Baby Splurges

nmbrcrnchr1

@ellem29 we just used our graco pack and play as our bassinet - ours had the option of having the bed part raised up so you didn’t have to bend over all the way to lay them down and I bought a mattress to put in it as extra support. She slept there from about 6 months to a year when we transitioned to the crib (when she wasn’t in our bed with me) 

luckystar28

@ellem29 I’m curious what others will say regarding bassinets. The halo didn’t work well for us. We ended up using the rock n play and the regular ol’ crib. I’m thinking we’ll do the same this time around unless someone convinced me with a snazzy super bassinet that isn’t $$$

ellem29

@luckystar28 unfortunately, there's just no way we'll be able to fit a crib in our bedroom, so I'm on the hunt for something smaller that will allow us to keep the baby in our room for at least the first couple months.
nmbrcrnchr1 - I'll have to look at the measurements for the pack and play. I like the idea of using that instead of a traditional bassinet because at least then we can use it for longer!

srscott3

We tried the halo and it didn’t work well for us. So we used a mini crib in our room. Doing that again this time and then transitioning to the nursery around 6 months

ShadeofGreen816

@ellem29 They do make mini pack n plays that are smaller that may be a better option. But I will say, they are definitely not usable for as long. 

Erin1510

I plan on getting the Arm's Reach 3-in-1 co sleeper. It has the ability to have 3 sides and push up against your bed at bassinet height, be a traditional bassinet, or be a play pen when the bassinet part is removed. Our son was in our room for about 6 months in a pack & play but I didn't even know this co-sleeper thing was an option. 
https://www.armsreach.com/shop/co-sleeper_bassinets/mini-ezee-3-in-1-co-sleeper

lovebamalife

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lovebamalife

Erin1510 said:

I plan on getting the Arm's Reach 3-in-1 co sleeper. It has the ability to have 3 sides and push up against your bed at bassinet height, be a traditional bassinet, or be a play pen when the bassinet part is removed. Our son was in our room for about 6 months in a pack & play but I didn't even know this co-sleeper thing was an option. 
https://www.armsreach.com/shop/co-sleeper_bassinets/mini-ezee-3-in-1-co-sleeper

I had one for our second. So worth it!

ncm1919

We loved the co-sleeper. When she got too big, we used it for bedside toy storage. It’s pretty fantastic. I got mine from family so not sure of the price point 

carleym93

We never followed the sleep rules either. DD had reflux and slept in the Rock N Play FOREVER. But I actually felt better after my pediatrician said she is significantly safer in the Rock N Play than flat on her back in the crib because of the risk of aspiration that comes with laying flat. 

ruby696

We got a Pack N Play with the changing table and bassinet, which we used for both kids. They outgrew it around 5 months, but we were okay with transitioning to the crib at that point.  And we used it for travel for each kid until they hit about 2 years.

hiveofpente

This is my third time around and I’m hoping to splurge on a Doc-a-tot.

Splurges I recommend are all things Uppababy. 

Not worth it - our rock-a-roo. Both DDs hated it.

jmvander

So I found someone who has a 2015 UPPAbaby Vista stroller w/unused bassinet for $150. I am kind of tempted because I found out that a new car seat is still compatible with the 2015 stroller. There are some things we don't want to buy used, but I can't decide on if a stroller is one of them. Especially because this one appears to be like new.

Edit: ugh nevermind, people suck at facebook marketplace posts, or are misleading on purpose. I thought $150 was way too good to be true, but there are a lot of rich people around here so you never know.

KissMeImScottish

I’m all for a used stroller. They cost a fortune new, and it sounds like that’s a steal! Car seat should obviously be new, but if I’m remembering correctly,5$3 Uppababy Vista with bassinet, brand new, is something like $700+, isn’t it? I’d jump on that deal so fast!

jmvander

@KissMeImScottish yeah, I just edited my post above, I had messaged her right away because it sounded like a steal. She said she was just selling the toddler insert for $150, she wanted $600 for the rest of it, I said no thanks. I just don't know why people do that, put that in your listing then. 

Dcwtada

@erin1510 I am getting that, thank you for posting. As a c-section momma those first few weeks not needing to sit up and reach over into the bassinet/pnp will be so lovely! 

Also I just want to say I only opened this thread this morning because in my half sleep deprived and distracted mind I saw that @hiveofpente had posted last I thought her screen name was “hiveofpenis” and I was curious as to what she was recommending... 

ki1244

As a FTM this thread is both super useful and super terrifying to read. This is basically Mandarin to me. Thank God for 8 more months to figure out WTF all this means... and a sincere thank-you to the moms who have been there before sharing experiences so newbies like me have some clue besides clever marketing or price tags to go off of.

luckystar28

@ki1244 Lucies List (website) and cruising amazon while reading reviews were extremely helpful for me! I also recommend going somewhere with gear in stock (like Buy Buy Baby) so you can see it in person before ordering/buying 

KissMeImScottish

^ This! It’s SUPER helpful to see items in person. You can usually find the products cheaper online, so ordering is often the way to go, but especially with things like strollers, it’s really helpful to test them out. Like, my husband and I are both y’all (I’m 5’8, 5’9, he’s a solid 6’2), so we often run into issues with handle height on strollers (not tall enough, so we end up hunched over). So, testing then out in person let us find one that worked well for us, height wise. And I’m a review nut, so the more/better reviews a product has, the more likely I am to buy.

ShadeofGreen816

Also albeebaby.com is a good place to keep an eye on. They get some great deals on car seats, strollers, etc. 

marijaa333

KissMeImScottish said:

^ This! It’s SUPER helpful to see items in person. You can usually find the products cheaper online, so ordering is often the way to go, but especially with things like strollers, it’s really helpful to test them out. Like, my husband and I are both y’all (I’m 5’8, 5’9, he’s a solid 6’2), so we often run into issues with handle height on strollers (not tall enough, so we end up hunched over). So, testing then out in person let us find one that worked well for us, height wise. And I’m a review nut, so the more/better reviews a product has, the more likely I am to buy.

Buy Buy Baby matched the online prices of our Uppababy Cruz and our infant car seat (Chicco KeyFit 30), so do ask if you see higher prices in store. They usually have coupons they can give you to bring the price down.

canuckbaby

@ki1244 lol i feel you about the FTM. My husband is so not on board with co sleeping. Our nursery is across the hall from us so I see no need for it. As we are using it as a spare room for now I can see us keeping the bed in there short term after baby comes to make things easier but definitely not coming to our room. Was looking at pack n plays with bassinets so that would likely be our route

emeraldcity603

@canuckbaby, I don't think most people who end up cosleeping planned on doing it. I say every single time, I'm not going to cosleep this time. Then month 3 hits and I move into survivor mode. The only way either of us get any sleep is if the baby is next to me and my boob is out. It happens to me every. single. time. 

This isn't to say no one can do it without cosleeping. I just think it becomes a common thing just for survival. 

prpl11butterfly

@canuckbaby we didn't plan to cosleep either. In fact, I was 100% against it. But, like emeraldcity said, survival mode. Though I am not sure what my excuses is now....3yrs later.....

srscott3

@canuckbaby +1 for one of those moms who didn’t plan to cosleep but then did. Not until about 4 months old, and she wouldn’t start in our bed, just end up there. 

It sounds like maybe you’re starting with the nursery from the beginning? Completely your choice of course, but keep in mind that co-sleeping and co-rooming are different. Co-rooming is actually recommended to reduce the risk of SIDS. The Current policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending room sharing for at least 6 months, but ideally a year. 

eta: ignore me. Just saw you’re planning to use a pack n play in your room. I’m a bad reader today

canuckbaby

In no means was i meaning to attack cosleepers. I have just seen it go from survival in the first few months to 5 years later and kids are still in bed - and in some cases multiple kids. We have options to keep a spare bed in the nursery and to remove it when the time is right if we dont want the baby to be in our actual bedroom. It may help with the transition into the crib since technically the baby was never with both of us to begin with. Definitely early on things and a few options to explore. I am a dead to the world sleeper and fear that this maternal instinct of responding to baby crying is not going to kick in. That being said the arms reach 3 in one @Erin1510 mentioned looks pretty fabulous and I havent seen it before. Will need to look into its availability in canada 

srscott3

@canuckbaby Totally hear you. We did sleep training at 18 months (better late than never). DD has spent every night, all night in her own crib since then. I kind of wish I had done it sooner. Everyone sleeps better now 😃 

emeraldcity603

@canuckbaby, I didn't make my comment about cosleeping because I thought you were bashing cosleeping. I just wanted to point out that we all start out with these grand intentions and then after months of sleeping in 2 or 3 hour increments we cave and do whatever it takes to sleep. It helps to have a mindset of no sleep expectations too. Haha, because anything is better than no sleep. 😂

die_frau

We used a travel pack and play (an old version of this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BGVM0HM/ref=twister_B079ZBBQQP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1). We're in Europe, so space is at a premium! But as someone upthread mentioned, this doesn't last very long. We'll probably bust it out for #2 until they're ready for the full sized crib; not sure we'll want to spend the money for another bassinet since our first is already in his crib. 

ShadeofGreen816

@canuckbaby the arms reach might not be available in canada? I know it's not "approved" as a safe sleeping surface because it's not completely separated from the bed. And I know Canadian laws are super strict about safe sleep, etc. I have always been pretty anti-co sleeping both from a safety standpoint as well as just a personal space standpoint hah. Although, I've resorted to it a few times since my daughter turned 1, and I don't know how anyone does it. Shes so annoying in the bed next to me! hahaha

meatballs37

Is it weird I sorta wish my kid would co-sleep? DD has always preferred her own room and bed. Problem is when she wakes in the middle of the night (sometimes 3-4 times) she wants us to sit on the floor holding her hand until she falls back asleep. It would have been so much easier if she would have just slept with us so we could sleep too. 

We re-sleep trained over the weekend though with transitioning her to her big girl bed. It’s going fairly well! She was up twice last night, but we were able to calm her through the monitor and she fell back asleep on her own. DH and I feel like rockstars. 

eleven_

@meatballs37 Yes, you are weird! lol j/k. But seriously I absolutely hate when my kids are in my bed. I need my space and they like to sleep glued to my side. 

ruby696

@eleven_ And perpendicular. What's the deal with that?? DD is apparently incapable of sleeping parallel to us. It's miserable.

eleven_

@ruby696 Same here. Why is it so hard for them to sleep with their head on the damn pillow?!

ruby696

@eleven_ And you wake up with little hands touching your hair and face. DD likes to pet. Its annoying as hell. I tell my husband my mom cells are so happy she's next to me, but my brain cells are like, GTFO.

emeraldcity603

I start getting neck and back aches from sleeping all weird when they are in the bed with me. I literally couldn't turn my head to the right earlier this week. It was miserable. 

canuckbaby

@ShadeofGreen816 possibly not will look around and report back if it anywhere. I noticed i have been getting the baby box ads on my fb wall. Apparently in canada its much more acceptable to have your kid sleep in a box (a free one at that)

shamrocandroll

I want the least number of people in my bed as possible.  H and I have both had a really bad on-again-off-again cough for like... 3 weeks now.  So he's been sleeping in the guest room so we don't wake each other up with coughing, and the past few nights I've stopped coughing in the middle of the night and having the whole bed to myself has been glorious!  

meatballs37

Lol lol! My kid might be weird then. She likes sleeping on her pillow and covered up. Hardly moves all night

emeraldcity603

What I wish is that my master bedroom was upstairs so my kids could come get in bed with me when they want at night. We are downstairs and across the house so they would be too scared to go that far in the dark.