A: The hypoallergenic fill is high-loft spun polyester. We love it because it’s absolutely odorless, doesn’t off-gas, and is mold-and mildew-resistant. It’s also naturally flame retardant and dries really quickly! Your little one can sleep in this beautiful basket up to 3 months or 15 pounds. Happy sleeping!

A: The American Academy of Pediatrics and First Candle/SIDS Alliance recommend, among several other sleep safety tips, to “keep soft objects and loose bedding out of the crib” and to “use a firm sleep surface.” Rather than “soft bedding,” I believe that these are the two recommendations to which you are referring. This elegant Baby Moses Basket does include a luxurious bumper, but just like with a crib, the use of the bumper is entirely optional! Moreover, unlike most crib bumpers, this bumper is less than 9” high because the depth of a Moses basket is shallower than the depth of most alternative sleeping environments. That means that the air flow around the baby is less obstructed just by the nature of the dimensions. Last but not least, the fabrics used in this Moses basket are very breathable since it’s made of organic cotton fleece and flannel lining with a hypoallergenic fill – all of which are encouraged by most experts associating SIDS with healthy breathing environments. To that end, however, if used, just like in a crib, the bumper should be firmly tied to hold it securely in place. And whether to use bumpers is personal preference, of which there is a growing divide of opinion. So while we cannot recommend whether you use one or not, you should know best practices for using bumpers (firmly, securely tied) and that they are not required for safety. Last but not least, although covered with a soft cotton fleece sheet, the mattress used is typical of most Moses baskets and gets it’s required firmness from the wood structure of the rocker or the floor that the basket sits on rather than the structure of the basket. Just like for babies sleeping in cribs, and in step with the recommendations of First Candle/SIDS Alliance, we at giggle do strongly encourage the use of infant sleep sacks like http://www.giggle.com/p/24250/Halo-SleepSack-Wearable-Blanket-Organic-Cotton.aspx?s=1&keyword=sleep+sack rather than blankets whenever possible. Happy sleeping!