The Moses Basket gets its name from the biblical story of Moses. The king was going to kill every newborn Hebrew boy, so Moses' mother took a basket made of reeds and covered it in tar so it would be water tight, then put Moses in the basket. She took him to the bank of the river and placed him and the basket in some tall grasses so the king's daughter would find him. She did, and raised Moses as her son.
Moses baskets are still used today to keep baby safe and secure. They are good for newborn babies because baby is used to being confined in mother's womb, so the small space makes baby feel secure. Moms like them because they and are small enough to carry from room to room, so you can keep an eye on baby while he sleeps, and even keep him near you while you sleep. Their size makes them preferable to a bassinet if you have a small space and also means they are easy to take when traveling or just visiting friends and family.
The design of the basket is an elongated shape with sides that are high enough small babies cannot roll out. Some have a hood at one end to shade baby's head while sleeping. It has handles at the center of the basket, one on each side, for easy carrying. Stands are available to buy for a Moses basket. This allows the basket to be off the ground, but not take up space on a table or couch. It is also convenient for having baby next to the parent's bed.
There are a lot of good reasons to buy a Moses basket, but they can only handle a baby until he's about three months old. Then baby is too big for the basket. So it can be an expensive investment for such a short amount of time. However, some of them are less expensive than a lot of bassinets, which are also only used for a short amount of time.
Prices for a Moses basket range from $30 to $150 or more. If looking at a cheaper basket, make sure it is sturdy and well made. Check that the bottom and handles are strong enough to hold baby's weight. Whatever amount you decide to spend will probably be worth the convenience and security of the Moses basket.
For other baby gift ideas consider the convertible crib or a practicle baby changing table.
