Product Spotlight - Sleep/Nap Solutions - Cribs/Bassinets/Swings/etc

nmbrcrnchr1 · December 2018

I don’t think we’ve had a thread dedicated to this (if we have my search skills are lacking - sorry).
FTMs - feel free to ask questions about anything sleep related for LO
STMs - please add what worked for you, what didn’t, etc.

*Please note: co-sleeping may be mentioned, please no judgement for those who do or don’t, and if that’s something you are interested in please please please read how to safely co-sleep*

nmbrcrnchr1 · December 2018

I started this selfishly 🤪 I’m looking for a bassinet type sleep solution for when baby is young and sleeping in our room. Currently I’m thinking about an Arms Reach Co-Sleeper but open to anything else people have used? I’d prefer something smaller than a pack n play, don’t want the Halo (has many bad reviews from friends), and would prefer it to be on wheels that can lock.

For DD, we used anything and everything to try and get that child to sleep! Pack n play with extra mattress, rock n play, fisher price snugapuppy swing, and co-sleeping.

pbtoast · December 2018

We had the Halo bassinet for my son and like your friends, we didn’t love it. We are planning on getting the Baby Bjorn cradle this time around! I like that I can carry it from room to room for naps then I’ll have him sleep in it beside my bed until we transition to the crib.

marijaa333 · December 2018

We used the Arms Reach which i borrowed from a friend. I also used the Uppababy bassinet set on a sturdy surface (you can also buy the stand for it, though it's pricey). Not sure what we'll do this time.

ki1244 · December 2018

I've inherited both a small-ish pack and play and a Fisher Price bassinet that plays music or white noise, has a nightlight, and vibrates. There literally isn't space in our bedroom for a full crib, unless I move all my clothes and Baby sleeps in the closet, so one of those better work for the co-rooming days. I know the medical recommendation is to co-room for a year, but I don't know how to do that without moving, or having us all sleep in the living room (old house = tiny bedrooms) soooo once Baby outgrows the bassinet thing and/or pack n play, they may be headed to the nursery anyway.

Been eyeballing some convertible cribs... anyone use those and actually transition them as the kid grows up? Or is that just kind of superfluous?

pbtoast · December 2018

@ki1244 For us, co-rooming for a year was just not feasible for so many reasons. I only lasted about 3 months before I needed some peace and quiet from the all night grunting, farting, snoring, etc. We just all needed our sleep. So for us, a bassinet worked fine for that period of time. Re: convertible cribs- we are in the process of turning my son’s into a full-size bed as we speak. We purposely didn’t buy super baby-ish furniture so it will last. It’s Dolce Babi brand and really nice. So I guess it depends if you want nursery furniture or if you’re buying furniture you’d like for years to come.

Dcwtada · December 2018

For my last baby we used this pack n play, it has 3 stages/levels and the little guy used it until 14/15 months. It is smaller than a regular PNP which I liked since it was next to the bed. I stored some extra sheets, the bag it packs into, and misc. in the bottom when he was in the earlier stages. It was very sturdy and an easy travel system if we took him camping or the couple times we had family watch him overnight. I liked it more than the bassinet we used for the other two.

we got it for cheaper than that price, we just watched it and got it when it went on sale - I want to say with the amazon registry coupon it was around $50.

@kiki1244 my daughter has a convertible crib that is now a full sleigh bed. She can probably use that bed till college lol. It is even cuter now than when it was a crib.

dntstpbelieveing · December 2018

We lasted co-rooming for about 2-3 nights with DS. Then he went into a rnp in his room till about 3 months then he went into his crib. This time my hope is to go straight to a crib in the nursery but I'd be fine with rnp again if needed for the angle. DS was super loud while sleeping. And nobone wants you that newborns don't have a regular breathing pattern so I was up all night listening to him and freaking out. His crib in his nursery shares a wall with our bedroom so we were still very close.

We bought a convertible crib when DS was born. Mostly because it was on sale. When we promoted him to a bed we did not use it because I didn't want to buy another crib. So this baby will be in it as well. I doubt that we will ever turn the convertible into a bed. Mostly because we built day a big boy bed and will have to do the same for this LO and because we are extremely tall people and foot boards are not feasible. We need our foot to hang off.

nmbrcrnchr1 · December 2018

@Dcwtada oh I like that! The reason I don’t want to use the pack n play is bc it’s so big and seemed to be in the way. Thanks! Even at that price it’s half the price of the co-sleeper.
@ki1244 we co-roomed for about 6 months, when I quit nursing, and then we somewhat transitioned to her crib. Her nursery is right next to our bedroom so I didn’t have to go far. I would think the pack n play or bassinet should work for in your room!

marijaa333 · December 2018

I just found out that the Lotus Everywhere crib can now be turned into a bassinet with a conversion kit from the company. I'm seriously tempted. We've had the Lotus since DS was 6 months and have really liked it. No wheels, but it's lightweight/easy to transport. https://www.guavafamily.com/products/lotus-bassinet-conversion-kit

luckystar28 · December 2018

I think we are sticking with the crib and rock n play combination and seeing what happens

We used the halo last time around. Not a fan

ShadeofGreen816 · December 2018

I had the Halo for DD. It was fine - we will use it again, but I'm not certain I'd spend the money if I had to buy it new. We were also DockaTot users and I loved that thing. I have mixed feelings about using it again, because it was a B*** to get her out of. She lasted about 3-4 months in our room before I moved her to the nursery

I just want to say, and I've been this person already before. But, I think it's important that FTMs (and STM+s) to know that the recommendation by a HUGE group of pediatricians is FLAT on baby's back in a crib or bassinet, alone with no blankets, animals, crib bumpers, etc. I'm the first to say that with the DockATot, we bent this. But, by this rule, rock'n'plays, swings, etc are not safe sleep surfaces. The really little babies are at risk for positional asphyxiation. Basically their chin tucks to their chest, and since their trachea is so flimsy and fragile,and their necks aren't strong enough to reposition well, it can pinch off like a straw. I personally know that some babies just DON'T want to sleep flat on their backs and so I know that most, if not all, parents stray from the recommendations (I did). But I would hate for anyone here to be that tiny statistic and said "I wish I'd known." All of parenting is taking calculated risks, so it's just good to know the info. If the box doesn't say "crib" or "bassinet," then it's not technically a safe sleep surface. I got told so many times before I learned this that the RNP is a safe surface for sleep, and I know people genuinely believe it. Even with reflux, there is only a tiny percentage of babies that TRULY need to be inclined, and most of those babies come home from the NICU on an O2 monitor. Anyway, that's my soapbox. I'm glad to answer any questions And again this is NOT a judgement on anyone that has used or plans to use these items.

nmbrcrnchr1 · December 2018

@ShadeofGreen816 glad you got your soapbox out 😁...seriously, that’s a very good point and a great reminder even to myself as a STM! Right behind getting a healthy baby I’m hoping and praying for one that sleeps, on a flat surface, for a few hours at a time 🙏🏻

Dcwtada · December 2018

One other word of caution from personal experience is blankets. When my youngest was 10 months old I had rocked him to sleep and put him down in a blanket even though the recommendation is after a year. He was almost there, I had done it a couple times prior and waking him up to put him in his sleep sack seemed wrong. He went to sleep fine. About 10 minutes in he started crying but I was dealing with the other kids, I was going to check on him when I got a second. He seemed to cry less and less so I assumed he was going to sleep.

i went in to finally check on him probably 15 minutes later. He had crocodile rolled and the blanket was wrapped tight around his face and neck, and this was a breathable baby blanket. I took me a second to unwrap him and he was sweating, red-faced and gasping terribly. I almost lost him.

No blankets.

ShadeofGreen816 · December 2018

@Dcwtada how terrifying! My family still gives me grief that my 19 month old DD sleeps without blankets or a pillow. She has a sleep sack on and I ensure she’s warm enough. And she sleeps with a couple different lovey-type stuffed animals. But I’m just not ready for the blanket yet!

antera23 · December 2018

@ShadeofGreen816. Thank you for saying that. I’ve been holding back because I don’t want to sound preachy, especially as a FTM. You said it perfectly! I’m a home visitor and I educate parents about safe sleeping practices all the time. It’s one of my things.

My best friend was in the hospital with her newborn baby. She swaddled him and put him in the bassinet so they could both sleep. When she woke up he had wiggled so much that he was upside down in the corner of his bassinet with his face pressed into the side. She learned she couldn’t swaddle him. Her daughter had never done that so she didn’t think anything of doing what she had done before. He was barely a day old.

How terrifying. Thank you for sharing your story @Dcwtada

canuckbaby · December 2018

We decided to do a convertible crib. We scored a sale on boxing day and decided to go back today for matching dresser. We were told they were discontinuing this exact color and were told to blow out the rest of their dresser inventory with a crib... they just put them on sale together as of yesterday and were kind enough to match the new deal even though we were technically a final sale. We dont plan on having more kids - one and done is our motto ... so we decided it made more sense to buy set.

Our nursery is across hall from our bedroom in our bungalow. It currently has a queen bed in it. I think we will co room in there and eventually dismantle bed to take it downstairs vs co rooming in our room. We arent bothering with an actual bassinet but did get a travel one for when we are at family

nmbrcrnchr1 · December 2018

@Dcwtada oh no, that’s awful, glad you were there to help him. That’s one reason I’m so glad to have a June baby vs a January baby, I didn’t use blankets with my DD until she was close to 2 but I always thought “what if she’s not sleeping well bc she’s cold?” That wasn’t the case, she just hated sleeping alone 🤣

marijaa333 · December 2018

My 3.5 year old is still in a (now giant) sleep sack (because he loves them but also because of inertia)... He did sleep on an incline due to bad reflx, but it was a tower rolled up under the crib mattress per the pediatrician's recommendation.

meatballs37 · December 2018

We plan on getting the arms reach bassinet this time. And if we are desperate and baby isn't a good sleeper, the dock a tot will go in it.

With DD we had her sleeping in her dock a tot in the crib by 8ish weeks. She was such a noisy sleeper, we weren't getting any sleep until we moved her.

I am hoping this time will be different. But I am realistically prepping myself for a few different scenarios.

gta4334 · December 2018

Thanks so much for this post.
I'm currently in limbo about what to do re: Sleeping for baby #2.

We live in a 1 bedroom apartment and had son in our room in crib from day 1 through until past 1st birthday. We eventually moved our bed out to the living room creating a "flex" 2 bedroom. I don't know where we'd put a full crib in our living/bedroom area but I dread the idea of having to transition baby from a bassinet or small sleeper to a crib. I like (for safety and sanity) the idea of baby sleeping in the same thing the whole time.

Perhaps a travel sized pack and play could work, but would you need a mattress for that? The "mattress" that they come with is basically just lined cardboard. I worry that wouldn't hold up for months of full use (nights and naps day after day).

Dcwtada · December 2018

For our travel pnp the mattress was definitely more a bit of thin/stiff cushion on hard cardboard or plastic backing, I remember buying a mattress pad and also putting a better replacement mattress in my amazon cart. Crazy thing is my son didn’t mind, the clean up on it was so much easier than a mattress (it wiped down very easy). I ended up just using sheets on it the entire time.

But it is also one of the things that every kid is different. Also, with it being thin I wasn’t so worried about him rolling on his stomach and having trouble breathing into a more foamy or plush mattress. I hope this baby is the same way. Also it wasn’t jumpy so when he got older he wasnt bouncing on it the way the other kids wore out their crib mattresses at the same age. He is giving the crib mattress a run for the money now though lol.

gta4334 · December 2018

@DCwtada this is helpful thanks! I agree, I don't think the cardboard part is the worst for comfort as long as they sleep on it. I think we probably try to apply adult comfort standards onto babies when in reality, they are fine because it's all they know. And, to your point it's probably safer than something extra plush, but I just worry how well it will hold up.

Did you use the travel PNP as main sleeping area and if so how long?

Dcwtada · December 2018

@gta4334 yes we used it as his only crib, although he did take cat naps in the swing, until he was almost 15 months old. I had gotten it because we were in the process of moving and remodeling so he didn’t have a bedroom (it was small and so portable so I could easily grab it from our bedroom to the living room for longer naps) but I tell you, this next one will use it even though that’s not an issue anymore if they cooperate

marijaa333 · December 2018

@gta4334 The Lotus travel crib mattress is pretty good - we've used it plenty over the last 3.5 years and it's no worse for the wear...

tuxielove93 · December 2018

I already talked about this in the breastfeeding thread, but I’m still a bed sharer with my son.He’s still a super snuggle bug and prefers to cuddle through naps (he can sleep alone, he just sleeps better next to me)

also re: blankets and this is true of everything. I desperately wanted to keep him in a sleep sack and footie pajamas. Now that he’s old enough I want him under the blanket with me. Kid. Won’t. Have it. He hates being covered. He sleeps naked (plus diaper). It's in the freaking low 60's in the house right now with the cold snap. I convinced him to sleep in clothes last night. He woke up crying and I had to undress him anyways. Normally it’s like 70 in the house at night. Whenever I try to cover him up he violently kicks it all off. So you can make plans, but I’m the end you have to follow what your baby wants (and every baby is different). And that goes for pretty much everything in parenting.

My plan is to bed share from the start this time, but I’m looking to get some sort of nest type thing until the new one can at least turn their head. Still on the hunt. But if it ends up that this one hates bed sharing, we’ll just have to figure something else out.

I'm mostly copying this over from the breastfeeding discussion, but since this is actually about sleeping, I feel it's pertinent. A lot of women don't plan on sharing a bed, until they do. It's way more common than you think it is, especially for one-off situations (like baby is really sick and just needs those snuggles, and you need sleep too). So in my humble opinion, everyone should read how to safely bed share, so that if it ever comes up, they can do it as safely as possible. DH and I were dead set against bed sharing, and then DS would wake and nurse and half the time I would fall asleep with him in bed anyways. It wasn't safe, and once I commited to having him in bed, I made the environment as safe as possible, and we all got to actually SLEEP, which let me tell you, is no small thing. It saved my sanity.

So here's what I personally did to keep bed sharing safe, as well as a link to safety guidelines for bed sharing.

1) did not wear a shirt or bra (which made nursing a thousand times easier anyways)
2) always had my hair tied back
3) kept him on the outside not between my husband and I since I was the one nursing and therefore the one sensitive to the baby and his movements
4) tucked the blanket around my hips and underneath my legs so it wouldnt move up onto the baby
5) dressed him just in a little sleeper, and then when he seemed to get warmer, put him just in a onesie (my kid runs hot) With baby in bed with you, you're sharing body heat, so they don't need to be as bundled.
6) had my pillow completely pushed back, with just enough to go under my head
7) always made sure the sheets were tight before we went to bed
8) I nursed on demand (still do actually)

https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/sleep-bedshare/

antera23 · December 2018

@tuxielove93 thank you for the tips! I really love that you emphasize following what the baby needs. To me, that is the most important.

nmbrcrnchr1 · December 2018

@Dcwtada I was wondering about the mattress on the travel crib...bc for the pnp we bought a separate mattress. I found some quilted sheets so I might tr that in the travel crib 🤔

inomniaparatus2 · December 2018

@Dcwtada How scary! I also don’t give my 19 month old a blanket. She has a lovey and a few stuffed animals but no pillow or blanket bc they scare me.

I’m in the same boat as @ShadeofGreen816 we used the Dock a tot and loved it. We only used for nap time around the house and didn’t have a problem transitioning out of it. Might have been bc night time she was just swaddled, I’m not sure. We also loved and plan to get more woombies. Much easier than Halo swaddles and you don’t have to worry about waking them with undoing the Velcro. This time we got a twin pnp for our room and will have them in their own rooms by 2/3 months. I couldn’t last more than 2 last time as I’m a light sleeper. Anyone with twins have suggestions on them sharing bs not sharing rooms? I haven’t found too much either way so we’re planning on two rooms.

Erin1510 · December 2018

We’ll be using the 3-in-1 Arm’s Reach Co-Sleeper and also getting a Graco Dreamglider swing (it lays flat for sleeping safely). Our first was in our room exclusively for 6 months. After that he’d start in his room but with him waking to nurse every 2-3 hours there was only so much walking to his roommid toleetae. He ended in our room daily until about 18 months.

gta4334 · December 2018

@marijaa333 I just checked out the Lotus travel crib. It makes sense for an older baby but how do you get an infant down on the ground safely? I feel like I'd just drop her trying to place her so low. Do you unzip the side each time?

coco2787 · December 2018

I liked the idea of the Arms Reach co-sleeper but didn't want to buy a whole other product. We ended up taking one side off the crib and pushing it up against our bed, so basically made our own co-sleeper. I used furniture risers and adjusted the mattress height so that my mattress and the crib mattress were even. The crack between the mattresses wasn't big enough for baby to get stuck in (plus they don't roll those first couple months, and once they do roll they can roll themselves back). I also wasn't concerned because with baby that close to you you're acutely aware of their every movement. This isn't my picture but this is what it looked like.

BlondePeanut · January 2019

I also bed share with DD1. She started in a bed side bassinet, but we ended up bed sharing when she was about 4 months old to better help with nursing and because she just started sleeping horribly unless she was nestled with me directly and for both of us, it just worked out better. She still bedshares (she will be 2 in February). I always kept her next to me, not in between DH and I, and followed the same guidelines that @tuxielove93
shared. We have recently tried moving her to her own bed, but she always wakes up and gets in our bed anyway, so we have decided (and her pediatrician has backed this up too) to just let her sleep in our bed until she decides she wants to be in her big girl bed and makes that move on her own. Her dr ultimately said she will one day desire that personal space and independence (probably between 2-3yrs old) and if we don't want to force her into her own bed before she decides she wants it, that is perfectly fine. So DD2 will be in a bedside bassinet and will probably end up bed sharing too once DD2 is moved to her big girl bed. If they both end up wanting to bed share, we will have to bring DD1 big girl bed into our room and making a compromise (like pushing it up against DH side so she still feels like she is in our bed) because having both kids in bed isn't safe for the baby. But we will tackle that mountain if/when we have to

tuxielove93 · January 2019

@BlondePeanut I am approaching the mountain with you. I doubt DS has ANY desire for his own bed (he still prefers to cuddle even for naps) so I really have no idea what I'm going to do with him when the new baby comes. At least while the baby is in the nest we should be good but I know DS grew out of that thing pretty quickly. I was always hoping he would just decide at some point he wanted to sleep on his own, but idk if that's going to be in time for the new one.

ncm1919 · January 2019

@nmbrcrnchr1 we loved the arms reach. Almost more when she wasn’t actually using it to sleep. We kept it in our room until we moved (she was almost 2) because it became almost like a sidecar for toys in our room. We kept all her books in there so they were close but we could sleep without having a toy between our shoulder blades. It’s also got nice pockets on the side that were super helpful when she was sleeping in there

katertots17 · January 2019

In a sleepy haze I drove to buy buy baby and bought an auto rock and play when my second kid had RSV at 3 months old. It was the best purchase ever even though I know they are controversial. He slept next to my bed in the until he could roll.

marijaa333 · January 2019

@gta4334 They have a bassinet converter kit for newborns now. They didn't use to 3+ years ago, so when we traveled, I just lowered the baby onto the floor (the sides are not as high as a regular pack and play. I'm 5'6 and was fine.

gta4334 · January 2019

@marijaa333 Thanks thanks helpful. Weirdly I didn't see that advertised or even as a "Related Product" when I looked it up. I'll have to check it out.

threepeas5 · January 2019

Hey mamas. I’ve been meaning to share this here for anyone worried about littles rolling over in their sleep. SafeSleep makes a crib mattress that is 100% breathable if a baby rolls and sleeps face down (it’s basically mesh stretched over a frame, kind of like laundry bag material but sturdier). Great for the littles who may not be able to roll back over and also older babies who like to sleep on their face (my first always wanted to sleep face down, which was extra nerve wracking with a stuffy nose). They’re pretty expensive but occasionally have sales, I’ll post again when I see them go on sale if anyone is interested. I have one but need to get another eventually since I’m having twins. No affiliation with them - just wanted to share for anyone interested since I had no idea such a thing existed until someone told me about it when I was pregnant with my first, and this thing literally helped me sleep at night with my first with not having to worry about baby sleeping face down. https://www.abcsafesleep.com/product/safesleep-crib-mattress-white-base/

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Product Spotlight - Sleep/Nap Solutions - Cribs/Bassinets/Swings/etc

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