Has anyone sidecarred a crib?

Amores0121 · February 2014

So I have been looking at co-sleepers and was thinking about getting the Arms' Reach, however, I just don't know if I have the budget for it. The more I think about $, the more I realize how much $ I actually need $ so I can stay home and need to save wherever I can. So last night I was looking at websites about how to sidecar a crib to the bed. Seemed pretty easy and it looks like easier access than actually using an Arm's Reach, which I know has a lip so you can't just slide baby over to nurse...has anyone done this and how did it work out?

Klv123 · February 2014

My sister has done this for months with her son and loves it however it's not recommended due to the fact that there is always a small space and if not checked often can lead to the baby slipping between the crib and bed.

Amores0121 · February 2014

Well the one I saw had great instructions on how to do it and there was no space, as they put heavy duty foam in the space and the mattress were tight against one another. they put the foam against the mattress and crib where a space was created from pushing the baby mattress next to the parents mattress. Then they tightly wrapped the foam in sheets. It was pretty crafty!

Huahine · February 2014

We initially didn't have a crib at all. For the first few months, LO was between us on our king sized mattress (I understand that isn't a choice everyone would make, but it made night nursing so easy). At the time, we were in an apartment, I wanted a four poster and there was a stupid soffit over the only wall in the bedroom that would fit a bed, so we waited until moving to by a bed frame. So when DS was born, our mattress was on the floor. After he got more mobile and started moving around more, we bought a crib mattress from Ikea and side-carred it to the mattress. It was only a smidge more effort to pick him up and pull him in for a nurse, then place him back on his mattress.

I'm assuming you have a bed frame. You could always temporarily remove it. I know several families who disassembled their bed frame and put it in storage to have a floor bed when their kids were young. It is a bit easier than messing around with side-carring a crib and cheaper than buying a co-sleeper.

Amores0121 · February 2014

@HuaHine I was also thinking about that but we only have a Queen size bed and as it is when DD wakes up from a bad dream she will come in bed and we are so cramped we can't move. So I think this would be the better option so DD can still come sleep between us, if needed. Plus I could not put my baby between me and DH. I think he sleeps too heavy. I wake up very easily now and remember waking up like crazy when I was nursing DD. I had a bassinet next to the bed, but I slept with her in the bed a lot, always with my arm across her ensure she didn't roll or move off the bed. This time I would like something more comfortable and safe, as I plan on nursing longer than 2 months this time.

pfeilele · February 2014

I thought about it with DS but our room at the time didn't have room on the side of the bed to do it. The crib we have for this LO is too big and bulky to do it. I say go for it but make sure you find a safe way to do it. Maybe a board under both mattresses? Bungee cords connecting the two? I'm not an engineer... Clearly.

TurtleMonsters · February 2014

The arm's reach and my bed worked so that it was level...I'm pretty sure, it took me a while to get the lip part figured, but I think they ended up level- I could be completely wrong, though. (now I want to drag the thing out to remember how it fit!)

Ultimately, I kept DS right at my side and the cosleeper was my safety so I didn't drop him off the edge, if he was on that side. NEVER happened. I never rolled on him, I kept an arm around him that was always there when I woke, and I kept him close so DH didn't roll on him. It worked out for when I wasn't in bed with ds, as a crib/PNP, since we didn't get one right away. It was a PITA because i couldn't get into my side of the bed, I had to crawl in from the bottom, after a CS that was a HUGE problem.

Good point considering two children though, our queen bed will be cramped. i'd def. go for it considering two kiddos, esp if that is a future plan. Everything becomes more economical when you anticipate having 2 +

Amores0121 · February 2014

@pfeilele Yes, the way you connect it is with bungee cords. Found a video on how to do it and everything. I'll be proposing it to DH tonight.

I figure it will work bc we are buying a convertible crib, which is made to covert to a toddler bed anyway.

jnnfrrose6 · February 2014

Last I heard my SIL is planning on doing this. She found an ikea hack to follow (she's due in May).

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