Does anyone know anything about mini cribs or portable cribs?

Starlight32 · March 2016

We are thinking about using one for our room for the first few months. What's the difference? Do they have safe mattress options? Have you ever used one?

vulpini · March 2016

We used a Graco Pack-n-Play in our room for the first 4 months and then for travel for two years. That would be a portable crib/play yard, since it all folds down very compactly for travel. A mini crib would be a wooden crib that looks like a regular one but is about the size of a pack-n-Play. Some of them fold, but they aren't as "portable". I think those are less common. Most companies make some version of a Pack-n-Play type product. They are almost all the same size, but I've heard of a couple exceptions, so check dimensions when buying sheets and mattresses.

The Pack-n-Play style ones usually come with a hanging upper level that you can use for a newborn so you don't have to bend over so far and then you remove when the baby is a little bigger and they just sleep on the bottom. Some also come with a "napper" attachment that looks like a little baby seat and goes on the top. Those aren't really recommended for night time sleep though, since they aren't a flat surface. The "mattress" they come with is a thin and kinda hard pad made up of four sections so it folds up for travel. You can buy a separate more comfortable proper mattress online - they come in different thicknesses depending on if you still want it to be somewhat portable and they specify dimensions so you can make sure it will fit. It just needs to be firm and fit snugly so there aren't gaps between it and the walls of the play yard. You can also just add a thin blanket under the fitted sheet and on top of the folding "mattress" the Pack-n-Play comes with to make it a little bit softer. They take smaller fitted sheets than a crib mattress - they are labeled "play yard" sheets and every store with a baby section sells them.

alohasoprano · March 2016

We're buying the Chicco lullago portable bassinet for this baby. We used a regular bassinet with our first and it was on wheels so it was easy to move from room to room. Now we live in a two story and need something that will be easy to move downstairs in the morning, at least for the first month or so. The lullago has good reviews and a good price. I also like that it's smaller than a pack-n-play, so it won't take up a ton of room.

ahernandez16 · March 2016

We live in a one bedroom apartment right now and were looking at mini cribs but then we got a pack n play gifted to us and decided to forgo the mini crib and just use the pack n play until we get a bigger place and can buy baby a regular crib that converts into a toddler bed or something.

I didn't see a point in having both the pack n play and a mini crib. They have mattresses and sheets for both so I think it's really just a matter of preference.

lm45678 · March 2016

FTM here but I would recommend a PnP over a mini crib. At least a PnP you can fold up and travel with as well, so it seems more versatile IMO.

TunieBee · March 2016

I use a mini crib for my almost 2 year old. I plan on having him in it until we transition to a toddler bed.

HighFive16 · March 2016

I was back and forth about this too. But decided to do like we did with dd and do RocknPlay for as long as we can and then on to the pack n play. We did buy a separate mattress for the PNP that time and it worked a treat. I wouldn't bother wasting my money on a mini crib just yet until you really need it.

Cwg22 · March 2016

My dd napped in a mini crib when she first started daycare and we have rented them on vacations. It is just what it sounds like - smaller version of a regular crib. The mattresses are a little thinner than standard but I think completely fine. The only limitation would be your child growing out of it in my opinion but that wouldn't happen too quickly.

bedinabelinda · March 2016

This is my biggest question too. Pack n plays all have those "napper" attachments. Are those not okay for babies to spend the night in? I've never seen anything else for babies to sleep on in those, except the regular bottom, of course.

I live in a small apartment so want to be smart about what I get. I was considering one of those side sleepers, like a Nest or something,

PBear93 · March 2016

@bedinabelinda, pack and plays have a bassinet level where the bottom is suspended towards the top for when baby is little. It is separate from the napper attachments and is standard on all pack n plays.

vulpini · March 2016

bedinabelinda said:

This is my biggest question too. Pack n plays all have those "napper" attachments. Are those not okay for babies to spend the night in? I've never seen anything else for babies to sleep on in those, except the regular bottom, of course.

I live in a small apartment so want to be smart about what I get. I was considering one of those side sleepers, like a Nest or something,

The napper is a little baby seat attachment. They are not good for night sleep because they are not a flat surface and there is more risk of suffocation. Our doctor OKed it when DS first came home from the NICU because he had reflux and was very tiny, but she told us to only use it the first month. There is an upper level to the PNP that is flat that is great for newborns until they can sit up.

alcermack · March 2016

My husband and I live in a two story so we are getting a formal crib for the babies room and have the pack n play setup downstairs all the time for day time use. We received a bassinet for Xmas that we will be using in our room for the first month or two.

Starlight32 · March 2016

Thanks all. I think we are going to get a mini crib for our room even though we are getting a regular crib for her room.

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Does anyone know anything about mini cribs or portable cribs?

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