Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product. Feel free to comment on threads like these throughout your time at the board, not just when they're in their week in the spotlight, if you discover something new OR are new to the board. This week it's.... Cribs & Sleeping surfaces!
FTMs are encouraged to ask questions & STM/+s encouraged to share their knowledge based on experience. You can use any or all the prompts relevant to you below to share info in an easy-to-read format. Pictures/screen grabs, if put in spoilers, are welcome!
For STMs:
Lifestyle(House, Apartment, Travel a lot)?
What sleeping surface do you have?
Link/Picture?
Cost?
Pros/Cons?
For FTMs:
Lifestle(House, Apartment, Travel a lot)?
What are you looking at?
Any questions for others?
Re: Product Spotlight: Cribs and Sleeping Surfaces
We have two cribs and a travel option.
Full size crib-currently housing our 15 month old as a toddler bed. Delta 3-in-1. Ours is 4 years old and discontinued, but this is the most similar in price and looks-ours is white not gray. https://www.target.com/p/delta-children-adley-3-in-1-crib-gray/-/A-75003698
Easy up, nice adjustment, and the rails go low enough that at 2 with our first when he started climbing out-we were able to drop mattress to floor, with crib around it, and mattress couldn't scoot out, so it contained him well. Sturdy enough to hold dad with two kids now for story time, went up easy. Came with the extra rail to convert to daybed, but safety rail, and twin bed pieces come separately (I suggest buying them at time of crib in case things get discontinued). We're using a safety rail from Amazon, but it works great.
As our first was still in crib when second was born, we got a Dream On Me mini crib used. Seriously, if you have TWINS YOU NEED TWO OF THESE MINI CRIBS. My friend with twins gave us this one. They held her twins until over 18 months old when she was ready to put them in toddler beds. Advantages-for apartments the footprint is awesome-it's much smaller space needs than a pack and play-it takes up same floor space as our old bassinet, or a side car co-sleeper, but it's a stand alone crib. Also very sturdy construction, and price friendly. Easy to find sheets and waterproof mattress protectors in this size too. We just moved our 15 month old out of it, baby will use it in our room, it fits nicely next to our bed whereas a pack and play wouldn't. Dream On Me 4 in 1 Aden Convertible Mini Crib https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006Z2C032/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8LN7DbTD07F39
We have a Graco Pack and Play. It's...fine. Wouldn't fly with one, pretty much ever. It's heavy, multi step to set up, traveling with bassinet or extra parts that clip on top is really hard, the bouncy seat included with ours leans back so far my reflux kids hated it, the bassinet is hard to set up and is only good to 15 lbs. There's nothing wrong with it, but I did limited research on these, and it's annoying. Wish we had invested the extra like $50 or so and gotten the 7 lbs Phil and Ted travel crib. That packs tiny, is light, and while it doesn't go up super easy or fast, the size and weight makes up for it. Also, the side zipper on mesh makes it awesome as you can lay down next to baby in there for a bit or to nurse or use it as a changing surface. We never really used our pack and play accessories, as they could only clip in with bassinet on, and with low weight limit and hard to pack those into bag, we didn't bother, so Tim Phil and Ted NOT having them would not bother us. We don't own Phil and Ted option, just checked it out once in person, so I can't offer opinion on longevity, just size, weight, and basic function.
Only thing I can say is the pack and play has been durable. And it makes a thoroughly OK play pen for baby containment or as a portable baby gate. Wouldn't buy again though, as it's merely OK and cost more than our two non-travel cribs.
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
eta-that tendency is probably why I sing the praises of the mini crib so loud. It was so nice to not take away the crib that my son was finally happy in, and to have a small option for in our room. Granted, free made it extra amazing. But I'm all for used cribs too!
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
We have a crib from buy buy baby and our mattress is just off Amazon. So many mattresses cost hundreds of dollars and I think it's a waste of money. Anything sold needs to meet safety standards.
Our mattress which was just over 50.
If you get a pack and play make sure you get a sheet (or two). They can discontinue your exact series and leave you sheet less in the future.
My advice is if you plan on using a pack and play for traveling often, I would spend the extra money and get a 4moms again. Go to a store and use the displays. Try to break them down and set them up. You will immediately see why it's worth the money. If you are setting it up once in your house and leaving it in that spot, get something cheaper that may not be as easy to set up.
FFTC: We have an heirloom crib that is verboten to pass down, donate, etc etc etc, because it is a drop rail. I have read all of the studies about the mechanics that failed and caused safety issues and got drop rails banned. As an engineer, I'm also confident that these mechanisms aren't part of our crib -- it's even older than the generation which got them banned, has no plastic parts, would require my kid to break through hardwood and/or metal to make the rail jump its track -- and we inspect it often to make sure there's nothing damaged or loose. We're going to use it for kiddo #2. I absolutely do not suggest anyone else take this route unless they're 100% confident in their mechanical assessment and maintenance skills but just in case it comes up later, we're totally that rebellious family.
Edit: It's not Monday. So this is a FFTC. Oops.
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
We got a foam mattress off of Amazon for the crib and probably spent too much money, but I think it was worth it. We should be able to use it again with this kid, though I've heard that crib mattresses should be replaced between kids. I just don't see why that's necessary if the mattress is still clean and firm enough for an infant. I think the mattress was called "little dreamers" or something along those lines.
We have a Baby Hudson crib and plan to use it again for this kiddo. It's currently in toddler mode and has held up great. LO#1 wasn't too rough on it. We will need to get her a big girl bed though.
During the early months we had a bassinet (Arms Reach Cosleeper) which friends lent to us for those months. Nice and small to be used in our room, and a good height. Planning to borrow one again.
Married: 12/19/15
BFP: 9/4/17
EDD: 5/16/18
DD born 5/10/18
Postpartum Complications
BFP: 10/1/19
EDD: 6/12/20
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
Lifestyle(House, Apartment, Travel a lot)?
We have a house! And travel enough to buy a travel crib.
What sleeping surface do you have?
Link/Picture?
my daughter slept in a Bassinet until 4 months. I transitioned her into the crib then. She also slept in the dock a Tot (in the bassinet) until she could roll over. This was the best ever, since it was portable.
Cost?
Pros/Cons?