Portable baby sleepers

AandDM2014 · April 2016

Hey ladies! I'm hoping to get opinions from not FTMs (or FTMs who have experience with this, of which I am not one).

I'm looking at registry items already (I know, I shouldn't, but I'm such a planner, I can't help it) and am trying to figure out the best solution for the first few months of sleeping. I know I want to have baby in my bedroom (as babies room is 3 floors above my bedroom), and that I want to use a pack 'n play type thing with an infant napper.

I need to know this: anyone have experience with Summer Infant grow with me play yard versus Graco Pack 'N Play playard? I have never heard of Summer Infant, but I do know of (and used for niece/nephew) Graco. Anyone used one or both of them?

Thanks!!!

shevaCC · April 2016

I haven't used either, but those newborn nappers are really quickly outgrown. I have a rock-n-play that I used with both kids that I'll be using again when I'm not bed sharing. The RNPs have been very popular with lots of moms on both of my previous BMBs.

een23 · April 2016

I second the rock-n-play. I loved it. It's really light and portable for moving around the house during the day and back into the bedroom at night. It folds flat which is great for traveling. I also had no trouble transitioning DD from the RNP to the crib mattress. I'll definitely be using it again this time.

comealongponds · April 2016

Newborn nappers aren't ideal because they're a. Really small and only last for a bit and b. Are positioned at an angle, which is not recommended for babies. They should be slept flat on their backs on a firm surface, angles like car seats, newborn nappers and rock n' plays increase the of SIDS because giant floppy newborn heads cut off their own airways easily and that angle can make it worse.

PSA: this is why babies should never nap in car seats or rock n' plays...not worth the risk IMO (feel free to disagree).

That said, I'm pretty sure most pack n' plays come with a full size bassinet, which is where I plan on sleeping my babes for the first few months!

jarethinafrock · April 2016

We used a little Moses basket and a rock'n play. I recommend both!

AandDM2014 · April 2016

So I actually have two bassinets to choose from. I'm thinking of something more long term, that I can taking camping and to grandmas house. Baby won't sleep in our bedroom for long, just until s/he can sleep through, or mostly through the night without needed a feeding. It seems then like I could just use a pack n play where the bottom mat can be brought up so I don't have to reach so far down. I also like the added benefit of the changing pad part, as we won't have a changing table in our bedroom.

hellopartyof5 · April 2016

The thing about babies sleeping flat is that they hate it and refuse to do so, unless you have a unicorn baby. Or maybe mine was just a big PITA. Either way, we tried the graco pack and play with the sleeper and ended up using the rock and play with much better results.

TwandaFTG · April 2016

Rock n play!!! My kid slept in it for the first four months of his life. It was easy to travel with as well. I have the pnp for travel once he outgrew the rnp and he has always slept well in it.

Thewizardofrhythm · April 2016

Pack n play. We still use it for all out of the house over nights for our 18 month old

MrsDho11 · April 2016

My sister used the rock and play for about three months. I think my sister-in-law did as well for both of hers.

muybueno · April 2016

AandDM2014 said:

So I actually have two bassinets to choose from. I'm thinking of something more long term, that I can taking camping and to grandmas house. Baby won't sleep in our bedroom for long, just until s/he can sleep through, or mostly through the night without needed a feeding. It seems then like I could just use a pack n play where the bottom mat can be brought up so I don't have to reach so far down. I also like the added benefit of the changing pad part, as we won't have a changing table in our bedroom.

So, just for the first year?

Another vote for a RNP then transitioning to a full sized crib. But- and I can't stress this enough- you won't know how your baby sleeps best until they actually arrive and you try out different things. I always try to avoid buying a whole bunch of gear before the actual child gets here. In America (unlike some of the places I've had babies), Target is 10 min away and Amazon is 2 hrs away, so you don't have to stock up in advance. The amount of baby gear that my LO's ultimately rejected...it's appalling.

Your best bet is to try to borrow some different sleeper options (RNP, PNP, etc) if you have any friends or relatives with babies. If not, consider how long the babe will actually be using the product before spending money on it (or registering for it).

Greencows4812 · April 2016

We used a rock n play for our second and it was amazing! It helped with reflux and it rocked so he could be soothed if he woke up after he was fed and transitioned back into it. I bought ours used from Once Upon a Child because I'm cheap but it was one of the best things we bought.

Katemr1146 · April 2016

My kid hated the rock n play and slept flat in the pack n play bassinet part while he was still in our room. I'm considering buying one of those dock-a-tots for 2.0 to put either in the bed with be (bye bye hubby) or in the pack in play.

Kermie53 · April 2016

We had this Graco PnP, with the newborn napper and changing table. We had it in our room for a few months...can't really remember how long. I really liked it for when they are little, mostly because the changing table is right there. Even though they don't use the napper long, it's still just a regular PnP so you might as well get the napper too! I also especially liked this model because it had all the storage underneath. Great for diapers and such.

We also had a RnP but she never slept overnight in it.

https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Playard-Jacqueline-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B005UV0UUE?ie=UTF8&colid=Z85ZQVFB5O2L&coliid=I3P98IZ4CBVXKL&redirect=true&ref_=br_it_dp_o_nS_ttl

AandDM2014 · April 2016

Thanks for all the great answers ladies! I'm thinking I'm gonna have to do a bit more research on it, and see if I have any friends with older babies who I can borrow from. I totally didn't even think of that!

BmcD2016 · April 2016

With my second we used a pack n play, pulled it up next to the bed and we all slept happily ever after. We didn't have rock n plays when I had my last baby 10 years ago, so no clue on that. I did feel like the fact that I could use the pack n play for several years made it that much more worth its investment.

talkthewholetime · April 2016

Rock N play is amazing for newborn/little baby sleep. You'll probably need a pack an play at some point anyway - if not for sleeping, then for general baby containment (like so you can shower) or taking with you if you go on vacation.

mrsmoose5 · April 2016

We have the Graco PnP with the napper and changer and we love it for traveling, but I never had DS nap in it when he was little. We had a regular bassinet in our room (basically a mini crib) for the first 3 months, then moved him to his actual crib. I think a PnP is a good long term solution because you will use it for years whenever you travel with baby.

For people who love the Rock 'N Play — did you have trouble transitioning your LO to a crib after he/she got used to sleeping in the RnP? I feel like I've heard so many horror stories about babies not wanting to sleep in their cribs after using a RnP.

DunkinDecaf · April 2016

We have a rock n play and a sidecar sleeper. Both were incredible. DD needed the RNP for a while because she had wicked bad reflux and she'd have crazy spitup attacks that prevented her from breathing and were mostly silent (read- won't wake me up so I can help her) for the first 10-15 seconds or so. The angle of the RNP mostly eliminated these, which was so wonderful.

whaat · April 2016

I'm thinking about a pack n play (or something similar) instead of a crib, and I'm glad to hear that people have had good experiences with it. We will prob have to bring something to visit family as well as something for baby to sleep in at home, and we're trying to be both thrifty and green. I think this is a great solution for both.

lilwonder · April 2016

I don't have experience with any of these yet, so I'm following the thread closely for advice!

I've been planning on purchasing and using the Halo Bassinest and a Pack n Play or the Nuna Sena. I know the Bassinest use will be pretty short term, but I LOVE the idea of it being practically right in bed with us, and the travel crib/cots I know we'll use on vacations or at grandparents houses long-term.

Thewizardofrhythm · April 2016

whaat said:

I'm thinking about a pack n play (or something similar) instead of a crib, and I'm glad to hear that people have had good experiences with it. We will prob have to bring something to visit family as well as something for baby to sleep in at home, and we're trying to be both thrifty and green. I think this is a great solution for both.

If you are considering this, I would get a different mattress. The pack and play mattress is very thin and not great for babe to sleep on every night as the grow. My sister did this.

Katemr1146 · April 2016

Thewizardofrhythm said:

whaat said:

I'm thinking about a pack n play (or something similar) instead of a crib, and I'm glad to hear that people have had good experiences with it. We will prob have to bring something to visit family as well as something for baby to sleep in at home, and we're trying to be both thrifty and green. I think this is a great solution for both.

If you are considering this, I would get a different mattress. The pack and play mattress is very thin and not great for babe to sleep on every night as the grow. My sister did this.

Yeah, the two inch mattresses are so much nicer. Otherwise baby is basically sleeping on cardboard IMO.

atcwag · April 2016

mrsmoose5 said:

We have the Graco PnP with the napper and changer and we love it for traveling, but I never had DS nap in it when he was little. We had a regular bassinet in our room (basically a mini crib) for the first 3 months, then moved him to his actual crib. I think a PnP is a good long term solution because you will use it for years whenever you travel with baby.

For people who love the Rock 'N Play — did you have trouble transitioning your LO to a crib after he/she got used to sleeping in the RnP? I feel like I've heard so many horror stories about babies not wanting to sleep in their cribs after using a RnP.

Nope. DS slept for a very long time in the RnP, then in the bassinet portion of the PnP, then crib. No issues, but we didn't force it either.

whaat · April 2016

Katemr1146 said:

Thewizardofrhythm said:

whaat said:

I'm thinking about a pack n play (or something similar) instead of a crib, and I'm glad to hear that people have had good experiences with it. We will prob have to bring something to visit family as well as something for baby to sleep in at home, and we're trying to be both thrifty and green. I think this is a great solution for both.

If you are considering this, I would get a different mattress. The pack and play mattress is very thin and not great for babe to sleep on every night as the grow. My sister did this.

Yeah, the two inch mattresses are so much nicer. Otherwise baby is basically sleeping on cardboard IMO.

This is what I hear. Will do. Anyone who has done this- specific mattress suggestions?

Katemr1146 · April 2016

whaat said:
This is what I hear. Will do. Anyone who has done this- specific mattress suggestions?

I just looked at my previous Amazon orders and this is the one we bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004JU0H6O/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Katemr1146 · April 2016

I would read the Amazon reviews thoroughly though before buying one to make sure the one you pick will fit your specific play yard. We have a Graco (don't know which model) and this one fit ours. You don't want any sort of gaps on the side that baby could roll into.

muybueno · April 2016

whaat said:

I'm thinking about a pack n play (or something similar) instead of a crib, and I'm glad to hear that people have had good experiences with it. We will prob have to bring something to visit family as well as something for baby to sleep in at home, and we're trying to be both thrifty and green. I think this is a great solution for both.

We lived in East Africa until our first son was 19 months. We brought over a PNP from the States because it was a lot more practical than getting a crib made there. He transitioned straight to a toddler bed from the PNP when we moved back to the States, so he never actually slept in a crib. It worked great. I especially liked that I didn't have to worry about the whole bumper pad debate and I liked how easy it was to change his sheets (changing the sheets on a regular crib is heinous work). We also used a padded mattress from Amazon in the PNP.

The one big downside is how low to the ground the baby is. This mostly matters when you are trying to transfer them into their crib without waking them up. It's harder to accomplish in a PNP. Also, if you have a kid that likes to be patted to sleep (we did this in the MOTN when night weaning), it's hard to stand over a PNP, reach in and pat them- you can't really sit down or lean on the side. Think back cramps.

There's a bunch of little, practical stuff you don't think about when browsing the local Babies R Us. I guess it goes back to my earlier point that you don't know quite what will work until you try it out. Borrow instead of buy, when possible.

Hedgessm · April 2016

We loved our rock and play. Loved it. The vibrating feature was super nice when he was first born. This time around were going for arms reach sleeper.

aquasocks · April 2016

I'm in the "lie flat to sleep" camp and we bought a stroller with bassinet, and a rocking stand. So she slept in the bassinet in the stand at night next to our bed, but I also used it for walks in the stroller everyday, or I could bring it to my moms for her to nap it. So even though it only lasted 4? months, we got a ton of use out of it. Just food for thought!

Jmccabe12210 · April 2016

We had a pack and play with the infant sleeper on top and a rock and play. Baby hated the pack and play. We spent so much money on that thing and never used it. He loved the Rock and play and he had reflux so the small incline helped. Every baby is different though and it's really trial and error with everything!

rencontrezmoi · April 2016

Rock n play 100%. That thing was a lifesaver! We started with the pack n play, and DD absolutely hated it. I'm not sure if it was that she didn't like being on her back or what, but she wouldn't sleep at all. After a few nights of no sleep with a screaming baby, we ordered the rock n play. Best decision ever. Thankfully, we didn't have any trouble transitioning her to the crib, which we did when she was 4 months old.

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