Swing, bouncer, rock 'n play, pack 'n play...

UMichGirl · February 2012

For those of you who have registered, which of these items did you decide to go with and why? We have a two story house so I'd like to get a PNP to keep on the main level. I have heard rave reviews about the RNP's. But I've also heard "every baby is different" which I realize, so we won't know if baby will like a swing or bouncer until he's here. It seems a bit much to register for ALL of it, but at the same time, I don't know how to narrow it down from the list in terms of what we'd use.

Thoughts/suggestions?

kelnyc · February 2012

We registered for the Graco Pack 'n Play Portable Playard with Newborn Napper, which will be in our room for baby to sleep in until s/he is ready for the crib (as early as is logical). It seemed like the best option and can be used as a changing station and regular pack 'n play as s/he gets older. I also registered for a bouncy seat, but not a swing. Honestly, if I have a swing, I might rely on it too much to soothe baby and keep them occupied while I'm doing things around the house. I think I'm better off baby wearing or using the bouncy seat when necessary. From what I hear, the Rock 'n Play is ok, but is gets cramped as the baby grows. HTH!

This is the exact one on our registry in Laguna Bay, since we will be team secret.

steveandkim2 · February 2012

I was so overwhelmed when registering! I hope you odn't mind a little SAIF advice...

My son absolutely loves his fisher price swing! Its by far the most used/best piece of baby equipment we own! We take it upstairs, downstairs and use it far more than the PnP or rocker...

TJ1979 · February 2012

Great question MichGirl! We just started looking at stuff last night, and were completely overwhelmed. I'll be interested to see what everyone else has to say.

DeputiesWife · February 2012

DD loved the swing -- we had a FP one also.

We also registered for a bouncer and the same pack n play like kelinnyc has.

mswood1977 · February 2012

We are in a single story, but I plan on getting a Pack n' Play to use in our room instead of a bassient (and for trips), and I plan on getting a swing. We already have a bouncer.

mandalinn25 · February 2012

We have a three story house so we already got 2 bouncers (got one used for $15 at once upon a child, love that place)...we have a swing from my niece already and a pnp. We are registered for a Mamaroo, Arms Reach Cosleeper & exersaucer. Too much stuff, but we need to have something on all floors.

Sunshine05 · February 2012

We have the same pnp that kelnyc posted. I would definitely recommend getting a swing... Evie took her longest naps in that when she was itty-bitty. I love our FP Starlight Papasan one, and the Snugabunny one gets great reviews too... both plug into the wall which is a great thing!

I got a bouncer but we really don't use it very often, I like our Infant to Toddler Rocker better since when she gets herself moving she can rock herself and it makes for a good spot to put her in while I cook/clean, etc. I survived without a RNP but they seem to be worth their weight in gold to some, especially if you have a little one with reflux.

Happy registering! Try not to get too overwhelmed and do a little at a time! Baby Bargains is a great resource too.

lovebug33 · February 2012

So, we are buying a pack and play for downstairs because I am notoriously clumsy going up and down stairs, so for the first few weeks, I am going to try to avoid carrying the baby up and down stairs. We have two bouncer thingees, so we are going to use those and skip the swing!

lovemygs · February 2012

We're getting one swing and one bouncer, just to see what the boys prefer. We're definitely getting two RnPs. Everyone I know raves about them. Skipping the PnP.

byrne15 · February 2012

With ds, I had and used the PNP and swing ALL the time. We never had a bouncer and I didn't miss it since ds would be in the PNP or the swing if someone wasn't holding him.

The RNP sleepers didn't exist when I had ds. I read all the reviews and decided I must have one. I know if I had one with ds it would have been very well enjoyed. ds had bad reflux and I had to figure out ways to incline him while he was sleeping.

kelnyc · February 2012

Ok, you guys convinced me! I just added a swing to my registry.

TotallyLoCo · February 2012

Yeah, I have or am soon getting all 4 things. And I live in an apartment. Total overkill, I know, but I feel like they are all used for different things and I don't know what he'll like. LO will sleep in the RNP, the swing will be to soothe him, the bouncer is more portable to move around the apartment (we do have a big place) and take with us when we visit family for the day. The PNP I probably could live without for now, but we plan to use that for naps and as the changing area since we're not setting up his room until we move this summer. We are planning to buy a house so I figure the PNP will be good to have downstairs when we move, so why not get it now.

We got 3 of the 4 items as gifts and we have the space for them, so I figured why not.

I did at least decide to hold off on the exersaucer until he's a little older, that's something, right?

ELF4321 · February 2012

We registered for the Graco travel crib rather than a pnp, because it will fit better in our bedroom when we want baby sleeping in there with us the first few months. It is a bit smaller than a pnp, but can still be used as a portable play-yard too, so it'll probably get moved down to the main floor once baby is sleeping in her own room.

We also are getting both a swing and bouncer --- the nicer swings are HUGE and not very portable, so it'll pretty much stay on the main level. The bouncer is easier to move around the house where we need it. Hopefully she'll like both. We'll see.

QE2 · February 2012

Hope you don't mind if I chime in. I registered for all because I use them for different things. My kids LOVE their swings. That's where they sleep best and it soothes them when cranky. We're worried about DS when he reaches the 25lb weight limit, he only has 7 pounds to go.

I keep PNPs on first floor for naps and use them when we go away. I use their bouncies for feeding, in bathroom when I shower, cooking in the kitchen...they're easy to move around. DS doesn't tolerate the bouncy for very long because he prefers the movement of the swing, but it keeps him contained to let me get things done.

Also, I use a nap nanny for DS to sleep on since he has reflux.

As for toys, right now both love the evenflo exersaucer, both are ehh on the jumparoo and step'n'play piano.

naybird · February 2012

I registered for them all. But I also know we will spend time at my parents. So some can be taken there! Like baby can nap in the rock and play when we aren't home! We won't want to lug a big pack and play or swing for little trips!!!

tarajayne · February 2012

I had no idea on this stuff either (still don't tbh!) but I had 2 swings and 2 bouncers given to me as hand me downs. I have 1 pack n play. No rock n plays but honestly with all the stuff I really don't think there is room! Though my cousin just did give me a bassinet that looks like it rocks... I haven't set it up yet and I have no idea but that sounds pretty much like a rnp to me. We are just going to wing it and see what they like

hall_ky · February 2012

I have a rock n play and my baby loved it. I might suggest getting a noggin nest to help protect against a flat head, I dont know that this caused it but it can't hurt right? It is super portable and my LO loved it. I woul even take it to my MILs house when she would watch him. I also had 2 bouncers and a pack n play. I have used all of them. It's nice having 2 bouncers in a two house. And also when he gets older it also nice to have 2 exersaucers. Carrying an exersaucer up and down thr stairs is not fun. Also I had a swing but didn't use it very much. It wasn't one of LOs fav items.

JM1977 · March 2012

We have all of those things, although we mainly use the PNP as a changing station. Our baby is still sleeping in her RNP at 6 months. We're going to be working on transitioning her to her crib soon, but the RNP has been an absolute lifesaver. It is totally different from other places the baby can sleep (crib, bassinet, etc.) because it's slanted and has the sides that come up so it kind of cradles the baby in a way that the other things don't. That has made all the difference for us. Of course it's great if a baby can sleep in the crib or something else flat from day one, but it just doesn't seem doable for a lot of babies.

We were concerned about the RNP causing her to have a flat head, but it hasn't. We did put a cloth diaper in between the hard back and the cover, and we have used the Noggin Nest off and on as well (actually in the RNP and her swing and other things where she's on her back).

I know it seems like a lot to get all these things, but I think it's very likely you will really use all of them. Maybe you could get some on CL or at a consignment sale if you don't want to put all of them on your registry.

Wishing you the best with preparing for your LO!

UMichGirl · March 2012

Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like we may just register for them all at this point and see what happens.

PNP's confuse me by themselves! There are some that are pretty basic (like this one) and others that come with bells and whistles and other things (like this one) and again I don't know which we'd have more use for!

Sunshine05 · March 2012

UMichGirl:
Thanks for all the responses! Sounds like we may just register for them all at this point and see what happens.
PNP's confuse me by themselves! There are some that are pretty basic (like this one) and others that come with bells and whistles and other things (like this one) and again I don't know which we'd have more use for!

Honestly, I got the one with all the bells and whistles (same like that one, just different color) and we haven't used it yet so the newborn napper was a waste... and I doubt at this point I will use the changer either, so we could have gotten away with a basic one. If you plan on using it in a 2-story house where you might put baby down to sleep or change them there, then it might be useful... otherwise I'd save the money. Unless someone's buying it for you...

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