Attachment Parenting
Options
Co-Sleeping & Crib
For those who co-sleep, is there still reason to get a crib?
I want us to get the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper (not enough room in our bed) and was assuming we'd also get a crib, but I'm starting to wonder. We're in an apartment so maybe we could put it off, although I'm not sure if hubby would be too happy about that. Or my MIL.
If we do get a crib it'll be one that transitions to a toddler bed, so maybe it's still good to have?
Would love to hear from other co-sleeping mamas!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Co-Sleeping & Crib
What's the weight limit on the ARC? I thought it was something like 15 lbs. If that's the case, your baby might outgrow it quickly (DD's always been under 50%ile and was 15 lbs by 5 months - well before I'd be comfortable with a floor bed for her). If you don't have enough room for her to sleep with you in your bed, you'll need another place for her to sleep.
So, if it's something your husband wants, I'd go ahead and get it (because his opinion matters).
I actually wonder how on-board your husband is with long-term co-sleeping, if he's really interested in getting a crib. Or, does he think LO will sleep in a crib for naps? You might want to talk about it in detail before making your decision.
Does your MIL live with you? Why does her opinion matter at all?
We did use a crib for naps or when our kids went to sleep before we did (the crib was in our room). DS1 had a mini-crib, I'm pretty sure he still fit in it at 12 months (he didn't really use it at that point, though!).
You can also strap a crib frame to a bed frame if you take off one of the sides, ala toddler bed (there are tutorials on how to do it safely online). Or get a king size mattress and put it on the floor. Baby can sleep there for naps.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
You can always wait it out on the crib--if you find that you need/want one later on you can always get one. We're cosleeping now but I do plan to transition to crib at some point because I think we'll all get better sleep that way when LO is older (just because of our dynamic, not a blanket statement!). Or, as pp said, you can skip the ARC (though I love ours! not a knock against ARC at all!) and sidecar the crib.
Just wondering--you said your husband might not be happy about not getting a crib. Why is that? Is he on board with long-term cosleeping or is he seeing the crib as a "light at the end of the tunnel" kind of thing (ie, "when we transition to the crib we won't cosleep...").
We co-sleep. We live in an apartment too and I think it was a waste of space to get one before he was 6 months (we had one 2 months before he was born). We side-carred the crib at around 8 months when he started crawling because it was a way to contain him and a way to get some space back. Little people seem to spread out more and take up A LOT of space. Now at almost 11 months we put the crib in his own room and he takes naps and starts out the night (from about 8 to midnight when we go to bed) in it.
It's definitely useful but if you're worried about space I'd probably wait a bit on it. But then again, we have a king size mattress so space in our bed wasn't an issue until he started crawling.