Ladies help! Bassinet, crib, none of them?

Eileeen82 · June 2015

So I'm 34weeks and have mostly everything I need for baby except where he's going to sleep and a stroller and car seat. I'm totally confused on what I should buy, what I'll actually use or what's a waste of money.. Crib or bassinet or a rocker? A car seat and buy a stroller later on? Or what kind of stroller,

Miz_Liz · June 2015

We have a pack'n'play with the attached bassinet and changing table that we keep next to our bed for the first few months - it works great for middle of the night feedings and changes. DS slept in it for a few months before transitioning to his crib, this baby will as well. As for the stroller, unless you plan to never take baby to a store, for a walk, etc., you will want/need a stroller. We have the Graco Snugride 30 with the travel system and we LOVE it. We have a lighter weight Graco for quick trips that works great as well - carseat snaps into both.

NYMominCA · June 2015

We have a crib that will be set up as a sidecar to our bed, as it makes it so much easier for me to scoot baby toward me, nurse, then scoot baby back. Around six months we will put the fourth side on the crib and baby will go a little farther away.

As for a car seat, I always recommend going with an infant seat and then buying one of those Snap-N-Go type strollers for it. Because I know SO MANY people who buy a car seat/stroller set but when the baby outgrows the car seat, they realize they don't like the stroller as much. By using a snap-n-go you can save your money for now and get a better idea of what you want in a stroller when the baby is out of the infant seat.

NSAnderson0313 · June 2015

I'm a FTM and I think we went a little overboard in our buying, but that's all behind us now.

We purchased the Halo Bassinet: https://www.halobassinest.com/ and a crib. She'll sleep in the bassinet for the first few weeks, but by 9-10 weeks I'd like her to be sleeping in her crib as I have to return to work at 12 weeks and I need my sleep too.

For a car seat we purchased the Nuna Pipa - our main reason for buying this one is because it's extremely light weight (7.7 lbs) and it works well in both American and European vehicles (we travel to Europe 5-6 times per year).

For a stroller I was obsessed with Uppababy and the Uppababy Vista stroller that comes with the rumble seat and bassinet. I like the thought of her being in a bassinet versus a car seat all of the time. DH on the other hand being German was obsessed with some German brand that we ended up not being able to get in the US & I was not getting ready to mess with bringing this thing back on a plane from Germany.

Hope this helps.

gotdiesel2007 · June 2015

Me personally---

Crib- Eliminates buying 300 different things if you get one that converts all the way to a full or queen size
Carseat- I just buy a convertible, less things to buy
Strollers-I don't typically buy them but did this time around bc we won't have a car when we move. So I bought a BOB

schuenk2 · June 2015

My friend lent me the baby bargain book which I found very helpful, as being a FTM as well all the baby things needed is insanely overwhelming! It basically listed all items needed, graded them by brand and listed positives and negatives as well as common reviews. We ended up getting a pack and play with the attached bassinet and changer like PP listed, the Chico Key Fit 30 infant carrier and the baby jogger city mini (I liked the city mini because it's smaller and not so heavy and I can carry it myself. It also can be folded up with just one hand which is nice). We had to buy a connector for the car seat to be able to click the baby carrier into the stroller but it worked great and was easy to use. Granted like I said FTM here so we will see if these all work out, but the book certainly helped! Hope this helps you a bit too!

Leahauc · June 2015

We have a small portable bassinet that was given to us for baby to sleep by our bed for the first few months but the crib will also be used early on and transitioned to full time in a few months.

As for car seat/stroller: we got the chicco keyfit 30 travel system and later got the caddy at a consignment store to go with the car seat. I actually already wish we had just gotten the car seat and the caddy and later gotten a city mini stroller but I think we'll survive with the chicco stroller.

bethanylynn456 · June 2015

We have a bassinet that was given to us which we did use and love for the first few months when baby was sleeping in our room, otherwise I wouldn't have purchased it. We also have a rock'n'play seat which probably would have worked just fine since he actually preferred nappjng in it.
I've heard the pack'n'play bassinet option is good too.
We used a graco car seat travel system with the stroller which worked well.

SnarkasaurusRex · June 2015

We have a family bassinet that will be in our room for the first 6-8 weeks to make breastfeeding easier, but we will transition him to his crib after that because I will be going back to work and DH and I will start splitting feedings. We also have a Pack'n'Play with the bassinet in it for traveling, since we have 3 trips planned for the fall (all weddings) and we wanted something portable.

I am a runner so I was pretty insitent on a jogging stroller. We settled on the Graco Relay jogger for the stroller with the Graco SnugRide 35 infant car seat that clicks in. We also have a metal frame stroller from a family member for short trips (the car seat just snaps in, but once LO is too big for the car seat it becomes useless until the next kid). We went with Graco because SIL has a Graco and MIL has bases for her car, so if they needed to they could easily transport the kiddo.

jerzegirl201 · June 2015

I have the Graco Modes Click and go travel system with the infant carseat and we love it. For sleeping we have a travel pack and play for next to the bed and a rock and play (we will use whichever he prefers)

JennyJensing · June 2015

I think this is a matter of personal choice. With DD, we used a bassinet next to our bed for the first 5 weeks and then moved her to her crib. Many people co-sleep as well. Also, if your baby ends up with digestive issues like reflux, a rock n play or swing may be the better option. I'd say try to use whatever you already have or keep it very basic at first, then go buy stuff after baby comes if you need to.

clairelange · June 2015

We got the upperbaby car seat, and the stroller which comes with bassinet. All 3 easily clip in and out of the frame so no need for adapters and very easy to use. We plan on using the bassinet as his bed when he is first born
- two birds, 1 stone. Babies should not be in their car seats all of the time, bad for their growth.

We also got a crib that converts to a bed eventually so in that way more useful.

Best thing to do - go into shop and play around with a few so you can see what you like and what's in your price range. Good luck! It's a minefield!

Bugs1718 · June 2015

Miz_Liz said:
We have a pack'n'play with the attached bassinet and changing table that we keep next to our bed for the first few months - it works great for middle of the night feedings and changes. DS slept in it for a few months before transitioning to his crib, this baby will as well. As for the stroller, unless you plan to never take baby to a store, for a walk, etc., you will want/need a stroller. We have the Graco Snugride 30 with the travel system and we LOVE it. We have a lighter weight Graco for quick trips that works great as well - carseat snaps into both.

I second all of this, we are doing the same. STM here as well.

daniellehoying · June 2015

bethanylynn456 said:
We have a bassinet that was given to us which we did use and love for the first few months when baby was sleeping in our room, otherwise I wouldn't have purchased it. We also have a rock'n'play seat which probably would have worked just fine since he actually preferred nappjng in it.
I've heard the pack'n'play bassinet option is good too.
We used a graco car seat travel system with the stroller which worked well.

We are doing the same. Rock n play sleeper in our room before baby transitions to the crib.
& I run (well used to) a lot, so we got the graco click n connect travel system.

chelsea13elyse · June 2015

STM mom and last time we did pack and play with bassinet in our room and then switched to a crib in our nursery. Personally for us the pnp was so large and bulky I couldn't stand it. Now we live in a much bigger home with a much bigger room so it wouldn't be quite as inconvient but I still rather just use it for travel. We wil use a bassinet in our room then move baby to crib. It's so nice at first to have baby by your side and not have to even leave the room. Especially c section mamas.

chelsea13elyse · June 2015

Also snap and go is much easier for when you only have one kid and you can snap the whole car seat in. My son is still young enough that he needs to be in the stroller some of the time so we have a baby jogger city select that we can use for both. I had a graco travel system with my son and i hated how heavy and bulky it was. I second PP on maybe the snap and go and then purchasing a stroller later on.

mirrenrue · June 2015

@Miz_Liz is that an Eddie Bauer bassinet/play yard combo? What you described sounds exactly like ours and if it is, what did you use for sheets? The bassinet sheet standard size did not fit

Miz_Liz · June 2015

@mirrenrue it is the Graco one. We did not use any sheets for the bassinet part, this one wasn't designed to, but it is washable so we would just wash the whole thing when needed.

Knottie99627423 · June 2015

We have an Ikea crib that we are sidecarring to our bed and plan to keep there for a good long while (probably until the next baby comes along). We have two car seats. One is a convertible for DHs car. We figured he needs less flexibility since the baby will be with me mostly (I will be staying at home). We figure when we do have DHs 4Runner will will likely be going hiking or on longer car rides. The other car seat is one that hooks in to a stroller which is a jogging stroller. That car seat is an infant one. DH convinced me to get an infant one because he didn't think I would want to wake the baby up if I was just running a quick errand to the store or something. I think that was wise thinking. Honestly, I feel like right now it is a total crap shoot. I have no freaking idea. And I hate that they all take up so much space! I am excited to get the crib and changing table set up in a room just so it is actually organized and not in a million pieces in the spare room.

pinktorridora · June 2015

FTM here. We are planning on having:

Co-Sleeper Bassinet that converts to play yard
Crib (for daytime naps, maybe?) and for when baby is a few months old
Infant seat and stroller it clicks in to (Britax)

We will eventually use the convertible seat and jogging stroller, but those don't have to be bought right away.

VToman · June 2015

We bought a rocker and a crib. My SIL suggested skipping the bassinet, based on her experience with her three kiddos. She said they lived being in the rock n play and slept very well. I also read a lot about how babies with acid reflux sleep better at a little bit of an incline. We'll try it out and see how it works. We'll get a bassinet if it doesn't work out. The crib will be used later on.

We also have an infant car seat with a stroller that it snaps into.

KAR8706 · June 2015

We have a PnP for the first few week in our bedroom and use the crib for naps and later when he is older.

We have a Rock n Play also but probably will only use during the day time.

Baby trend carseat and jogging stroller here, works well and I love the triangle handle so my wrist isnt twisted when carrying.

starbeck77 · June 2015

The rock n play now has an auto rocker version and we got that. Later, we plan on getting the IKEA crib that also converts to the toddler bed.

WSatisfiedP · June 2015

We do the pack and play with bassinet on top for the first few months in our room. After that, baby goes to a 3 in 1 crib that will eventually convert to a full bed.

As far as carseat, we love the Graco click connect travel system, but use the carseat with only a stroller frame when baby isn't big enough for the big stroller. The stroller frame is lighter and easy to use.

confuegosuzy · June 2015

We kinda used the PnP bassinet with my first son, but he slept so much better in his swing so we really just used that for an embarrassingly long time. For this one, we got a rock n play because it'll be so much easier for me to keep next to the bed and my SIL said it changed her life.

fghmama6701 · June 2015

I have a PNP with bassinet and changer for the first couple months. Then into a crib. I got a graco snug ride travel system but I honestly see myself baby wearing more often than using a stroller. Baby will be coming to work with me for 12 hours 4 days a week, so I got a rock n play for naps at work. Light and easy.

butterfly061583 · June 2015

The crib was a waste of money the first time around. Baby wouldn't sleep in it plus it was a pain for middle of the night BF. This time since I still have my daughters toddler bed and I plan to purchase bunk beds a few years from now, I decided to use a play yard that has an infant sleeper, bassinet, changer with vibration and music. I will place that near the bed. I decided to go with the travel system again, made sure it's a quality one that I will like. When the baby is around 8 mo I will transition into a convertible, but for now I like the convenience of the travel system and how I can close the hoods together to keep strangers hands out while shopping. I also purchased a bouncer.

apetruck · June 2015

We bought the Halo Bassinest and are really excited to use it. I wanted something that I could move around quite a bit for nursing and sleeping near us.

For stroller we have the Britax B-ready and the carseat is the Britax B-Safe 35. We have played with both and are excited for when baby comes!

corndogrobot · June 2015

We got the Halo this time around too!! It's so cute! Can't wait to use it.
Last time we borrowed my friend's Arm's reach Co sleeper and that worked well for the first 4 months. Then he slowly moved Into our bed. I think he slept in the co sleeper more than the crib. Hopefully the second one sleeps in the crib because it's so cute it makes me sad it's hardly used.

coffeecatyum · June 2015

We have a bassinet in our room for the first month or two and then a crib in his room. We thought about using our PnP but it's far too bulky. We also bought the Britax B Agile travel system. Lightweight and highly rated.

maybebaby84 · June 2015

We have a crib for when he moves out of our room and a travel bassinet for our bedroom. I'm not getting a stroller, at least not right now. We are going to use a baby wrap to get around with him.

leelee1112 · June 2015

We have an old family heirloom cradle to use in our room while the baby is very little. Once he outgrows it, we'll move him to his room in a crib. Someone bought a pack n play for us as a shower gift (since I'm a FTM I'm not real sure how useful this item will truly be).

I have an infant car seat in my car (because it's portable & nurses at Hosp encouraged me to get this kind) & hubby has a convertible car seat in his (it grows with baby). The pediatrician said it's a personal preference on the type of car seat you want, but both are just fine. We got 2 so we didn't have to constantly switch from one car to the other.

I got the hauck Malibu stroller, because I liked the modern pram. It converts to a front facing upright stroller once baby is bigger. Although, I'm sure I'll eventually get one of those lightweight umbrella strollers later on down the road.

I don't really like a lot of "stuff" when it comes to baby gear. So I try to look for things that grow with them. Sometimes people try to overwhelm you with suggesting the things you must have or need. Just remember everyone has a different lifestyle! You'll find what fits your needs

mrsb30 · June 2015

fghmama6701 said:
I have a PNP with bassinet and changer for the first couple months. Then into a crib. I got a graco snug ride travel system but I honestly see myself baby wearing more often than using a stroller. Baby will be coming to work with me for 12 hours 4 days a week, so I got a rock n play for naps at work. Light and easy.

If you don't mind me asking. What do you do for work that you can take your baby? That's amazing!

Want a personalized experience?

Ladies help! Bassinet, crib, none of them?

Re: Ladies help! Bassinet, crib, none of them?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards