Pack n' play sleeping question

thebigmare · January 2011

We're planning having LO sleep in the bassinet part of the pack n' play. My DH is in law school and we'll be moving to DC for the summer for his summer associate job. Depending on when LO is born, he'll be around 2 months old when we move. We'll return in August when he's around 4-4.5 months old. The bassinet has a weight limit of 15 lbs. We were just planning on bringing the pack n' play to DC for the summer. We didn't want to move the crib down there and back. Assuming "worse case scenario" that LO is 10 lbs at birth, when will he most likely weigh 15 lbs? The playard can also be used for sleeping. Has anyone done this? So if he reaches 15 lbs while we're away for the summer, we could have him sleep in the playard. Is that a good idea though? The crib is actually currently at my parents' house in MD. Should we leave there just in case we need it this summer?

TIA!

circe811 · January 2011

No one can really answer as to when your LO will be 15 lbs. However, if LO outgrows the bassinet portion, it is fine and safe for him to sleep in the play yard portion.

DesignsOnYou · January 2011

My toddler still sleeps in the PNP. Supposedly, it's not for sleeping according to the manual...but most people do use it for that.

thebigmare · January 2011

circe811:
No one can really answer as to when your LO will be 15 lbs. However, if LO outgrows the bassinet portion, it is fine and safe for him to sleep in the play yard portion.

That's why I said "when will he most likely be 15 lbs". I just have no idea of how quickly babies gain weight!

kabarbanel · January 2011

DS was 7lbs 7oz at birth, and reached 15lbs at 5 months. He is always in the 25th percentile for weight. Of course who knows how your baby will grow. But if your LO outgrows the bassinet part, it's fine for him to sleep on the play yard.

PAmiler82 · January 2011

Drew was born 8 lbs 3oz and hit 15 lbs when he was 3 months old.

My friend's DD was born three days earlier than Drew. She weighed 6 lbs 4 oz at birth and didn't hit 15 lbs until closer to 6 months.

There really is a wide range of normal. But as pp said, you can keep using a PNP even after they hit 15 lbs. Drew still sleeps in one every day at the sitter and when we spend the night at my moms.

muchmoresarah13 · January 2011

I don't see a problem with it but maybe ask your pediatrician what their views are.

thebigmare · January 2011

muchmoresarah13:
I don't see a problem with it but maybe ask your pediatrician what their views are.

Once I get one. Sigh. It's on the to-do list!!

thebigmare · January 2011

muchmoresarah13:
I don't see a problem with it but maybe ask your pediatrician what their views are.

Once I get one. Sigh. It's on the to-do list!!

bootsnbananas · January 2011

This is totally not directed at you OP just an in general WTH?? What else would you use a PnP for?? Why are they not supposed to sleep in it. I know a ton of kids who slept in theirs including my two kids and LO will be also.

thebigmare · January 2011

bootsnbananas:
This is totally not directed at you OP just an in general WTH?? What else would you use a PnP for?? Why are they not supposed to sleep in it. I know a ton of kids who slept in theirs including my two kids and LO will be also.

My Graco pack and play says that the playard can be used for playing and sleeping. I was just wondering if people would recommend using it for sleeping.

seastar77 · January 2011

My LO slept in the bassinet for the first 4 months and then the bottom of the PNP another 2 months because we were traveling between locations frequently and didn't bother buying a crib right away. Then she had a crib for 3 months, but we moved again and she slept in the PNP for weeks while we waited for our housing and furniture. She still sleeps in a PNP any time she's at my MILs for the day/overnight or any time we stay in a hotel. PNPs are perfect for this. If your LO ends up in the bottom sooner than later, you may just want to reinforce under the thin pad... I folded a large quilt in four and then put the pad on top of it just so you couldn't feel the bars through it and she was very comfortable and slept great.

snowinlv · January 2011

We didn't own a crib until DD was a year old. Granted, she slept in our bed a lot, but we used the PNP for sleeping a fair amount those 12 months. I would not want to move a crib/mattress just for a few months. Would you have the space? Oh, and we moved her to the bottom portion of the PNP around 4 months when she was rolling even though she was still within the weight limit.

sweetpea18 · January 2011

Dd slept in the bassinet part until she was 6 months old. If he does outgrow that part, put him in the bottom part. We have the quilted mattress cover, so it's not quite so hard (it's still firm enough for sleeping, though). I would not move a crib for a few months use!!

veggiegirl528 · January 2011

According to the Baby Care class I took at our hospital they told us that your baby (on average) should double their birth weight by 4 months. That should hopefully help you with your estimate.

LucyGoosey81 · January 2011

No way to know, really. DS slept in the bassinet part for the 6 months he was in our room. He was still not to the weight limit at that point (was 7 lbs. 2 oz. at birth), but the pediatrician thought it would be best to move him to the crib at that point. I have heard that weight about doubles by 4 months, and weight about doubles by 6 months, etc...I don't think there is any set rule for that.

In any event, the bottom part works fine for them to sleep in. There was an time when we couldn't use his crib, so he was in the regular PNP in our room for a couple nights and did fine. We still use it on vacations.

mrsoh · January 2011

My nephew slept exclusivley in the play yard portion of the PNP once he out grew the bassinette part and until he was transitioned to a "big boy" bed. He hasn't had any issues because of it, and sleeps just fine on a regular mattress now. I'm sure you're LO will be fine in it for a couple of months if need be.

GreenBride624 · January 2011

circe811:
No one can really answer as to when your LO will be 15 lbs. However, if LO outgrows the bassinet portion, it is fine and safe for him to sleep in the play yard portion.

This! I wouldn't lug a crib with you! Just use the play yard portion - you will just have to bend over a bit further.

Moghra · January 2011

Yeah, I'm not sure when your LO will be 15 lbs. My son was preemie and was below 5 lbs. He was at 15 lbs around 3 months. You can use the regular pNp for him to sleep in. DS slept in there whenever we would visit my parents. But I don' tknow how comfy that part really is. Maybe put some padding underneath the fitted sheet.