Word “bešika” is the term that comes from the Turkish language and denotes a cradle. In poorer
families, cradles were made by the father or the grandfather for the first child before its birth, and richer families ordered cradles which were often carved and decorated. Bosnian cradles are generally
simple,low to the ground and mostly made of wood or cane. Hay or straw was placed at the bottom of the cradle,and that was covered with white bedding. First seven days after the birth, the child would lay next to its mother, and after that, someone strong and healthy would put it into the cradle so it would become as strong and heathy as that person is. Poor people would cover the child with a sheet or a flax rag,richer ones with quilt.Usually the mother or grandmother would sing a lullaby,so the child in the cradle would fall to sleep more easily.
In his book ''The Life and Customs of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina'' Antun Hangi writes about the many beliefs and practices, for example, that the cradle should always be covered, whether the child is in it or not, and how the mother should never swing an empty cradle because it brings bad luck.
Cradle in the picture is made ​​of wood, coated with silver.