Help me win an argument w the Hubby...or don't

ErikaB123 · September 2015

Argument: to buy a rock n play or not? Hubby says "it's unnecessary" I say "we absolutely need one". As you can see from the photos below, my son is quickly outgrowing the piece of equipment (no clue what they call it) in pic #1. He sleeps in it every night and he can't even extend his legs all the way which makes me feel horrible. Hubby argues that rock n play is unnecessary because we can simply have son sleep in bassinet shown in figure #2 soon. I am terrified of putting him on that flat surface...thinking he could roll over too easily. I like the fact that what he sleeps in now restricts his movement and hugs him all night. We also have the crib in his room and the stand up swing. The rock n play also appeals to me because I think he would love it for during the day, when daddy is at work and mommy is going insane at home. Okay ladies, be honest with me, is it necessary? This wouldn't be the first time I'm wrong (I know, shocking).

taylorharber1108 · September 2015

I say the Rock and Play is a must!!! We have all the equipment that you have pictured above but the Rock and Play is mine and DS's favorite. I like that it is easy to fold up and move around. We have taken it to my MILs so DS could nap while we had dinner. I also like that I can keep it right next to my side of the bed, it calms my nerves and makes breastfeeding so much easier. I also like that it is inclined. DS has been very congested for a couple of weeks now and the incline helps him breathe easier. I can also usually lay DS down in it for sometime so I can get things done around the house. Good luck! It is so worth the money!

emmacake08 · September 2015

Personally I think it's a bit odd that you're worried about putting LO on a flat surface to sleep. That's the officially recommended way by pediatricians to sleep to prevent SIDS. At this age, LO is an overachiever for going from tummy to back but they can't yet go back to belly. Personally if LO will sleep flat on their back in a crib or bassinet, I think that's ideal and you don't have to do a crib transition. There are moms who can't get LO to sleep that way and use RnPs which I can understand.

Boslove · September 2015

The rock n play is great for naps. Some say not to use it for overnight sleeping, I only used it during the day. It wouldn't hurt, in my opinion, but you do seem fully equipped. My DD didn't like the pack n play so the RnP replaced that.

SassetteSmurfling · September 2015

Ehhh. We got the rock and play because our pack n play doesn't move easily (it's fractions of an inch too wide to fit through our hallway). So we have the rock and play in the living room so DD has somewhere to go during the day, and she sleeps in the newborn napper in the pack n play at night.

In your case I would say the rock n play might be convenient but probably isn't necessary. There is no harm putting babies on a flat surface, so you could just use your pack n play. Maybe see if you can find one on a yard sale for cheaper, then DH might be more agreeable.

amk013 · September 2015

My pediatrician said not to let DS sleep in the rock n play at night, but I do use it when I am awake and can watch him.
https://kckidsdoc.com/dear-fisher-price.html

benmel31 · September 2015

I would not be concerned about him not being able to straighten his legs. He probably isn't straight in the swing either.

We don't have a RnP but we have most of what you have plus a bouncy seat. I would like a RnP but can't really justify it since DS is content in the options we have.

If your DS is content with what you have, I would not bother with any thing.

ErikaB123 · September 2015

Great feedback ladies. And Emma, I am fully acknowledging that I'm totally paranoid and unreasonable. Every little noise he makes during the night immediately makes me think he's choking. I'm slowly getting more reasonable, this is why I bounce all my ideas off you gals...I know I'm a bit crazy/irrational.

candicejeff2013 · September 2015

Flat surfaces = not ideal for reflux. I have a bassinet but she roles around in it so much because it's flat. I like the swing or rock n play for sleep because I feel like she's at a small incline and can easily move her head but not shimmy all around. Who knows what the perfect answer is.... I have and use all of these for sleep.

cseley321 · September 2015

emmacake08 said:
Personally I think it's a bit odd that you're worried about putting LO on a flat surface to sleep. That's the officially recommended way by pediatricians to sleep to prevent SIDS. At this age, LO is an overachiever for going from tummy to back but they can't yet go back to belly. Personally if LO will sleep flat on their back in a crib or bassinet, I think that's ideal and you don't have to do a crib transition. There are moms who can't get LO to sleep that way and use RnPs which I can understand.

This exactly. We use the play pen bassinet for downstairs and she loves it. I never got the rock n play because of concern over it flattening their head. I figure she has gone this long without it and has been fine. .

ErikaB123 · September 2015

Btw, I read these comments to the hubby and he is making fun of us all for using DS, DD, DH...he thinks that's really weird. He is now calling our son "DS" out loud while chuckling to himself. What a brat lol.

jlsweets · September 2015

Agree with everyone above. I still try to get DS to sleep in his bassinet first at night before resorting to rock n play. Not that I think anything is wrong with it but I just want to make crib transition easier for us when the time comes. He loves it and I love that it's the actual one thing he'll sleep in besides me but it's not something I want to do for the long run. I say if your son is sleeping well on a flat surface/in the bassinet that's great and ideal!
However, one thing that's nice about the rock n play is taking it places. It's easier to fold up then the pack n play. We've taken it to my parents several times and it's great for travel.

SashaDenn25 · September 2015

DD slept in the bigger portion of pack n play in our room...like on yours where the big mattress part is closer to the top. She slept there with us for about 2 weeks. She slept in her crib for naps and then I transitioned her to crib until first night feeding then back with us. Found out she sleeps better in her own crib in her room.

( So shes there every night now. I dont have a RnP but had debated about getting one just for naps but not night time.

amk013 · September 2015

ErikaB123 said:
Btw, I read these comments to the hubby and he is making fun of us all for using DS, DD, DH...he thinks that's really weird. He is now calling our son "DS" out loud while chuckling to himself. What a brat lol.

I'd like to remove the "D" from DH today! He's being a brat, too!

ErikaB123 · September 2015

So what I'm thinking now after reading all the comments is that I want the rnp for day use, but maybe not for sleeping overnight in. I may just get brave enough to try out the bassinet tonight and see how it goes. He gets really squirmy when put on flat surfaces and doesn't really like being swaddled. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

J&D2007 · September 2015

I didn't get a rock n play. LO sleeps flat on his back for every nap and nighttime. I think it's most recommended for sleeping. If there is a reflux issue, they say to put something under one end of the crib to elevate it a few inches. I say the sooner you can get them sleeping on a flat surface, the better.

JaclynnFisher · September 2015

The RNP isn't even a thing here in Canada so I vote no. How do all the Canadian babies sleep!?

We had DS #2 and #3 sleeping in the bassinet part of the same pack n play you have for a couple of months no issues. I prefer to put them on a flat surface because it's 1) what's recommended and 2) they can't sleep in some sort of contraption forever - at some point they will need a crib or a bed, which is flat.

Lalala2326 · September 2015

I used a rock n play for my older daughter because she had bad reflux. It was a pain transitioning her out of it when it was time (which was only at 4 or 5 months cause she was trying to sit up in it and it was no longer safe). For this baby who does not have bad reflux we don't use it at all during the day. I want her sleeping on mostly flat surfaces as much as possible. It is better for her development - learning to roll is a good thing, they are supposed to do that, it is safer, and will be an easier transition. I do use the swing when I absolutely can't get her to sleep on the bassinet part of the pack n play, and we have the mattress (bought one separate) for the pack n play set at a slight incline using folded blankets underneath to help with minor reflux. We also have a bouncer with a vibration feature that she will sit in once in a while when awake contentedly. At night she sleeps in the bassinet for the first part of the night (also at slight incline using blankets under mattress), and if she is having a hard time going back down after a later MOTN feeding, then I will put her in the rock n play for the last part of the night. That is the only time we use it. My hope is that she will be sleeping well enough by the time she outgrows it that she doesn't need to be put in it the last part of the night. I absolutely do not want to go through that transition phase again...

heath3er · September 2015

We love our rock n play! I say buy it! It's worth the money. Target has them the cheapest I think. I have the snug puppy one. Levi sleeps in it every night

My son also rolled over and it's safest for him, we can't use our pack n play like we planned on.

mgarrett921 · September 2015

It's a necessity here. We planned to use the bassinet portion of a pack n play but our little one is an overachiever and at 3 days old would roll from back to her side and wiggle herself around enough to make it from one end to the other in a matter of minutes. And while on her side, had her arms in her face. She would not sleep on her back. It made me a nervous wreck and I couldn't sleep. Not good. We tried the rock n play the next night and she's been in it ever since. I don't care what "they" recommend. It has to work for you. Years ago "they" recommended bumpers, now bumpers are out. At one time tummy sleeping was the norm, now it's back. Just do what works for you. Our little one is also a little gassy and gets hiccups a lot if laying flat. She's much happier in the Rock n Play.

mlindon · September 2015

My LO would not sleep in the pack n play and would only sleep in the rock n play.

907_baby · September 2015

I never had one for DS, and won't be getting one for DD. I had actually never heard of them until someone on TB mentioned it a few months back. Definitely not a "necessity"; however, depending on your baby it may be a "nicety".

Also, I agree with PP that babies should sleep flat on their backs where possible.

dkizz82 · September 2015

I love my rock n play. She sleeps in it every night!

KristinaD217 · September 2015

So I have a bassinet and a rock n play, personally, I'd rather just have the rock n play because when I put her down in it and not the bassinet, she won't sleep. Which will make it hard to transition her later.

deviduke412 · September 2015

I personally think a rnp is unnecessary unless your lo has reflux. I know the incline is good for that. My son has been sleeping in his crib since the first week and he squirms a lot and sleeps on his side. Once I went to get him and he rolled into his belly. The thing he's sleeping in now, I wouldn't worry about his legs being scrunched up a bit as pp said. Babies still stay in that balled up position a lot anyways. The bassinet would be fine too. Our lo slept in his the first 2 nights Bc I was too sore to move in the middle of the night.

BrittanyG615 · September 2015

Our RnP is invaluable. I tried to put LO in the bassinet and didn't get a wink of sleep. She kept rolling to the side, and it sits so high that I couldn't easily see in there. I have her sleeping in the RnP until she's a little older. To me, nighttime is no different than day time. Lol Naps being broken up with feedings and changing.

PixelPosy · September 2015

I love our RnP, my first slept soundly in it and this one is doing the same. That said, it is not the only place they sleep. Typically I let them have the longest stretch in the RnP at night for my sanity. It's right by my side of the bed, doesn't take up a lot of room and is easy to move out of the way.

With DD1 we only used it until about 10 weeks for night sleep. That's when we moved her out of our room and into her own room and crib to prepare for my return to work. The transition was easy for her, harder on me. I'd been letting her nap everywhere but the RnP for some time, so she was used to flat surface sleeping.

The RnP also caused a bit of a flat head issue for DD1. We didn't need the helmet, just extra tummy time to correct, but it's something to be aware of, especially if you are blessed with a baby that sleeps through the night and is doing so in the RnP. I have a Boppy Noggin Nest in it this time to hopefully help with that.

ErikaB123 · September 2015

Ah! So many different opinions! Last night we put our little guy in the bassinet of our pnp and he squirmed a lot...kicking his feet and moving his arms. He doesn't like to be swaddled, so that option is out. For his first night on a flat surface, he didn't do that bad though. I may have gotten a combined total of 3 hours of sleep. It's terribly hot in southern CA right now so I think that is contributing to his overall mood and sleep. We are also going to be 3 weeks old tomorrow, the notorious growing time. Thanks for everyone's opinions, I may just let the hubby win this one if we can get our boy to sleep in the bassinet after all! Wish me luck!

mrsb30 · September 2015

The bassinet portion of our pack n play made me nervous too! It just seemed so wobbly! I even tried just raising the pack n play so it was at the infant level, but the surface wasn't flat, it curved in towards the middle and that made me nervous too. This was all on the first night home. Our pack n play was used so maybe that's why. Thankfully a family member then gifted is an arms reach cosleeper, I love it! The first few weeks I ended up sleeping with LO in the crook of my arm in bed. Mostly because I woke up at every little sound even if she wasn't crying and I couldn't sleep. Now at 5 weeks old she is mostly sleeping 3-4 hour stretches in the bassinet as long as she is swaddled. All that to say I understand your bassinet concerns. Also I say get whatever gives you peAce of mind!

jennl28 · September 2015

Baby slept in a small crib at the hospital for three nights. And then in the cot (laying flat) part of his buggy for 2 nights and then we moved him into his crib. No problems. I tuck him in well and he generally stays in the bottom third of the crib. Also during the day he sleeps in a wooden play pen in the living room which is also flat. No problems. Seems to be doing fine. And I didn't feel the need to buy anything extra for him to sleep in

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