Rock N Play Question

KMW08

Other than looks & price, is there a huge difference between the fisher price basic rock n play VS the deluxe (snuga series) rock n plays?

MrsDL

We used the basic as well - word of caution - it looks like the deluxe has a head/neck support.  You can buy a stand-alone one (which is nice to have anyways) but you'll want to make sure you use it until LO builds up strength. 

DS loved the Rock n' Play, rookie FTM mistake but I didn't have a head/neck support (wasn't thinking about it) and he was in it one day, fell asleep, and woke up screaming bloody murder.  He sprained his neck from how he was sleeping and ended up with acute torticollitis.  He had a stiff neck (it tilted to the side) for a few weeks, I had to take him to physical therapy.  I'll use it again, but I bought a stand-alone head/neck support after that happened that I used with a lot of other things.  I still beat myself up over it when I think about. 

carcrashheart

No difference. Basic one works just fine. We did not have any sprained necks. Kids bones aren't fully fused until later so they can sleep in positions that would be uncomfortable for us. I mean, I can't sleep without a pillow or sitting up in a car seat, but kids surely can. IMO, a rookie ftm mistake is buying in to the more expensive items when there is no need. but we stick to basics around here most of the time.

MrsTuna08

@MrsDL thank you for the warning!!! I bought the basic version because I thought the bunny was ugly.  I never even thought about head and neck support - FTM here.  Don't beat yourself up!  You just saved a bunch of other mom's from repeating what you went through - so thank you thank you again!

ssstephanie214

the deluxe vibrates and has some songs. Unsure if the basic one does too.

erinwithtwins

The deluxe vibrates has more support
A new one came out two weeks ago that auto rocks!!!!
Called the auto rock n plAy. Seems to be only at BRU and FP directly.
Has a twenty five minute and a six hr setting. We got them directly on fisher price.com for $70. They are having a sale.

MrsDL

MrsTuna08 said:

@MrsDL thank you for the warning!!! I bought the basic version because I thought the bunny was ugly.  I never even thought about head and neck support - FTM here.  Don't beat yourself up!  You just saved a bunch of other mom's from repeating what you went through - so thank you thank you again!

The basic version is fine - I just didn't think about head/neck support for things that were not flat and this happened.  It's not a matter of needing to buy everything (or anything) with "bells and whistles" - it's about not thinking.  I never picked-up my son and let his head/neck flop all over the place yet I put him in this thing and expected his head/neck to be secure when it was not.

While it's not common, it's not uncommon (per my pedi) and a $16 head/neck support which can be used with a whole bunch of items would have saved me time and PT costs, plus DS had to work through this issue which in turn took him longer to sit-up on is own and crawl because his head was tilted for quite a while.  Just sharing my experience because it sucked and I'd hate for anyone to have to deal with it when it is easily avoided. 

KMW08

Thanks for all the advice ladies! I really wanted to buy one when that PSA was posted, but it was so early on I couldn't bring myself to buy it. I really thought we'd see them on sale again or that I might get one at my shower.

PNP and RNP are really the only two bigger items that I need/want to get. I'm headed to target today for the pnp, thought I'd see what rnp they have in store while I'm there.

@MrsDL‌ Wow that must have been so scary! Thanks for sharing your story, that would never cross my mind, but it's a good thing to be aware of for JIC scenarios.

jess123456

@mrsdl Thanks for the heads up. We have a RNP that vibrates. Did you buy a neck support that was specific for the RNP or something else?

mamatohne

For those using USED rnp: There was a recall a few years ago on them. Make sure yours is one that the fabric comes off to be able to wash, if not they will send you a brand new one.

silverwings72

Crap. Now I'm getting paranoid. Where does one purchase this head/neck thingy??

MrsDL

This is the one I bought - it was not specific to the Rock n' Play and I used it with other items.  I bought it either on amazon or diapers.com for about $16.  We used it with a lot of other items (not the car seat - his infant seat came with a removable head/neck support and this would have been too bulky imo)

https://www.toysrus.com/buy/preemie-gear-accessories/jj-cole-head-support-khaki-ahk-3812916

mamatohne

lovebuggies1 said:

Is it bad that I'm terrified of the RNP? Why do the seats have that inclination, is it even necessary? If it were flat, I'd get one... I can just see LO's head and body slumped down in it... irrational fears.

It's not a steep enough incline where they would slump but the incline made the biggest difference for my fear of baby spitting up lying flat on his back. I think it was the only way I got any sleep.

ccam

lovebuggies1 said:

Is it bad that I'm terrified of the RNP? Why do the seats have that inclination, is it even necessary? If it were flat, I'd get one... I can just see LO's head and body slumped down in it... irrational fears.

The incline is actually very slight and it was great for DS's reflux. He only napped or spent the last few hours of night sleep in it though.

silverwings72

CatLady22 said:

MrsDL said:

This is the one I bought - it was not specific to the Rock n' Play and I used it with other items.  I bought it either on amazon or diapers.com for about $16.  We used it with a lot of other items (not the car seat - his infant seat came with a removable head/neck support and this would have been too bulky imo)

https://www.toysrus.com/buy/preemie-gear-accessories/jj-cole-head-support-khaki-ahk-3812916

Doesn't using a head support go against the rules for SIDS (not having any items in where the child is sleeping)? I feel like I would be too scared LO would turn their head into it and suffocate.

This is a great question. Where is our nurse Mamas???

2ndGeneration

lovebuggies1 said:

Is it bad that I'm terrified of the RNP? Why do the seats have that inclination, is it even necessary? If it were flat, I'd get one... I can just see LO's head and body slumped down in it... irrational fears.

  I don't think it's irrational-I don't like the look of the RNP either. I have 5 older kids so this was not invented, but I would not have used it and won't with this one. I know many seem to love it....just my opinion

 

carafern

We got ours delivered yesterday, the deluxe one. I got that one because it was on sale and only a few $$ more than the regular one.

2ndGeneration

lovebuggies1 said:

  @2ndGeneration I didn't know you had 5 older children! I try to remember most things about each mom on here but I don't recall reading that... What will this next LO be sleeping in? ETA: 

  With the older kids, I had a regular wicker bassinnett. This time I have a pack n play with the bassinnett insert. I prefer a plain flat sleeping surface. My kids didn't have reflux but if they did, I'd probably put something like a phone book under the legs of one end of the bassinnett, so they'd be inclined but still laying flat.

mamatohne

My son slept in it all the time (night s and naps)until he was 4 months old.

silverwings72

@lissydee‌ - what do you think about the head/neck thingy?? If you have a chance i would love to hear your thoughts.

abbyful

DS slept in the RnP from about 3-6 months old. (Before that he was sleeping in a in-bed cosleeper.) He slept really well in it. It was also easy to take along when we traveled or even just for visiting friends and needing someplace for him to nap.

MrsDL

 

silverwings72 said:

MrsDL said:

This is the one I bought - it was not specific to the Rock n' Play and I used it with other items.  I bought it either on amazon or diapers.com for about $16.  We used it with a lot of other items (not the car seat - his infant seat came with a removable head/neck support and this would have been too bulky imo)

https://www.toysrus.com/buy/preemie-gear-accessories/jj-cole-head-support-khaki-ahk-3812916

Doesn't using a head support go against the rules for SIDS (not having any items in where the child is sleeping)? I feel like I would be too scared LO would turn their head into it and suffocate.

This is a great question. Where is our nurse Mamas???

CatLady22 said:

MrsDL said:

This is the one I bought - it was not specific to the Rock n' Play and I used it with other items.  I bought it either on amazon or diapers.com for about $16.  We used it with a lot of other items (not the car seat - his infant seat came with a removable head/neck support and this would have been too bulky imo)

https://www.toysrus.com/buy/preemie-gear-accessories/jj-cole-head-support-khaki-ahk-3812916

Doesn't using a head support go against the rules for SIDS (not having any items in where the child is sleeping)? I feel like I would be too scared LO would turn their head into it and suffocate.

I personally didn't use the RNP for sleeping unsupervised - I used the PNP and then crib with nothing in them (and SIDS was/is a huge paranoia for me - I ended-up buying (this was probably a "bells and whistles purchase") a motion monitor so I could sleep.  Mostly I had him in it when he was awake just hanging around, and while I'd do some things around the house, I was there with him.  It's not very "deep" like a pillow - sort of sits behind the ears so even if his turned it wasn't deep enough to cover his nose or mouth - like the neck support that came with his infant seat.  Of course you always want to be careful about suffocation risks - all risks for that matter. 

It's a good question though - when it comes to any product supervision is key.  I've had a NICU nurse friend tell me horror stories about suffocation instances with baby carriers (Moby and Ergo - both of which have suffocation warnings on them, both of which we received as gifts and used), you just have to be smart about using them.   

ElinJ

We had the basic version with DS, and I've already got the cover washed & ready for Baby #2. I remember we used the Boppy Noggin Head Support because at the time I was preparing for my son there was lots of "freaking out" on my BMB about 'RNP CAN CAUSE FLAT HEAD!!'. I find it funny it hasn't yet been mentioned in this thread.

DS slept in this for overnight sleep until 7-8 weeks, and a nap or two a day. We didn't use the Noggin Head Support thing for overnight sleep, but used it for naps because I was awake & monitoring him. Or I used the head support if he was awake and "playing" in it while I showered, etc.

The RNP we continued to use for overnight sleeping when we went out of town until my son was about 6 months old. We didn't own a PnP until then, I always thought they were huge, ugly, and unnecessary in our house. I still think that way. We used a borrowed PnP ONLY for out of town trips from 6 months - 2 years of age, when we got my son an inflatable toddler bed.

ccam

@lovebuggies1 We used the RNP for naps, traveling and on really fussy nights until DS was a few months old (he grew out of it quickly because he was so big!).  I was nervous about letting him sleep in it all night because I heard that transitioning from the RNP to something flat can be a challenge so he was in the PNP bassinet most nights.

 

angelajo19

We used the RnP from birth to 6 weeks instead of a bassinet and it was wonderful. We had no flat head issues or slumping at all. We had the basic one with no vibration function. This time we got one with the vibration function. I wouldn't feel comfortable adding any type of neck support or extra anything to it.