The Return of the Baby Cradle

KORSINA / Photo: Tobias Stern

The Return of the Baby Cradle

Sleep is a basic biological need like hunger or thirst and therefore holds a high value in our everyday life. The importance of sufficient and restful sleep is already evident in newborns: Babies need their ample sleep to recover from the strenuous birth, process the many impressions of a day, and promote their brain development. Where a newborn sleeps best - whether in the family, bedside, or their own crib - is controversial.However, one thing is clear: The baby cradle is back - and not without reason.

KORSINA / Photo: Tobias Stern

While in the past there were so-called parlors, which entire families shared for sleeping, today it is the norm for the sleepers of a household to spread out over several rooms and especially beds. However, the need to sleep alone is not naturally given to humans. Rather, this was instilled in us over time through various societal and general developments. The actual case is that humans seek and need the proximity of other people even in sleep - especially newborns.Around 1800, with the introduction of rollaway beds and bassinets, there was a first turning point in terms of baby sleep. Their mobile property made it possible for the newborn's sleep to always take place in the presence of its main caregivers.

With the later advent of the baby cradle, not only was spatial flexibility provided, which enabled the integration of baby sleep into everyday life, but also another significant advantage: the movement characteristic of a cradle. The rocking motion is attributed a calming effect, which is similar to rocking in someone's arms - a movement experienced by the newborn from the very beginning.The rocking motion in this way suggests closeness and has a calming effect on the baby. Classic baby cradles are designed so that the rocking motion can be initiated both from the outside by gentle nudging and by the baby's own body movement. This can help to avoid or shorten unwanted wake phases by allowing the baby to partially rock itself to sleep.

KORSINA / Photo: Tobias Stern

Due to the proven positive effect on baby sleep, the baby cradle has made its comeback in recent years, after being considered old-fashioned and outdated from the mid-20th century.Today, more and more babies are being rocked to sleep to the rhythm of the lullaby "Sleep, baby, sleep..."