Where did your newborns sleep?

MelleTX

Ok, ladies - help me think this through and tell me what you did.

I had originally thought I would go with two Rock N Plays for the twins to sleep in my room and now I am second guessing myself. The thought of having two RNPs plus two bouncers and a swing seems like overkill on the baby gear in my tiny 2BR condo.

My sister is give me a Pack N Play, so I thought I might put that in my room instead of the two RNPs. Then if they need the recline for reflux issues, I can use the bouncers or if necessary then go get RNPs. But I was really hoping to leave the PNP at my mom's.

However, since I will be moving when they are about 5-6 months old, I was only planning to set up one crib in the nursery and just leave the other boxed. The nursery is also the guest room right now.  Now, I am thinking about setting up the second crib in my room so they can get used to sleeping in the crib from day 1.

Ugh. Too many choices. And since I have absolutely no experience with twins, I am at a loss as to what to do.

My brother has triplets, but they have a bigger house so they started them out as all three in one crib in the master bedroom, but quickly moved them to three separate cribs in three separate rooms. This does not help me at all.

What did you do, or what are you planning on doing?

Thanks! 

snoangel79

My kids are in RNP's with me in the guest bedroom. We are just trying to move them now to the crib. My daughter had a lot of reflux issues early on but they seem to be a lot better now and she can sleep on the bed with me without having episodes so I feel ok now with transitioning her... It all depends but our RNP's have been wonderful! I also put the Boppy head thing behind them under the cloth part of the RNP so their heads wouldn't  get flat but they make a "newer" RNP that seems to have extra head support now (the snugga bunny one, amazon carries it)

namos

snoangel: I am so glad you posted this bc I am literally having the exact dilemma! 2 RNP's vs. crib in our room, vs me in guest room and them in crib in nursery!

Additional Questions: At what age did you transition your twins into a crib in their nursery? Same crib or separate?

Looking fwd to hearing some responses!

E&RMommy

Don't need both RNP and bouncers - too much.

Ours slept in bassinet for one month.  Then we realized they were much happier upright.  They slept in bouncers or swings for five months.  Then at six months we transitioned them to their nursery.

We did this because their nursery was upstairs and just too darn far at night.  So although we had a large house, the baby stuff was only in the master, living room and nursery.

You'll figure it out.  A ton of trial and error.

macchiatto

We started them out in a original Cosleeper in our bedroom but that only lasted about 10 days; they were just too noisy so we moved them to a crib in their room and DH and I slept in shifts till they started STTN. They didn't have RNPs (not out yet) when my boys were babies so those weren't an option. If you want RnPs but don't have space for both I'd consider getting RnPs instead of bouncers. My boys did share a crib till 6m; when they were done swaddling we separated them so they couldn't roll into each other, interfere with each other's breathing, etc. If you do crib-share, I'd only do it while they are swaddled and don't set them down too close together so they're not rebreathing each other's air. Make sure you don't have a bumper or anything else to interfere with air circulation at their level and have a fan going in their room.

SLPMel

We started out with one crib in our bedroom, but then because of reflux, we moved them to the RNPs. 

We only had one bouncer-and we barely used it.  We only had one swing as well.  The RNPs were lifesavers, and it made it so much easier in the beginning.  

jcath

Mine slept in the RnPs for the first 4 mos.  I still use the RnPs to feed them.  It's really been the best piece of baby equipment for us.

There's just no telling b/c each baby is different but I had two bouncy seats and both my girls hated them.  We almost never used them...but we did have to get a 2nd swing.

ninjabridemom

I don't know -- our pedi said not to put them in the same crib.  Ours didn't like the bassinet in the PNP (we had the twin one), plus it sagged.  They've been in their cribs pretty much since day 1, excepting naps until recently.

erniebufflo

Maybe get one RNP, use the PNP at first, see if they or you love the RNP, and then evaluate? One of my girls slept in a RNP, and the other had spinal surgery and had to sleep on her belly so she slept in a basinet. After 2 months we transitioned to cribs, but then we had trouble with the back surgery girl vomiting/refluxing, so now that she can sleep on her back, she sleeps in the RNP. We have not needed 2, but if you have no issues, you might love them. Then you could leave your PNP at your mom's (that's where ours lives) and just have the RNPs which are so much more portable and can be moved from room to room.

ETA: we have one small swing and two Baby Bjorn bouncers. I love the bouncers bc they are compact and fold flat. I take them to my mom's every time we go. Mine prefer the bouncer motion, but sometimes sleep in the swing, like last night when my fussier finally slept swaddled in the swing. Every baby is different. Keep boxes and receipts until you know what works for you. 

Reilly626

RNP's in our bedroom in the beginning which can be moved anywhere. PNPs are not comfortable beds plus bulky to move. Then they will go to cribs. I didn't even buy a PNP, I bought the Joovy 2 recommended here for twins.

Mrs. Alice

Mine were in RnPs in our living room right next to our bedroom for the first 6 weeks at home.  I didn't need a baby monitor that way and I could just get up and feed them on the couch while I watched TV or was on the lap top so I didn't bother my DH.  I tried the crib at first but they did not sleep as well laying flat.  The RnPs kind of cradle them but at the same time the incline is not so great for their heads.  We had to switch to cribs after 6 weeks because their heads were getting flat.  Unfortunately it was too late and they eventually needed helmets.  I know a lot of people love RnPs but I like to tell others this as a warning and to just be concious of the potential issue and multiples/preemies are at higher risk for it. The same goes with swings and bouncers.  However I would not have survived the newborn stage without swings!

chickaboo1974

after my boys came home from the NICU (17 days) they slept in a PNP for 2 weeks in our family room.  They started to move a little- and it became too risky and I wanted to sleep in my bed again.  So they then they slept in their own crib in their shared nursery.  We moved when they were 8 months- and it wasn't that big of a deal to move 2 cribs.

Fryjack2

Ours slept in Summer Infant bassinets for the first 3 weeks. They were small, cheap, and the mattress was like the NICU mattresses.

Then at about 3 weeks, we moved them into their snug a bunny rock n plays.  It  has helped with reflux. I will tell you to get the boppy thing though, because even with this edition of RNPs, the boys have a slight flat spot.  It may have more to do with them having a bit of torticollis though.

We dont have a PNP, or bouncer.  We have a couple snug a bunny car things that vibrate and have noise but we havent taken them out of the box.

ninjabridemom

Fryjack2:

Ours slept in Summer Infant bassinets for the first 3 weeks. They were small, cheap, and the mattress was like the NICU mattresses.

Then at about 3 weeks, we moved them into their snug a bunny rock n plays.  It  has helped with reflux. I will tell you to get the boppy thing though, because even with this edition of RNPs, the boys have a slight flat spot.  It may have more to do with them having a bit of torticollis though.

We dont have a PNP, or bouncer.  We have a couple snug a bunny car things that vibrate and have noise but we havent taken them out of the box.

 

I've actually read the RNPs can contribute b/c they are so hard.

 

You can put a blanket under the cover, though, to soften it a bit.  I did that with our swings.

hayleydeee

We used the RNP too (if you cross the bottom bars over each other you can rock them both at the same time). But like PP said, be careful... it looks like my boys are going to need helmets now too. I even added extra padding under their heads, and they still got flat. Before that, we tried a co-sleeper but they always slept a lot better in the RNPs. 

I only have one swing and one bouncer and that's always been plenty. The RNPs are also nice because they are lightweight and easy to fold up.  

MelleTX

Thank you for all your feedback. I really appreciate it. 

I think I will stick with my original plan then and get 2 RNPs. Maybe one swing and one vibrating bounce to see if they need that type of soothing and I'll keep the cribs boxed until I know I will use them or we move.

For now... or until I change my mind again. Ha! 

Eriksgal

We used RNPs but only for sleeping-kept them in our room.  We had bouncers and one swing our in our main living area and they mainly napped in the bouncers until they were 4 months old or so. 

Breezy8407

RNP's in our room for the first 7 weeks. Then in their room in the RNP's.

We tried to get them right into their cribs at that 7 week mark, but we spent about a week of sleepless nights and caved and put them back in the RNP's.

They will nap in their cribs, but not for very long. It's a work in progress. 

As for the swings and bouncy chairs, ours are not interested in them yet. I am hoping they will start to enjoy them a little more as they get older. Although, we just discovered my DS seems to enjoy watching both of us run on the treadmill while he is in the bouncer!

crystaleyes39

I would go w/ the RNP's over the Pack n Play! We had both and NEVER used the Pack n Play at all, our girls HATED laying flat for the first 3 months and especially our one daughter w/ reflux couldn't sleep on anything but an angle. The RNP's were great and all we used the first 3 monts until we transitioned them to cribs!

MrsLnt

Mine were in their own cribs, in the nursery, from the day we came home. Their room is right next to ours. They napped in bouncy seats in the living room until about 6 weeks old. We didn't use a PnP until travel at 5.5 months.

Bouncy seats are good for a comfy, safe place to set a baby down while showering or tending to another baby or eating, etc. If you're really pressed for space, you can try a bouncer/swing combo, or get swings that you can snap car seats into (Graco Snugrider). We didn't use RnPs and I didn't see the need, even with reflux babies.