Sleeping in a rock n play?

VolGirl07 · September 2016

Can I let my baby sleep in a rock n play or a mama roo type swing? I have a friend with a newborn and they use the rock n play for his go to bed every night pulled up next to their own bed. I've heard others say the mama roo is a godsend for babies that can't seem to get settled and that they let their kids sleep here for extended periods as well. Others say only flat surfaces like a bassinet or crib. What's the consensus of you other moms out there who have been there, done that?

erniebernie1 · September 2016

Mine slept in a rock n play until 3 months old, I confirmed with my pediatrician that it was okay. Having said that, this time I am really going to just try to start with the crib, one less transition to make later on

hellopartyof5 · September 2016

I try to get them in a flat surface from early on like a bassinet or something like that. If it doesn't work I have my rock and play on standby.

Leash14a · September 2016

My cousin let her kid sleep in a rock n play and the baby almost had to get a helmet thing because it had a flat spot on its head. So I would be careful. My cousin is an idiot and probably left the baby in the rock n play day and night. So it's probably fine if you have the baby on a different surface during the day.

rspalding001 · September 2016

All the "experts" will tell you to never let your baby sleep anywhere except a flat surface with no blankets or bumpers or stuffed animals etc to prevent against SIDS. That being said in the beginning you are in survival mode and if the Rock and play is the only way to get some sleep I'd say go for it. You will become a quick expert of your babies habits and have a pretty good idea of what is safe for you. Eventually you will need to transition out of the rock and play however so keep that in mind. Transitioning earlier in my opinion is easier than waiting until later because they haven't become so accustomed to it. As for the flat spot on the head, most babies will develop a mild version of this because of the instance on having babies sleep on their back to prevent SIDS. In most cases it goes away on its own as the baby gets older. Your Pediatrician will monitor it and let you know if they think it's a problem.

Muscatmommyof4 · September 2016

Where ever your baby sleeps is fine my older 2 slept in their swing a lot and they are both fine. They say a flat surface on there back is best but my oldest almost chocked when he was a month old on his spit up thankfully I was right next to his bassinet to see him but after that slept on his stomach, the car seat or his swing.

hollowway · September 2016

Baby will be in my bed, just like his sister was for the first year. Makes nursing at night easier. Just pop a boob in LO's mouth and you both drift off to sleep.

MollySm · September 2016

I prefer a flat bed, just to keep transitions to a minimum. Unless baby has a hard time sleeping laying down in a bed, there's no reason to start a habit early on that you then have to help them break.

We also put baby down drowsy but awake starting pretty early on. Of course there's cuddling to sleep in my arms for a newborn, but within a couple weeks we start drowsy but awake going to sleep at least once a day so they are used to it. Usually at night with baby in the cosleeper and H and I sitting in bed next to her talking and reading.

ZoeFer · September 2016

This might be a stupid question but i ll ask

we have a rock n play sleeper and an arms reach cosleeper. My idea was to use RnP most of the day sleeps so baby can sleep in the living room while we are around and getting her night sleeps in the cosleeper. When you all talk about transitioning, it made me wonder whether sleeping at two different arrangements could confuse her ?

monkey41 · September 2016

@ZoeFer good question! I was thinking of doing the same thing (although I may setup another pack-n-play for day time naps also), so hopefully someone has an answer!

rspalding001 · September 2016

@ZoeFer in my experience day time naps are much shorter in duration than sleeping at night, so we had no problem having DD nap on a different surface than she slept on at night. During the day we would rotate between naps in the swing, to on the couch, in her crib, on a bean bag, in my bed etc. (in no particular order, just whatever worked for me at the moment). At night we tried to always keep her in the crib for consistency. In the very beginning she slept in a bassinet in my room but by 8 weeks we had moved her into her own room with a monitor.

rencontrezmoi · September 2016

We tried DD in the pack n play for the first week, and it was horrendous. She was literally up every hour. I caved and bought a rock n play, which was the best decision ever! She immediately started sleeping 4 hour stretches instead of 1. She slept there until she was 4 months, and then transitioned her to the crib. I plan to do the same thing this time.

MrsBigTime · September 2016

ZoeFer said:

This might be a stupid question but i ll ask we have a rock n play sleeper and an arms reach cosleeper. My idea was to use RnP most of the day sleeps so baby can sleep in the living room while we are around and getting her night sleeps in the cosleeper. When you all talk about transitioning, it made me wonder whether sleeping at two different arrangements could confuse her ?

This is what we're planning to do for the most part as well. With DD1 most of her naps were on me because I needed/wanted to hold her every second of the day and I ached for her if I put her down. I know that won't be feasible with two, so having a small, portable place to put her during the day is my plan (we'all also have a swing) and since I ruined my older one from sleeping at night, I'm going to try to use the co-sleeper at night with a plan to put her down drowsy but awake at a few weeks old (5-6 weeks?).

Fullhandsfullheart · September 2016

We used the rock n play at bedtime
for the first 3 months and I'm convinced it's the reason both of my kids started sleeping through the night so early (at 3 weeks old and 6 weeks old). It just seems so cozy and the upright position helps with reflux after eating. I watched carefully and the moment they showed signs of starting to roll, I moved them out to a flat surface. I also started doing naps in their flat crib before transitioning them so it wasn't such a big change so I really didn't have an issue going from the rock n play at night to the crib. I also used the noggin nest (it's a pillow thing with a hole in the middle) during the day when they were laying on their playmat or in their swing to help prevent a flat spot because my first did get a little flat (possibly from the rock n play? I'm not sure) but it fixed itself once he started sitting up more often and the use of the noggin nest helped. I used the noggin nest right from the start with my daughter and she never got any flat spot despite sleeping for long periods of time in the rock n play. I consider the rock n play one of our top 3 baby items we've owned so I always recommend it!

kgrisham18 · September 2016

My first slept in the RNP for the first 3 months and transitioned easily to the crib after that. She also hated the Mamaroo so that was never an option for nighttime sleep.

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