jindc wrote:Thanks for the insight - I think this is something (pack'n'play) we will definitely consider.

Is there another recommendation besides the Fisher Price one?

I saw one that has a changer on it - is that a waste? I was thinking of it solely because I thought I might be able to then leave it at my parents house once we start to travel with the baby. How old is too old for a baby to sleep in a pack'n'play?

you guys are so helpful

I think the most common pack n play is actually the Graco - they have a million different versions. From what I've read, the newborn napper/changer thingy should only be used as a changer and not as a napper. The bassinet attachment is just fine though.

Anonymous wrote:The Rock n' Play Sleeper is controversial because there is a chance that babies could slip or roll out of position and suffocate. Some docs advise against it (but others think it's OK). For those who aren't comfortable with the Rock n' Play Sleeper, fisher price also makes a Rock n' Play Bassinet that has a flat bottom and mesh sides.

My first wouldn't sleep in his crib or on any flat surface except my bed, but I'm hopeful that my second might accept a bassinet... Hope springs eternal I guess.

A lot of people also say it leads to flat heads (I can't remember how to spell the technical terms - plagio-something and torti-something).

we used the small pack n play in our room, but only for the first 2 weeks, every grunt he made would make me up, we moved him to his room and we all started sleeping better.

I'm still expecting my first but the plan is to have DC sleep in our room in a pack and play for the first month or so and then move to the crib. I don't want to buy a bassinet, it seems like a piece of furniture that only gets used for a few months and I'm sure the pack and play will be useful way beyond that.

The Rock n' Play Sleeper is controversial because there is a chance that babies could slip or roll out of position and suffocate. Some docs advise against it (but others think it's OK). For those who aren't comfortable with the Rock n' Play Sleeper, fisher price also makes a Rock n' Play Bassinet that has a flat bottom and mesh sides.

My first wouldn't sleep in his crib or on any flat surface except my bed, but I'm hopeful that my second might accept a bassinet... Hope springs eternal I guess.

Thanks for the insight - I think this is something (pack'n'play) we will definitely consider.

Is there another recommendation besides the Fisher Price one?

I saw one that has a changer on it - is that a waste? I was thinking of it solely because I thought I might be able to then leave it at my parents house once we start to travel with the baby. How old is too old for a baby to sleep in a pack'n'play?

you guys are so helpful

Dd hated a bassinet we borrowed so we ended up putting her in the crib after two weeks. Looking back I think this was too early and wish I bought one of those rock n plays by fisher price. Babies sleep great in them and nap in them for a while. We will do this for #2.

Fisher Price Rock n Play!! It's approved for nighttime sleep, small, collapsible, and babies love it. Even my pediatrician had her baby in one for the first three months.

jindc wrote:hm...our doors are really wide (it's a new building...wheelchair accessable) - we'll have to check that out.

Is the pack'n'play less comfortable for the baby?

I truly don't think the baby cares.

We started with the bassinet for about a month. I loved having him next to me so I could keep a close eye on him. Although, he makes a lot of noises while sleeping, so my sleep wasn't so great. The ped thought his congestion might be helped by elevating the head of the mattress, which wasn't possible with our bassinet, so into the crib he went at 1 month. I was ok with making the transition at that point. When he got up to eat a night, I checked his diaper and prefered to nurse in the rocker in his room, so it wasn't a big deal to have him in the other room.

hm...our doors are really wide (it's a new building...wheelchair accessable) - we'll have to check that out.

Is the pack'n'play less comfortable for the baby?

jindc wrote:I am thinking about this issue - I don't want a cosleeper, but we are short on space.
What advantage does a pack and play have over a crib? We were thinking of just putting the crib in our (large) bedroom for the first few months then moving it.
Don't you have to get out of bed for a pack and play?

We have a while to go, but I'm starting to budget for furniture which is why I ask.

If you have room for the crib and don't mind taking it apart/re-building it in the nursery when you're ready, then no problem at all. But keep in mind that it probably won't fit through a door frame once you build it - people probably use the pack and play for convenience more than anything else.

Still expecting, but we were given a Graco Travel Lite with bassinet to put next to our bed (we have an old house with no room for a full size pack and play in our bedroom). We'll see how things actually go, but the plan right now is to use it at night for the first month but still use the crib/nursery for daytime naps to get the baby used to it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put our first in his crib from day 1 and plan to do the same with our second. It worked fine and he slept well.

Did you nurse?

Yes, exclusively breast fed for 6+months. In the beginning you have to change them before/after they eat and then I usually had to pee so is have gotten out of bed anyway. Walking down the hall wasn't a big deal. And DS started sleeping thru the night by about two months as a result.

I am thinking about this issue - I don't want a cosleeper, but we are short on space.
What advantage does a pack and play have over a crib? We were thinking of just putting the crib in our (large) bedroom for the first few months then moving it.
Don't you have to get out of bed for a pack and play?

We have a while to go, but I'm starting to budget for furniture which is why I ask.