Sleeping arrangements for baby once home

babyjohnsonkirchner · January 2011

Hi Everyone!

I have been driving myself crazy thinking about babies sleeping arrangement when I bring her home. Her bedroom is upstairs and ours is down, so I would like to keep her close for nights at first. I love that a bassinet is so cute and frilly, but I don't really want to buy something that isn't going to be of any use after 6 months.

I sort of like the idea of the pack n play with the bassinet insert thing, but some seem a little flimsy, and the change table attachments don't seem very sturdy at all. At least with one of these you can still use the playpen after the baby outgrows the bassinet (15lbs for most I think).

Also considering a co-sleeper that would attach to our bedside, but I'm not sure how long you can use them for and I haven't seen a lot of them on baby gear websites.

Does anyone have experience using either a bassinet/pack n play/co-sleeper? If you're a second time mom what did you do or use? Any brands that you prefer? If you have used a pack n play do you find the change table and bassinet sturdy enough to use often? Any help, opinions or ideas would be great!

PharmacyQueen · January 2011

I was wondering the same thing, thanks for asking!!

HollyMarie1984 · January 2011

At first we were going to go with a pack n' play since we would get more use out of it. But my mom mentioned that she didn't think they looked to safe so now that is all I can think about. My SIL said we could borrow her bassinet (she had a baby a year ago) but when they try for another in a couple years we would have to give it back (so we would be in the same position for the next LO) I just hate to spend so much on a bassinet when we won't use it long (they all seem to be really over priced!)

Sorry I am not any help but I am curous to what other people are planning on doing!

elle80 · January 2011

We used the Graco pack-n-play with a bassinet when we first brought LO home. Similiar to this one. It worked great and we'll use it again. LO was really long and actually couldn't stay in it that long. That, plus the fact that I wasn't really sleeping with him right next to me in the room, had him in his own crib pretty early.

But I'd definitely recommend the PnP with bassinet. We still use the PnP for travel and for guests with little babies.

hf08 · January 2011

We used a mini-cosleeper with DD#1 for the first several months and will use it again with this DD. I was really happy with it!

Pros: I personally slept better with her so close by and it made middle of the night feedings easier. My friend borrowed it after her C-section b/c it can really hurt to lift baby up and over for a crib/pack n play.

Cons: It's pretty much useless after baby outgrows it which happens within the first 3-5 mos.

One more thing...I'm probably the only one who actually thought this, but I thought I'd be able to leave the baby in the co-sleeper to nurse her (me awake, of course) and then be less likely to wake her up when we were done. Not so.

BJKL · January 2011

We used the pack and play for my DS for the first two weeks. It worked great and I had no concerns about the bassinet feature. I did not use the changing table attachment for the most part.

I plan to use it again for this baby...probably for even longer since her room is on a different level. I have a Graco.

billyandsara · January 2011

Our bedroom is only a few steps down the hall from the nursery so we plan to try doing straight to crib. We also have the rock and play sleeper just in case, its small enough to fit next to our bed but I have heard good things about it.

jayme88 · January 2011

We will be using the same pack n play that we used for DS when he first came home. I had borrowed a cradle for DD and she was hitting the sides within a week. Yes, the bassinet can seem flimsy, but my husband cut a piece of thin plywood to the same size and stuck it under the mattress and it worked great! We kept him in it until he was too heavy for the bassinet (about 4 months) and then moved him to his crib. He also from about 3 weeks to 10 weeks slept in his infant to toddler bouncy/rocker seat. He really liked that, but as soon as he was turning over to his stomach (10 weeks), we had to stop.

RunningGal900 · January 2011

We're going to try the co-sleeper. I'll be BFing and have read great things about the Arm's Reach. We're going to have a PNP downstairs, but I don't think we'd really have room in our bedroom.

LuKeANdThEbEaN · January 2011

DS was in his crib when we brought him home but this baby will be co-rooming with us. My SIL gave us her bassinet & co-sleeper .. we'll use whichever works best. I would suggest borrowing if you have friends/family with LOs but if you're planning on having more, it may be worth it just to have your own. It's nice to have so many options but at the same time I think it makes it more difficult!

shaindelr · January 2011

I'm a first-timer, so I have no idea what will work, but we bought the Arm's Reach Mini Convertible Co-Sleeper :-)

el2 · January 2011

When we brought the twins home, they both slept together in the bassinet attachment on the pack n play. It worked wonderful and was not flimsy at all with 2 of them even in it. Eventually they were moved to their cribs, but while recovering from the csection, I had the security of them being right next to the bed at first.

We will do the same for this one.

LuciesMama · January 2011

Go with the Pack N Play (with Newborn Napper) in your room for the first 3-4 months. You need it anyway for traveling, etc.

Here is why: https://www.lucieslist.com/5-sleeping/#tempSLEEP

ncbelle · January 2011

We used an Arms Reach original co-sleeper last time (well actually kiddo was mostly in the bed but the sleeper was there!). It can be used until baby is able to pull up and then it converts to a pack and play. It's a more long term solution than a pack and play with a bassinet attachment.

For this baby, we are just going to side car the crib to our bed although I'm sure she'll be mostly beside me in the bed while we are still night nursing a lot.

maddie789 · January 2011

We also plan to use the Pack n Play. At least for the first few weeks. His bedroom is right across the hall from us, so hopefully we'll be able to transition him into his crib after a few weeks.

The_Quiet_One · January 2011

We're planning on using the pack n play with the bassinet. If breastfeeding works out, I'd rather not be traipsing through half the house two or three times a night in the beginning.

jbd1020 · January 2011

Originally, we were going to get an Arm's Reach cosleeper, but then I decided to just get a mini-crib for our room instead. Just seems sturdier, is the same price, and can be used as headboard/footboard for a twin bed later on. We are going to sidecar it like this.

a&j111006 · January 2011

We are borrowing the bassinet my sister used for my niece. I think if we weren't being given the bassinet we would try putting our LO in the crib right away since the nursery is right next to our room.

misssurly · January 2011

I bought a used, in great condition bassinet for $50 online... and plan on selling it in 6 months for $50. I look at it like I'm renting it, so it's not a waste of cash

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