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July 2018 Moms
SmashJam
member
Product Spotlight NY Day Edition: Sleep Surfaces!
SmashJam
member
This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... sleep surfaces! Cribs, bassinets, travel cribs, mattresses, and anything in between.
Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.
For S+TMs:
For FTMs:
Links to past threads here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nhSR3UAwJx8UitC9b2hRx57c4hHkK6BU679FjqXMeHQ/edit?usp=sharing
Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.
For S+TMs:
- Lifestyle (house, apartment, travel often, etc):
- Favorite [sleep surface]:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- What you like about it:
- What you don't like about it, if anything:
- Is there a [sleep surface] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
- Is there a [sleep surface] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
- Additional thoughts on [sleep surfaces]?:
For FTMs:
- Lifestyle (house, apartment, travel often, etc):
- [Sleep surface] you're interested in:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:
Links to past threads here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nhSR3UAwJx8UitC9b2hRx57c4hHkK6BU679FjqXMeHQ/edit?usp=sharing
Re: Product Spotlight NY Day Edition: Sleep Surfaces!
Lifestyle: apartment
Sleep surface: Arms Reach Cosleeper Bassinet
https://www.target.com/p/arm-s-reach-cambria-co-sleeper-bassinet-natural/-/A-14514620#lnk=sametab
Cost: 189.99
Questions: Has anyone used this and liked it? I like the 30 lb weight limit more than anything, most bassinets only go up to 15 or so.
Favorite [sleep surface]: Halo bassinest while in our bedroom. (We transitioned to a crib in DS own room once he was sleeping through the night, which was 9 months, and will do similar with this LO).
Link/picture: HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper Bassinet - Essentia Series, Honeycomb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LPBV1J2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_vbPsAbJT9WTJY
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): Different pricing based on features, I think anywhere from $200-$280. It was worth it to me because we did use it every night for MONTHS and will use it with our second LO.
What you like about it: Extremely sturdy stand that doesn’t take up a lot of floor space (and by sturdy I mean HEAVY - not easy to move - but we did not move it). My 95 lb and 75 lb Labs could not make the thing shake. 360 swivel feature, will work for nearly any height of bed. He was right up next to me when he was a newborn and I just moved it a few feet away once he was older and I wanted my space.
What you don't like about it, if anything: — Is there a [sleep surface] you don't have but are considering? Why?: — Is there a [sleep surface] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: — Additional thoughts on [sleep surfaces]?: —
Edited to try to fix spacing, no luck
Lab Mom (x2): Sept/Oct 2014
Married: August 2015
DS: Nov 2016 (36w)
Baby H #2: July2018 (Team Pink!)
A bassinet came with my stroller (uppababy vista) which was part of the reason we went with that stroller. We bought the stand and my daughter slept in that and in a rock n play for a while. The bassinet has a 20 lbs limit, and she is light, so she got too long for it before she got too heavy. Her favorite thing to nap in was her swing.
She was in our room until 5 months and when we finally put her in her room in her crib it was the most amazing relief to have our space back. I think we might make the move earlier this time. Her crib is from Pottery Barn Kids and will convert to a toddler bed. We may give that crib to the new baby and get a little bed for the big girl. There are so many decisions to make!
STM living in two story house
crib. Currently it’s the toddler bed with rail.
STM, we live in a house and used the halo bassinet for the first 4 months. I liked that it could keep him close to me and adjust to my bed height, I also liked that it didn't take up too much space since our bedroom is small. I did not like that our son seemed to hate it. I think the mattress is just too thing or maybe the space is too open, but he didn't sleep great in it. We got the doc a tot when he was around 8 weeks and used it inside the halo. I know it's only approved for co sleeping on the bed but we were desperate for sleep and it was the only thing that worked. Not sure if I'll do it again for #2 since I want to be as safe as possible, but the doc a tot is still great for lounging and tummy time. We also used the rock n play some nights in the early days when he wouldn't sleep and we were desperate. He napped a lot in the rock n play too, which was great since it's portable. We transitioned to the crib at 4 months.
Sorry for the lack of formatting, I'm on mobile.
Two story house
Favorite sleep surface:
Graco Travel Lite Pack N Play for our room, regular crib for nursery, regular Pack N Play for napping on main floor living.
Link/Picture:
Only linking the travel PnP and crib since everyone knows what a regular PnP is: https://m.toysrus.com/product?productId=93233916
https://m.toysrus.com/product?productId=46322606
Cost:
Travel PnP was around $90 after price matching at BRU. Crib was around $150 (more if you get the conversion kits) which I think is very reasonable for a crib.
What you like about it:
The Travel PnP was wonderful to use in our room before LO was transitioned into her nursery and crib. It doesn't take up much space and can be used when traveling (we often take it to friends houses so LO has somewhere to nap that's not her car seat). It has breathable mesh sides so I felt confident with her safety while sleeping.
The crib is sturdy and attractive. It arrived without chips or damage (it was shipped to our home). It was easily assembled. The mattress was purchased separately.
We used the bassinet in the regular PnP for napping early on when LO slept most of the day. She outgrew the weight limit fairly quickly but we still use it for diaper changes.
What you don't like about it, if anything:
I would appreciate if the price of the Travel PnP weren't nearly the same as a regular PnP given that's it's literally half the size. Would still buy it again though.
Is there a sleep surface you don't have but are considering?
No.
Is there a sleep surface you've tried but absolutely hated? Why?
We initially used a bassinet for our room. It was pretty, made of wood, and had a shelf below. We used it for about 1 week and I was so scared using it. It felt extremely unsafe due to non-breathable sides. LO was able roll and scoot from day one and after ending up face planted into the side, I said enough and we stopped using it. It now houses clothes she's grown out of and sits in our spare room. Total waste of money and worry: https://m.toysrus.com/product?productId=23220386
Additional thoughts on sleep surfaces:
Don't go crazy and choose items based on how cute they are. Find something usable for you and safe for baby. Sleep comes easier when you know baby is safe.
We also moved LO to her crib at 5 weeks - she slept better bc she was no longer waking to our movements and we slept better bc we didn't wake for every little whimper and fuss. She's now 6 months old and has slept 12-13 hours each night since 2.5 months
I did some research and dockatot was not among the recommended surfaces, but they really push their product. I'm sure it's good for some things just personally would not risk it with a newborn.
I'm thinking about going with the pack and play because it can fit on our room and it's versatile. I was also tempted by the Halo bassinet but it's $$ and we don't have a lot of space so we will opt for the pack and play instead.
I saw a Graco crib I like too, has a matching changing table if we wanna go with that I like the Babyletto but may be too $$ - we plan on transitioning the babe as soon as possible but it will depend on how things go of course! A girl can dream, LOL
@kissablevi This particular one kept popping up on my pinterest feed and I was like, pppssshhhh...no I wouldn't do that. Now here I am, having this on my baby registry as a must-have. lmao!
Why do they make all these great look products!?!?!
I love our bassinet that came with our Peg Perego Book Popup. It’s definitely pricey (the stroller set was about $1200 CAD I believe, and the stand was an extra $70 although looking the price up now it seems to be at $150) but I felt it was worth the quality. The bassinet’s weight limit I believe was 20 lbs. We moved my son out of it into his crib at 3 months. I love that the bassinet is super long. I never actually connected it to the stroller as I just kept it in my room. My son slept extremely well in it. The only downside is the unusual length makes it impossible to find sheets for this bassinet. The mattress that comes with it is machine washable though.
The crib we have is a Babyletto Sprout 4 in 1 convertible. I was drawn to the chestnut colour and the midcentury style. We bought it for $600. The wood is soft so I purchased Trendlab Fleece rail covers when my son began to stand. It has protected the wood and his teeth! I love that this crib is unique and (in my opinion) timeless and simple. We also bought a Babyletto Non toxic mattress for $200 CAD. I got my crib sheets at Pottery Barn and my mattress protector at Target.
Lifestyle:
This is an insert that fits in a crib or a pack-n-play. They have one for a Halo, too, that I haven't personally tried. We had DD in a pack-n-ay in our room for months before transitioning her to her own room, and we used the Lifenest. Fits on top of an existing mattress and wedges in so it can't move.
Price:
$99, sometimes goes on sale on Amazon.
What I liked:
EVERYTHING. SIDS was a major fear for me as a FTM. This isn't marketed for SIDS protection, it's supposed to reduce the head-flattening babies can have if they lay down too much. But I read an article on its development (it came out shortly before my daughter was born) and how peds were developing it to stop infant suffocation in case of an accidental flip. Of course they can't market it like that without extensive testing, so they say it's for flat-head. It works like a hammock frame in the bed; the sides are rigid foam that wedges into a crib or pnp so it's a tight fit and safe for baby. The center has a taught mesh oval that baby sleeps on, totally gas permiable and has a nice cradling feeling without being loose, so if they flip accidentally they can still breathe, especially while swaddled. Baby is also at a slightly elevated angle, helping with reflux and spit-up. Any spit-up goes through the mesh instead of staying next to baby's face, eliminating a choking hazard. And the best part??
MY KID SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT AT TWO MONTHS. 8-12 HOURS. EVERY NIGHT.
This is 100% NOT what it's marketed for, but it's an amazing side effect. Granted, she was a bit of a unicorn baby in general, but my husband went online to look at reviews of the lifenest for some question we had when she was about 3 months old, and it turns out a ton of parents report their kid sttn very early with the lifenest. I think it's because they get a bit of a cradle/cushion in it, instead of being on a hard surface. Whatever it is, I'll freaking take it. Peace of mind, AND sleep for the sleep-deprived? Yes, please.
Link:
Ubimed Lifenest Sleep System, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D5DQ3OQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ARptAb1DZYAM2
Lab Mom (x2): Sept/Oct 2014
Married: August 2015
DS: Nov 2016 (36w)
Baby H #2: July2018 (Team Pink!)
I thought I’d also spotlight the sleep sack I used with my son. We used Perlimpinpin Cotton and Bamboo sleep sacks. They are extra long so I had purchased 2 of the same size and my son wore them from 5 months to 14 months. The have varying thickness so I had one thinner and one thicker. They are also breathable. After wearing them every night, they are still in excellent shape!
https://shop.perlimpinpin.com/collections/sleep-bags-cotton
https://www.babyboxuniversity.com/?utm_source=Adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=baby-box&gclid=CjwKCAiAm7LSBRBBEiwAvL1-L3hwXZnRWyKIIz5wHpMM_zFGpahx4v4uWS9khAp03p48QBSauguNmBoCcJ4QAvD_BwE
if the link doesn't work just google search "babybox university"
As well, breathability isn’t a regulated term. I could literally market a brick as breathable if I wanted to because there is no testing standard for that term. Like the Dock-A-Tot, their marketing is deceptive and sketchy IMO.