I want to do bed sharing but we only have a full size bed and both DH and I roll around a LOT. We complain to one another about the lack of space as is for the two of us, and I'm just really nervous to bed share with a LO. Through this board, I learned about the co-sleeper attachments like Arm's Reach and I personally thought it was a fantastic idea!
But when I showed a picture of them to DH, he rolled his eyes and said it was a waste of money because it looks exactly like a crib or bassinet pushed up next to a bed and said we should just do that instead. So I'm wondering -- ladies, what are your thoughts? Is there a genuine difference between a co-sleeper or putting a bassinet next to the bed? Is there a benefit to the co-sleeper, or is DH right that it's mostly the same concept? Thank you :-)
TTC since Aug 2011. BFP #1 on 10/28/2011 EDD of 07/02/2012 Natural MC on 11/22/2012 BFP #2 on 10/28/2012 EDD of 7/13/13 Judah Ari born on 7/11/13.
I love my rainbow baby!
Re: co-sleeper attachment vs bassinet?
I might sound lazy, but that would be enough to convince me!
Sidecarring a crib is comparable to an Arm's Reach, but I got my Arm's Reach used for $50 and it doubles as a pack and play. Plus it's portable if we travel.
I wouldn't use a bassinet. I don't like to get up after baby stops pooping at night. Too much work.
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I have my crib side-carred. You have to push the mattress up to fill the gap, which requires you to stuff something down in the back. Ive seen people use a crib bumper to fill that space and I use 2 tightly wrapped (in material) pool noodles.
Co-sleepers are more safely designed. To be honest, the cosleeper isnt any different than the bassinet I had.
We didnt use the borrowed co-sleeper or the bassinet much... or the crib! I slept on the couch with the Fisher Price Rock N Play right in front of me until a week ago.
I guess I should have said "I don't stay awake to nurse" rather than "I don't get up". DS and I actually shared a twin in his room for the first few months; I anticipate just straight bed-sharing with the next baby. Not with DH, though.
Baby and I did better on our own.
I bought the ARC because I needed a portable bed for DS, so it's an option next time.
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We're really tight on space so we need everything we own to last as long as it can and fill as many needs as possible. We went with a pack and play with a bassinet insert. I had it pretty much right up against my bed (I had just enough space to turn sideways and shimmy between the bed and the pnp) and could sit up and reach DD when she needed to nurse at night. By the time she outgrew the bassinet insert, she was sleeping in her crib in her room, and now we have the pack and play as a travel crib, which was a necessity for us, as we travel a lot.
Token - early on, I woke up to nurse, but often fell asleep after she latched on!