Using a Playpen as Crib

Cass005 · July 2014

Hello Ladies,
I wanted to get some opinions. My husband and I have been looking at cribs (this is our first). I've been getting suggestions on not even buy one and using the pack and play as the crib. Part of me thinks that makes complete sense, but another part of me things, is that really safe, is the matress sturdy enough and or possible to get one for it. Has anyone use one as the crib?

drpayne · July 2014

I don't think a pack n play is ideal for 2+ years of use.

dogperson11 · July 2014

Pack n play mattresses are really thin - I wouldn't think it would be comfortable or supportive for every day use. You've also got to think about all the bending you'd do getting the child in and out. Putting down a sleeping kid is hard enough without having to bend all the way to the ground. If it's cost you're worried about check out Ikea cribs. $100 and they're sturdy. You can get a light foam core mattress for $90 on Amazon.

Cass005 · July 2014

Thanks! The mattress was my concern because I know you should really have a firm one for baby. I know that you can buy them but I wasn't sure that they make them for that size, I'm still not sold on the idea either.

CMBHolmes76 · July 2014

They make them for that size. Babies R Us online. We were looking for one also, but not as a crib. Just napping and traveling when she is older.

AKB090609 · July 2014

Our babies sleep in the bassinet part of a pack n play until they are sleeping thru the night. Then we move them to a crib in their room. If you are on a tight budget or will travel a lot I think you could get a pack n play and wait until you are ready to move the baby to buy a crib. If you won't be traveling you could always just buy a crib and put it in your room and move it later.

drpayne · July 2014

Cass005 said:
Thanks! The mattress was my concern because I know you should really have a firm one for baby. I know that you can buy them but I wasn't sure that they make them for that size, I'm still not sold on the idea either.

They do make them that size but I wouldn't add one for an infant due to SIDS risks. I added one when my oldest was closer to 2 for traveling. He was a big kid and really needed the extra padding.

Cass005 · July 2014

Thanks again Ladies. Money isn't really the issue as much as space is. What I may end up doing is just waiting to get the crib until she's ready for it.

FmrAFBrat · July 2014

If space is an issue maybe look at a mini crib. A lot of those convert into toddler & twin beds.

BC&LM · July 2014

We used our pack and play for nighttime sleep for the first six months and then switched to the crib when he went into his own room. I wouldn't use it for much longer than that because the crib mattress is much more comfortable. You shouldn't switch the mattress on the pack and play for safety reasons; it's tested for safety with the included mattress.

alake · July 2014

With our first we used a pack n play for the first 8 months. She eventually became extremely uncomfortable and we went out and bought a crib. We used it for our first two girls. We moved internationally, after we thought we were done having kids. We ended up pregnant about four months after we moved and I knew that I wanted a crib for our third. She spent the first 4 weeks in the play pen and then we moved her into her crib in her own room. She loved her sleep, and DH snores loudly. She slept so much better in her own crib.

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