Time to get a crib?

booksandcleverness81

Hey mamas, so we didn't buy a crib before LO was born because we were moving shortly and didn't feel like it was necessary to lug around when I was just planning on him sleeping in a pack n play next to my bed anyway. He slept great in the little napper/ changer insert but now that he's in the flat bassinet his sleep has been pretty crap. Doesn't nap very well in it either. I'm fairly certain the consensus would be that he would sleep better in an actual crib, am i right? I need kind of a good argument for it in order to convince my husband that it's necessary (kind of anal about money and unnecessary buying). LO is 20wks and almost 15lbs, not sitting up yet but I will have to lower him to the bottom of the pnp soon anyway. Would just rather get the dang crib and transition him already. TIA! 

hmburchell

I would think a crib would be better, is LO going to sleep in a pack n play forever? . Although, if you wanted too, they make better mattresses that can go in a pack n play which might be more comfortable. 

MW5280

We just transitioned from pnp to crib about a week ago. My argument was that I'd rather transition her from pnp once instead of twice (upper position to lower position) and that at least when she moves to her room, she will be familiar with her crib. 

We were hoping she'd be in her own room by now buuuuut the basement isn't done yet. Oye. 

TabulaRasa25

Our son was in a bassinet at my bedside exclusively from birth to about 10 weeks old, and at that point, I started putting him in his crib for naps during the day.  At about 16 weeks, we moved, and as soon as we got his crib set up in his new room in the new place, it's all crib, all the time.  We'd have done full-time crib sooner, but with the then-upcoming move, we decided just to start fresh at the new place. We never did pack and play, rock and play, etc., just bassinet and then crib. He does have an infant swing, but that's not typically used for naps, except occasionally when he was very small.  Now, he wouldn't fall asleep in it, anyway. 

It's not realistic to just never get a crib, and your husband needs to accept this.  He's probably outgrowing the bassinet...my guy is tiny for his age and he's too big for ours at this point.  From a motor development standpoint,  the room to scoot around in the crib, begin to roll, etc. is important, and most of those other things are too cramped once babies get to this stage. 

We didn't spend much on our crib; it came from IKEA, fairly basic model.  It also converts into the toddler-size bed, so that may be a selling point for getting a crib that can grow with your child. 

jen83mn

We transitioned our guy from the pack n play bassinet top portion to his crib at 4 months, but he was taking naps in his crib since 2-1/2 months. My original plan was to have him in the pack n play next to our bed until 6 months, but he outgrew the weight limit just before he turned 4 months and became so sensitive to sound that even with the white noise machine on, he would wake up if we made too much noise even just rolling over. It was time!

From the first night in his crib, he's done great! He seems to love the extra space, and now that he's rolling both ways, scooting backward, and can get up on his hands and knees, he needs the extra room. We're actually going to have to move his mattress down a notch soon before he starts to use the crib side to pull himself up. They grow up so fast!

So in response to your question, your LO definitely should have a crib of some type. The standard pack n play mattress is pretty thin and while it's ok for a newborn or playing, it's really not meant to be a nighttime bed when they get older; there's just not enough support (I wouldn't want to sleep on that! Haha). Plus, when your baby is a toddler, the pack n play will definitely be too small, so if you can get a crib that transitions into a toddler bed, then you get a two-for-one

booksandcleverness81

Absolutely! I tried to explain it to DH last night and he still doesn't understand why LO can't just sleep in the pack n play forever, but I basically just put my foot down and said he's getting a crib- end of story. Thankfully my MIL is visiting and she's on my side! We're going to go look at some of the less expensive ones at our base exchange on Monday  

TabulaRasa25

Exchanges are great  for that kind of thing.  We're Navy and got our infant carseat/stroller/travel system through the NEX   at such a great price. 

rosalbap2

You should get a convertible crib  Walmart.com has a lot of different cribs for reasonable prices. 

booksandcleverness81

We got a convertible from Amazon, paid for by MIL now there's literally no reason for DH to complain. I can't wait to get it (thanks Amazon prime!) 

slp213psu

Hate to play the other hand but I had the same issue with DD1. We were moving and wanted the crib delivered and professionally assembled at the new house. Due to lengthy real estate stuff we ended up being in limbo for 5 months and she was in a PNP until 11 months. We did put in a 3 inch foam mattress. 
She was fine until 11 months and I'm not saying we didn't eventually need a crib but you don't need one right away. 
Of course, she's 2.5 now and still in the crib and we ended up having to get a second for DD2 (free!! Hand-me-down!).