integrity and look of the piece is maintained. The cross brace is looking a bit dodgy, so we are going to make a new one and stain it to match. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127816 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:19:30 +0000 heffalump 127816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd be too paranoid to use it. If your DH doesn't care, I'd just get a new one or use something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127811 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:16:14 +0000 mrstilly 127811@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would ask if anyone knows when it was painted. It's been about 40 years since lead was in paint, and I would guess that it was painted since then. I don't think you'd offend anyone by asking. </p> <p>My dad made us a cradle for DS and it was great to have that in our room for DS in his early months. We moved him out around 3-4 months and moved him into his crib in his room. His crib wouldn't have fit in our room very well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127710 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:55:01 +0000 winniebee 127710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just pretend like you are going to use it, take some pics with baby in it, and then....not use it.</p> <p>MIL keeps telling us she has a cradle for LO to sleep in up at her lakehouse (where we spend vacations and many weekends.) She said she is working on refinishing it...I have some concerns about it, but haven't seen it yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127704 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:47:15 +0000 chopsuey 127704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't use it! You could always put a blanket down and have a picture taken of your LO in it just to show that she "used" it too. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127638 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:54:18 +0000 mediagirl 127638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, I agree with @mrs. Jacks? Use it as a prop for pictures and then use something else for the baby to sleep in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127636 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:49:55 +0000 Andrea 127636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From what you have described, I would be hesitant to use it as is. I wouldn't use it unless you can take care of the issues. Good thing DH isn't forcing you to use it or anything so I would just tell his family that I am using it but not....in case they ask? Haha. It would be nice to fix it up, if you have time though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127632 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:37:18 +0000 SugarplumsMom 127632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lol! I love you guys! Maybe the last few people that's used it thought the same thing and just had it as a prop? Having LO in it does count ... it doesn't mean we have to use it everyday and who knows if people did that anyway (babies are fussy afterall)!</p> <p>@looch: I had a long night, I really needed a laugh this morning ;D</p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I can't believe someone else has a heirloom bassinet! That's crazy! (I had to double check your location to make sure! Hehe) Thanks for the response, really ... I needed to hear that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127614 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:39:41 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 127614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you sure we're not in the same family? We have a white heirloom bassinet as well that is at least 70+ years old. Every kid in the family has slept in it... In our case, we used it as a great photo opportunity and little else. We then returned it to Mr. Jacks' family, but we do need it back for another photo op with Jack Jack soon. </p> <p>Everyone sort of understands that while it's a super neat thing to have, it's not very realistic for actual day to day usage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127588 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:20:59 +0000 looch 127588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you use it to hold your LO's stuffed animals or something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127575 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:57:45 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 127575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I just don't think that I would use it! I get that it's special to the family, but the health of your baby comes first and foremost. Even the thought of the possibility of lead paint would scare me!<br /> I don't think your family would be offended if you choose to go with something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/family-bassinet#post-127468 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:51:37 +0000 SugarplumsMom 127468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There's a family bassinet that's been passed down in my hub's family for years. DH and his siblings used it, his aunts and uncles and all their children had used it and now their children's children. I've never heard of anything like this before and was really excited to have our baby be a part of it. </p> <p>Now that we've seen it, I'm a little concerned, mainly about the paint. It's wooden and white, which doesn't look like the original paint (but I don't know when it was last painted). It's not peeling or anything but given how old it is, I'm worried about lead. MIL claims they never used lead in white paint, but after Googling it, that doesn't seem to be the case. I've thought about bringing a part of it to a paint dealer to check, but DH thinks it'll be too much of a hassle and might as well just buy a new bassinet. </p> <p>I can message DH's cousin, the last person that's used it (her baby just grew out of it) and ask if she knows ... but I'm hesitant to ask. I don't want to offend anyone. Everyone's used it ... everyone's healthy and here I am (a foreigner) asking all sorts of questions. I don't want to rock the boat.</p> <p>While I'm at it, I should also add that the mattress needs to be replaced - it's clean, from what I can see, but it's just a cut-out of some foam (homemade cut-out with pen marks) no cover. I'm also concerned about what type of material it's made out of and replacing it is the first thing I've looked into. But only larger mattress are available, so I'll have to cut and sew it to fit the size of the bassinet (it isn't standard size). </p> <p>How would you go about this? Should I go through the hassle of getting the paint checked, buying a new mattress, cutting it and sewing it to fit and doing the same for sheets. -OR- should we just go by my husband's suggestion and not use it? It'll only last 3 months anyway. We can just put the crib in our room and use that. </p>