Moses baskets are a versatile alternative to bassinets.

Moses baskets are portable and allow parents to keep sleeping newborns close at hand.

It is not difficult to sew a liner for a Moses basket, but it is important to make a liner that is breathable and fits the basket snugly. The National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) warns that soft, loose bedding may increase an infant's risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

  • Moses baskets are a versatile alternative to bassinets.
  • It is not difficult to sew a liner for a Moses basket, but it is important to make a liner that is breathable and fits the basket snugly.

Remove the mattress from the Moses basket. Measure from the middle of the head of the basket to the middle of the foot of the basket with the measuring tape. Measure the length of the sides of the basket. Record the dimensions.

Design the bumper pad pattern. Mark off the dimensions of the sides of your basket on a piece of newspaper with a ruler. Draw the outside lines of the pattern. Add a 1/2-inch seam allowance around the outside lines of your pattern. Cut the pattern out, and label it "Pattern A."

Lay the mattress on top of a sheet of newspaper, and trace around it. Add 1/2 inch to the outside line of the pattern, and cut the pattern out. Label it "Pattern B." Make a second oval pattern, but add 3 inches to the outside edge of the pattern. Cut this pattern out, and mark it "Pattern C."

  • Design the bumper pad pattern.
  • Label it "Pattern B."
  • Make a second oval pattern, but add 3 inches to the outside edge of the pattern.

Cut the fabric, batting and ribbons. Measure and cut six lengths of ribbon 20 inches long. Cut one piece of fabric from Pattern B. Cut one piece of fabric from Pattern C. Cut two pieces of batting from Pattern A. You will also need two pieces of fabric, cut on the fold, from Pattern A. To do this, pin Pattern A along the folded edge of the fabric, and cut the fabric out. Repeat for the second piece of fabric.

  • Cut the fabric, batting and ribbons.
  • Cut one piece of fabric from Pattern B.
  • Cut one piece of fabric from Pattern C. Cut two pieces of batting from Pattern A.
  • You will also need two pieces of fabric, cut on the fold, from Pattern A.
  • To do this, pin Pattern A along the folded edge of the fabric, and cut the fabric out.

Assemble the bumper pads. Pin and sew the right sides of the ends of fabric cut from Pattern A together. Fold the ring of fabric in half vertically with the wrong sides together. Position each piece of batting in the fold of each side of the ring. Secure the batting with pins. Fold the edges of the fabric in 1/2 inch. Pin the folded edges together.

  • Pin and sew the right sides of the ends of fabric cut from Pattern A together.
  • Fold the ring of fabric in half vertically with the wrong sides together.

Fold the ribbons in half, and tuck the folded ends 1/2 inch between the pinned edges of the bumper pads. Pin them in place, and sew the edges together. Pin the bottom inside edge of the bumper pads to the edges of the fabric cut from Pattern B. Sew the oval piece to the ring with a 1/2-inch seam allowance. This oval section goes under the mattress. It is designed to prevent the bumper pads from coming away from the sides of the basket where they could pose a risk to the infant.

  • Fold the ribbons in half, and tuck the folded ends 1/2 inch between the pinned edges of the bumper pads.

Finish the fitted sheet. Fold the edges of the piece of fabric cut from Pattern C over 1/4 inch, and press them with a hot iron. Fold the edges over another 1/2 inch, and press. Stitch along the edge of the fold to form a channel for the elastic, leaving a 1/4-inch opening for the elastic. Pull the elastic through the channel. Try the sheet on the mattress, and cinch the elastic until the sheet is appropriately tight. Cut off the extra elastic, and sew the ends together. Sew the channel closed.

Put the bumper pad into the Moses basket. Secure the bumper pads to the top edge of the basket with the ribbons. Put the sheet on, and place the mattress in the basket.

TIP

Prevent the batting from bunching up in the wash by quilting the sides of the bumper pads. Compare the pinned pieces of your liner to the basket before you stitch it to make sure your measurements are correct.

WARNING

According to the NICHD, infant bedding that is too loose puts infants at risk of suffocation. Make sure that your Moses basket liner fits snugly in the basket. Do not overstuff the bumper pads.