swaddling with the Rock 'n Play

ispike7 · June 2010

My husband and I are planning on using the Rock 'n Play (as opposed to a bassinet) for the first month or so while baby sleeps in our room with us after he/she is born. I have no idea, though, how we'll be able to swaddle the baby and use the 3-point restraint to keep baby safe. Has anyone figured out a way to swaddle baby and use the restraint at the same time? I figured something like a halo sleepsack might work, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

anabell0920 · June 2010

I have never used it. The way they sit/lay in it until they are bigger they are not gonna get out unless you tip it over. Now my friend has a 7 month old and she will stick her DS in mine occasionally while she is here and she buckles him in because he can pull himself up but newborns cannot. So don't worry just swaddle and lay your lo in it!

jmlushbough · June 2010

anabell0920:
I have never used it. The way they sit/lay in it until they are bigger they are not gonna get out unless you tip it over. Now my friend has a 7 month old and she will stick her DS in mine occasionally while she is here and she buckles him in because he can pull himself up but newborns cannot. So don't worry just swaddle and lay your lo in it!

This. I even thought about cutting it out because it must be annoying to lay on those plastic buckles, but I just left them. We don't buckle LO in there. He's sleeping, not doing gymnastics!

Seriously though, I really don't think it's a risk for newborns, and for babies who are a little older I think you just need to use some discretion. If they're starting to get mobile it may be time to transition to a crib or PnP.

jarbatz · June 2010

My LO is almost 3 months and is also swaddled when she sleeps in her RnP and there is absolutely NO WAY she could fall or squirm her way out. I would only be worried if LO was older, was unswaddled and was very strong.

Flowr4246 · June 2010

We've never used the restraints on ours either. And to make it more comfortable (re: sitting on the buckles) I just spread a receiving blanket in the bottom before laying DD in it.

danto · June 2010

The Summer Infant Swaddlers have a hole in the back I tuck the blanket on that. Lay DD in buckle her and then swaddle. However, usually we don't bother and just leave her unbuckled

mrsfirefly · June 2010

I don't have a RNP (though i just ordered one), but I swaddle her in the bouncy seat and just undo the bottom part of the swaddle to strap her in. My baby is unusually active so I am nervous about her getting out of the bouncy seat but the RNP does look a little deeper and more reclined.

mrsfirefly · June 2010

Oh, and I don't think the Halo would work for using the straps.

ispike7 · June 2010

Thanks for all of the input, ladies! I feel MUCH better about just swaddling Peanut without having to strap him/her down! Our plan is to transition the baby to the crib around the time I have to go back to work (6 weeks), so hopefully the R'nP will be secure enough up until that point without having to use the restraints.