Thoughts on skipping the crib?

ClaireOtoms · April 2012

We haven't bought a crib yet. We have a pnp with bassinet that we intend to use for at least the first few months.

I am wondering if it would be a crazy idea to skip buying a crib altogether and just keep LO in the pnp until he is big enough for a toddler bed or twin sized bed. Thoughts?

babydawson · April 2012

I had considered doing this because we have a small apartment and will be moving overseas in a year. I think it is possible to do but I don't think it is recommended. We ended up getting cheaper crib. I know how much better I sleep on a good mattress, so I am thinking my baby will be able sleep better on a crib mattress than a PNP mattress.

cannmaya3 · April 2012

it is not a crazy idea and really just depends on your back....we did the same thing for a long time but then my back started giving me trouble and i wanted him up higher, and the toddler bed thing you can start when you feel his ready because of the sides so he wont roll out but then you have to worry about him getting up and coming to you instead of being safe and sound in his crib or like my hubby likes to joke baby jail .....

cookies+milk · April 2012

IMO I wouldn't recommend it. Dd1 is almost 20 months old and is still in her crib. She outgrew the pnp length-wise around 14 mos and only sleeps in it when we travel. DH and I are petrified at the thought of her getting out of her crib and roaming around her room, even though it's baby proofed. There are still things she'll be able to get into that we won't be able to prevent (opening drawers, unplugging nightlights, etc) despite our efforts and once your LO can crawl, it will be the same story for you. Also the top part of the pnp has a rather low weight limit, if I remember right, and it's difficult getting the baby into the lower portion without waking them up.

If it were me, I'd get a crib, whether from a friend, new, off Craigslist, at Ikea, etc or something that will fit your budget.

lovetohike · April 2012

Have you looked into a Mini Crib? My friend used one for all 3 of her kiddos.

I like the Emily Mini Crib.. so cute!

https://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?Find=Find&_refineresult=true&clicked_tab_value=Online&ic=16_0&pref_store=2113&search_constraint=5427&search_query=mini+crib&tab_value=Online&cat_id=5427_414099

mrs+harlow · April 2012

lovetohike:
Have you looked into a Mini Crib? My friend used one for all 3 of her kiddos.

I like the Emily Mini Crib.. so cute!

https://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?Find=Find&_refineresult=true&clicked_tab_value=Online&ic=16_0&pref_store=2113&search_constraint=5427&search_query=mini+crib&tab_value=Online&cat_id=5427_414099

This. We have a PnP...but I would never use it for prolonged sleeping use. Can you imagine sleeping in that thing for over a year. I get back is best and firm...but holy crap it's like sleeping on a board. Ugh.

Matildasun · April 2012

Another choice would be to go to a mattress on the floor very early on. It is not something I have done, but I have read about people having good luck with it. Look up Montessori floor bed, or perhaps ask on the attachment parenting board. There are several posters there who have done this.

bellelamb · April 2012

I wouldn't you can get a crib from target for $130 that turns into a toddler bed, so it's not like it will save you a lot of money. My oldest was on his crib until 3 & in the toddler bed part until 4.

Like pp have said trying to put a sleeping baby in a pnp without waking them up is very hard.

liltatgirl0280 · April 2012

With my daughter we used the pnp at first. It was convenient, fit beside our bed, the changing area was right there for midnight changings/feedings and I could move it easily if I needed to. Plus the baby went to sleep faster in a smaller area vs laying in the middle of a crib.

We also had a crib that turned into a toddler bed but we never used it until she was starting to pull herself up. This time around we have to buy everything again and I'm skipping the crib until I think we need it.

hoping4sticky · April 2012

Personally unless you were planning on bedsharing or doing a montessori bed, I would not recommend. T loves her crib and I love that she is contained. You could definitely get away with it for awhile, but around 6 months T started rolling around and would wake herself up in the pnp. Mightve been a fluke, but she sleeps much better in the crib.

kami1977 · April 2012

We could have easily skipped the crib with DS. He was in the PNP until about 4 months old and then we ended up cosleeping. Most nights he'd start out in the crib and sleep for 3 hours in it and then move to our bed. We had to convert it to a toddler bed at 15months because he started climbing out of it. Even after we converted it to a toddler bed he didn't like being in it. Since we still have it and it just needs to be turned back into a crib, we'll set it up again this time. I do sometimes wish we hadn't wasted the money on getting the crib because we got so little use out of it.

My sister isn't in the best financial position and her son never had a crib. He slept in a PNP until he went to a normal bed. As long as you have a safe place for baby to sleep I don't think you necessarily need a crib.

JulesFo · April 2012

matildasun:
Another choice would be to go to a mattress on the floor very early on. It is not something I have done, but I have read about people having good luck with it. Look up Montessori floor bed, or perhaps ask on the attachment parenting board. There are several posters there who have done this.

This. I didn't do it...just wasn't my style -- I moved DD to a twin bed around 2.5; however, my mom is a Montessori teacher and I know it is a very popular method for some. They encourage a floor bed at a pretty young age.

Nicolewinsbingo · April 2012

I think your baby will be able to climb out of or move the pnp by standing at the edge of it before he will be able to do the same thing with a crib. I think you would probably want a crib at some point for a sturdier 'container' because if your kid has a problem with getting out of bed and not sleeping well then you will really want a crib well into the 2nd year.