Playpens, Portable Cribs & Basinets
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Sept 2008
I am wondering how safe it is to allow newborns to sleep in Pack N'
Plays. Everyone tells you not to use crib bumpers, but it seems that
people ignore this advice when putting babies to sleep in Pack N'
Plays which have a built in quilted bumper.
Am I missing something? Is the bumper removable?
Sara
Pack n plays are big. Newborns are tiny. If your newborn can roll over the the edge of
the pack-n-play, my guess is the ''newborn'' is healthy enough to handle the little bit
of padding that the P-n-p has (which, at least on mine, is miniscule relative to a crib
bumper).
Don't sweat the small stuff
Our son slept in a pack and play for the first year of his life. The model we had did not
have a quilted bumper, just mesh sides. It seemed to work for us.
used a pack and play
Jan 2008
hi, our baby is quickly growing, and we need to childproof.
unfortunately, our home is less than 600 sq ft, so we pretty much
have no space. and childproofing is pretty much impossible since
our living/dining/kitchen area has an 'open plan.' (our bedroom
is filled with all our beds.) so we thought about maybe getting a
superyard XT and make a circle in the middle of our living room area.
is that big enough for a baby to roam in? do i need to get
multiple interlocking playpens? it's tough to watch the baby
constantly, so i need some advice on:
- how to handle childproofing a small home.
- how much you liked a playpen situation.
please no comments about moving to a bigger home, as it's already
quite expensive to live around here. thank you in advance for
your replies.
kim
I can relate to having a small home with a toddler. I don't
recommend a playpen, because that will just take up precious
real estate in your living room. You will need to keep an eye
on your child pretty much all the time - that's just part of
parenting a toddler. That said, there are a few things you can
do in a small space to help keep your little one safe and
occupied. First, move all of your unsafe kitchen items to a
few high/locked cabinets or drawers. Let your child explore
the rest freely - your child won't be harmed by kitchen towels,
table linens, tupperware, pots and pans, plastic utensils,
etc. You can do similar things in your living room. Lock up
unsafe/breakable/valuable things, but let your kid have fun
with books, magazines, old cassette tape cases, etc. Once
you've done a little childproofing, try to create mini play
areas in each of the spaces you spend time in that have
appealing items for your child to play with and show these
areas to your child to encourage him or her to play there. We
have mini play areas (eg. the bottom shelf of a bookshelf)in
our kitchen and living room areas, and our child usually goes
to those areas first to find things to play with. In terms of
further childproofing, what you need to do depends so much on
your specific home environment and your specific child -
observe your child to see which dangerous things he or she is
attracted to and deal with potential problems as they arise.
On those occasions when we've needed to restrict our child's
movement, we've found the high chair or crib (with toys or
books for distraction) works just fine for a few minutes.
Fellow Mom of a Toddler
I also live in a small house (1-bedroom with crib and bed in the
same room). We set up a play yard in our small living room
using those Super Yard XT gates and it worked great. I think we
ended up buying two boxes. We have a futon mattress in the
living room which lays in front of the sofa. The gates
completely surround the futon and the ends of the gate are stuck
in between the futon and the sofa to create one large circle.
Our son is now 19 months old and we are just thinking about
taking it down since he spends more time outside of the yard
than inside of it. He never liked to play in the pack and play,
so this play area worked great for us. All of his toys are in
there, and during the day when I work from home, we keep the
play pen gate open so he can walk around where he wants to with
the nanny. I think around 15 months, my son figured out if he
pushed on the fence hard enough, he can get out, but that was
out only issue with the yard. I hope this helps.
anon
I would try it without the playpen first. We have a small house,
too. It never occurred to us to not let our child (now 2 1/4)
move freely around our house--it's his house too! Take some
standard precautions: block electrical outlets with covers or
heavy furniture; secure bookcases (or other things a baby could
pull over) to the wall; bundle up electrical cords and get them
out of the way as much as possible; get cabinet locks for low
cabinets that contain things you don't want the baby to get into;
move sharp/chemical/fragile items up high or into high cabinets
out of reach (and move innocuous things like toilet paper,
tupperware, towels, etc. into unsecured low cabinets/drawers);
put corner protectors on sharp table corners.
As your child grows, you'll see what else they get into and
address it. In our case, for example, we discovered we needed to
move the cat's food and water (irresistible!) onto a dresser for
half a year or so, until our son was old enough to have the self
control to obey our ''no'' and resist playing in the water. If I
really needed to secure my son for a few minutes, e.g., to keep
him back while I took something out of the oven or to take a
shower, I put him in his crib or high chair.
Then, as your child grows in their understanding and self
control, you teach them what's okay to mess with and what's not,
with time and repetition, by saying ''no'' and taking them away
from stuff until they get the picture. It helps if you can
redirect them to something similar that's their own. For example,
when our son tried to take books from (our) bookshelves, we
redirected him to HIS books on HIS bookshelf. In the kitchen, we
have a whole cabinet of drawers. Rather than secure the drawers
(but with dangerous stuff removed, of course), we designated a
few of the drawers as his (marked with stickers and filled with a
rotating assortment of this toys and safe things to play with),
and every time he opened one of the drawers that wasn't his, we
said ''that's not your drawer, that's mama and papa's drawer;
which is your drawer?'' He learned quickly what was his and what
wasn't.
Don't worry!
A playpen is dependent upon how adventurous your child is -
which is probably very. I found that mine just climbed,
sometimes right in front of me!
Now, the interlocking type playpen works much better. It
supports you in utilizing the space you have for multiple
purposes. You can easily move, adapt, expand, etc. to meet your
child's & your needs. Also, it confines your child to a pre-
determined safe area versus trying to foresee every possible
danger over the whole home.
Besides, there is no such thing as child-proofing a home:
children are naturally inquisitive & can make the most non-
threatening & seemingly innocent thing into an object of
destruction. They are just inventive & intelligent. They are
here to create & learn, so it will save you a lot of stress
to ''do what you can & can (throw away) what you can't'' as
Sister Mary Margaret Pouncil once told me when I was a young
mother.
Also, keep the play area stocked with toys that teach, like
tried & true manipulatives for their age range. But introduce
only one or two at a time, so they don't get bored as quickly.
And take something out as you place new things in, so it can be
recycled as a new toy later. It keeps them interested & gives
you a moment to focus as well.
Lastly, music music music. Different rhythms for different
times. You'd be surprised at how it will keep them busy,
focused & occupied, not to mention preparing them for learning
& teaching them how to keep a schedule.
I pray this helps.
Peace & blessings!
Childproofing and deciding whether or not to get a playpen/yard are not
the same
thing in my mind. The playpen worked for my active girl for about 3
months, and
only for short periods like I needed to saute something or take
something out of the
oven or grab a shower. They take up a lot of room, so I don't see how
they would
work in your space. Maybe a pack n' play for temporary restraint. But
you will have
to have your home be kid accessible for at least 2-2.5 years. You need
to do things
you can live with.
Some of the stuff we did: We put caps on all the outlets and the movable
gaurd ones
on two that we access all the time. We put kid-thwarting covers on the
light
switches to prevent ''lights on, lights off, lights on, lights off''
play. We earthquake
tethered all of our bookcases and appliances (don't forget the TV) so
they didn't
move when climbed on, we took off all table cloths and decorations that
were under
4 ft. We took off books from the lower shelves and used them for toys
(so you
aren't constantly reshelving) or used a piece of fabric we liked to look
at for 2 years
and used it to cover the lower shelves (one corner had velcro so we
could lift it up
and get at the books, but out of sight is out of mind for tiny tykes).
Then we got
safe, sturdy step stools and kid chairs and taught her how to be safe
because they
WILL climb, you can't stop them, but if they get used to doing it more
or less safely ,
it helps.
have fun with your kid!
Don't stress about the size of your house. It is actually
perfectly sized for keeping the baby safe. Personally, I am a
childproofing minimalist. All chemicals go into a cupboard that
is locked. Anything breakable goes up into higher cupboards.
The non breakables (pots, pans, tupperware, etc). Permanent baby
gates go at the bottom and top of stairs. Otherwise, I don't
worry about it. I keep an eye on my kids obviously, but not for
every second. When they were little, they never played with
electrical outlets. All wires went into big flexible plastic
tubing. I made sure that nothing that I had was a pull down
hazard (tv is on a big enough base, etc). My kids are hardly the
type that parents hope for (they are spazmatoids with A LOT of
energy), so it isn't like they are quietly walking around the
house all day. They are turning my living room into a mosh pit
and jumping off the sofa arms into it.
I think that a big playyard is fine (pack and plays are way to
small -- at least for mine). My kids probably wouldn't have like
d it, but I guess if I worked at it (ignored their screams?) for
a few days then they would have quit.
-anon
We have a small house as well - 2 adults and 2 toddlers in 750 sq
ft. And moving was not an option for us, either!
I think the playpen or fenced-off areas are not good long-term
solutions. No baby or toddler wants to play *separately* from
where the adults are. Unless you have an unusually independent
baby, my guess is that s/he is not going to be willing to stay in
a playpen very long alone. And that goes for a fenced-off area,
too - no matter how big it is and how many toys are in it, s/he
will object if you are not in it too! (Say if you are in the
kitchen cooking dinner.)
A better long-term solution is to work on your house to make it
more baby-friendly. This does take some time, but you don't have
to make all the changes right away. Do all the obvious safety
things first (i.e., cabinet latches), and then see what kind of
specific trouble your baby manages to get herself into (or looks
like s/he is headed for), then make other changes. You'll
probably have to rearrange your furniture/possessions somewhat -
just resign yourself to it and remember that you can have a
''grown up'' house again when the kids are bigger. For example, we
got rid of our open CD rack (too tempting to pull all the CDs out
over and over) and replaced it with a lockable dresser from IKEA
to hold all the CDs. Lots of other stuff (wine rack, books) went
up to higher shelves and we bought new, lower shelves that had
lockable doors. So in the end we managed to switch out old
furniture with new stuff (and made a looooot of trips to IKEA)
but didn't need to lose any of our existing floor space. (That
ended up going to all the toys, anyway!)
Fellow tiny-house dweller
We have a similar set up: Small, open plan apartment, with bed
in the living room. Glass and breakables go into upper
drawers/cabinets in the kitchen. Lower cabinets are baby-locked
OR have safe stuff in them: plastic tubs, pots, pans, screw-top
storage jars of rice, flour, sugar. Baby needs to explore. Use
a pen, swing or exersaucer for when you have to take a shower
or are flambeeing something in the kitchen, but I wouldn't pen
baby into such a small area at all times--house is small enough
of a pen. Exploration also teaches baby: Oven is on? when baby
touched it, it was a huge teaching moment: Don't touch, baby
ow! By the time he/she needs to wander more, he'll know not to
touch garbage pail, oven, glasses (still working on that with 2-
year old). Babies like exploring with pans, small metal bowls,
plastic bowls. Regarding drawers: ''Fingers! Baby ow!'' use those
teaching moments. It'll be over pretty soon and your baby will
know stuff and be confident, feel safe and be an explorer.
Don't forget teaching teach crawler/cruiser how to climb down a
step or climb/slide off bed, a key skill.
Basics: put the garbage out of reach (pail resided for several
months on the piano and/or diaper changing table), electrical
plugs covered, extension cords covered or clamped to
baseboards, bookcases screwed to wall. Every few months (or
even weeks) as baby develops, check what new babyproofing needs
doing, since it comes in stages.
small house, big world
May 2002
I am wondering if I should buy a playpen for my six months
old baby girl. I hardly know anybody who has a playpen
anymore and I wonder what the reason is. Do most babies
like it in there or not or is the playpen more for traveling ?
My babie is trying to sit up right know but after a while she
falls over and she could of course hit her head on the
ground if I would.'t sit with her all the time. I think in the
playpen this wouldn't happen because everything around it
is soft. I would just put her in there if I do some house work
and cooking and I certaintly would always be close by but if I
turn my head and she falls over at least she wouldn't get
hurt. I would like to know what other parents have to say
about playpens.
alexandra
We went back and forth on the playpen question for quite a
while. In the end we ended up with two. We got the Kidco Play
Den, which we use in the study so we can do bills & computer
stuff without our daughter getting too bored and we got a
travelling one when we went away for a weekend. She only
tolerates the small one for a short period of time regardless of
what toys are in it. The Play Den worked out really well - lots
of room & vertical bars which are perfect to practise pulling up
& standing. She first went in it around 6 months & we had the
same concerns about her whacking her head. Until she had good
balance, we just put pillows against the bars & propped her
against them - but only when we were in the room with her!!
(Being worried about suffocation.) Now that she is a year old,
the big one is still a good place to be, provided she has a good
selection of toys & books & she isn't left too long. The only
drawback to it is that it isn't very easy to move, even room to
room, so you really need to decide where it will be most useful
before setting it up.
KBracken
Our now 9-mo. old is very physically active. We got a travel
playard when he was about 5 mo. old thinking we would use it as a
playpen when we were at home. We were advised to get him used to
it before he became mobile so he wouldn't feel, well, ''penned in''
if we put him there when he could crawl around. I used it for
about a month, then when he did start crawling he hated being in
there. We do still use it as his bed when we travel, though, and
he'll sleep in it just fine. As a safe place to keep him when I
have to leave the room for a minute, we bought a ''corral'', a
free-standing 8-panel thing that covers a much larger area so
he's free to roam around. He's content being in there alone for
a short period. I bought it at onestepahead.com.
-Halle
I kept a playpen in our kitchen and put my daughter
in there while I prepared dinner nightly. it was
such a great help, I would not want to have been
without it! I used it until she was walking, after
that she was not about to be confined.
gael
In my opinion the playpen was a godsend. My son was happy, and I
could do other things and know he was OK without watching him
every second. We had a folding one that we also used quite a bit
for travel--it made a great place to sleep as well as a place to
play.
Kathy
A playpen is an ESSENTIAL piece of equipment in the parenting
arsenal. You simply cannot live without one!!! Where else do
you put all the clean laundry? (well, that's what we've done
with ours these past years)
My 6mo is right where yours is (actually, she's 7mo tomorrow).
What I do is place pillows around her (3 - one to the back, one
to the back left and right) or a thick blanket. When we are
outside (I'm hanging clothes or in the front yard gardening) I
put her on a blanket (on the grass) with the same setup. Then I
put her basket of toys in front of her and she ignores them and
goes for the grass (or the 2yo plays with her toys).
kathy
I still see playpans around, only they're not the ones our
parents had for us. They're the Graco 3-way Pack 'N Play that
turn from being a bassinet into a traveling crib and playpen.
Personally, we used ours quite a bit from the time my son was
about 8 months old to 1-1/2 years. As you note, little ones can
bump into things a lot, and it's good to have a safe place for
them. I didn't put my son in there for more than 20 minutes at a
time and rarely twice in a day. It was more for when I was
cooking or feeding the dogs and couldn't keep an eye on him. I
believe that the negative things you hear about playpens are
because of possibility that parents will just leave their babies
in there and ignore them, which is a terrible thing to do. But I
don't believe there's anything wrong with a playpen for the
baby's safety. Put special toys in there that your baby can't
get anywhere else to turn it into a special place. Turn on some
music.
Another alternative is an Ultrasaucer. It's a circular activity
table with Baby's seat in the middle. Baby can spin and bounce.
It's good until Baby learns how to walk. I found it a good way
for my son to have some safe, protected fun while I was cooking.
Good luck.
Gwynne
I think that playpens have gotten a bad reputation because of the
perception that previous generations left their babies in
playpens for hours on end. My daughter is a year old, and I have
used the playpen for exactly the resons you describe. Early on it
allowed her to sit up safely, and lean against the netting, and
now that she is very mobile, I can use it for a few minutes while
I boil water, take things out of the oven, or run into another
room to get something.
I don't use it for long (maybe a total of 15 minutes a day), and
she doesn't seem to mind it (as long as I am in the room with
her), and occasionally she even tries to get into it. I try to
rotate the toys in it fairly regularly, and give her things like
books, etc, that she can use while in one place. She loved being
in the playpen while she was learning to stand; it provided lots
of surfaces on which to pull up.
What we use is the Pak-n-play, which we also use as a portable
crib. One can get real playpens, which are much bigger, but I
didn't want to devote that much floor space to it.
Melissa T
Our son has always hated the playpen that we have. It's one
of those pack-n-play things that we got from a friend, and the
only thing I've ever used it for is as a ''holding area'' down in
the basement while I'm doing laundry. I put a book in there
and he's OK for a few minutes but then he's yelling to get
out. He's always been super active [he's 14 mos. now] and
since birth has rejected being placed in any confining
non-mom's-arms place [carseat, stroller, crib... although
he's better at those now!]. My niece, on the other hand,
who's 3 now, used to sit for long periods looking at her
books, and on the occasions that she found herself in a
playpen [like early morning at auntie's house before any
adults are awake] has been fine for an hour or so just
reading. So, I guess it depends on how you want to use it
and what your other ''confining spaces'' experiences have
been like.
Jean
April 2007
We're getting a bassinet for our second baby and want to buy a
separate mattress so we don't have to use the foam one it comes
with (b/c of offgases, etc.). But I'm not sure which type of
mattress to get. I've seen a lot of postings about futon
mattresses for cribs, but do they need a lot of airing and do
they trap moisture? And are they or do they get lumpy?
Another option I've seen is a thin (1.3-inch thick) latex core
and wool mattress. Any recommendations for or warnings against this?
I've also only looked online. Does anyone know any good stores
locally to get an organic cotton or organic wool/latex or
whatever other organic bassinet mattress?
The bassinet/cradle, BTW, not yet purchased, will be the Futura
Cradle by DaVinci/MillionDollarBaby. If anyone hates it, I'd love
to hear why!
Thanks!
Anon
I wanted a cradle for baby #2 and was very picky about
safety. I considered the DaVinci/Million Dollar Baby cradle
but rejected it after finding out (1) it is not JPMA certified, and
(2) people reported that the pin holding the cradle (to stop
the rocking motion) constantly fell out. Also, I realized I didn't
want a rocking motion because I have a 7 year old and this
sets up a potentially dangerous situation for a newborn.
I found a FANTASTIC cradle at Babies R Us, made by Babi
Italia/LaJobi Industries. It is a beautiful solid hardwood, not
sure what but from the grain patterns I'd say oak, we have
the natural color but it also comes in white. It has a glider
motion (gentle side to side --) rather than rocking, which
we feel is much safer for a young baby, and a very secure
locking mechanism. The construction is solid and the
engineering design is excellent. Since this is baby #2 I have
a lot of experience with baby products and know what to look
for and what to avoid. I wish this had been available for
baby #1. Also, it is on rolling casters (which can be locked
or unlocked) and can easily fit through our 28'' doorways, so
we can roll it from room to room to keep our daughter with
the rest of us. Mobility was the original reason we got it
even though we already had a crib). It was $150 but we
have gotten so much daily use out of it that I don't regret the
expense one bit. Standard crib mobiles can attach to it too.
And fyi: when our baby got large enough (she's very tall) to
get legs/arms through the bars, we got one of those mesh
breathable bumpers from Babies R US; they are made for a
crib but come with two pieces, a smaller piece for the drop
side of the crib and larger piece for the remaining three
sides. That larger piece fits perfectly around this cradle - it
attaches with velcro so you can fit it to just the right size.
It's a roomy cradle (it's larger than the Davinci/MDB) so our
loooong 26 inch 4 month old daugher is still able to use it.
Regarding the mattress, the one the Babi Italia cradle
comes with is thin, so we got the standard thicker cradle
mattress that Babies R Us sells and that has worked out
just great.
anon
May 2007
Looking for a crib or pack and play to borrow or rent for about a
week, as old friends are visiting and can't bring their crib for
their 14-month-old.
We'd prefer to borrow something for free or rent something
inexpensive than to buy something new, as they'll only be here
for 5 nights. Any advice about where to borrow or rent a crib
would be great!
jl
There are
companies that rent cribs and other baby gear - one of the
biggest is called 'Baby's Away'. Their website is:
www.babysaway.com
Good luck -
Susan
What I've done is bought one at a resale shop (like Child's Play on
College) and then
resold it back to them after the use. They tend to cost about 40 new and
you'll get 1/2
that upon reselling - though it might behoove you to keep it around for
future guests.
My mom does the same thing for high chairs, etc when we visit.
OR, you could ask for one on the Marketplace - to borrow or buy.
Try asking on freecycle. Sign up at freecycle.org.
Freecycler
Check out
http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/baby-equipment-rentals-california.htm
Feb 2007
Hi - I have an infant who has outgrown his bassinet. I don't
yet have a crib for him as his older sibling has not
transitioned yet to a big bed. My questions is how viable is
the pack and play as a regular sleep option for the next several
months? I've generally thought of them as short nap locations.
Are there any issues?
Thanks!
The only issue I see is that it's much harder on one's back to
bend over that far to lay the kid down. Plus, my daughter likes
us to ''pet'' her for a couple minutes after we put her in the
crib, and I think it would be really hard to do that night after
night with a pac n play.
anon
I was in the same situation w/my now 3 1/2 year old and 18
month old boys. We moved the little one from the bassinet to
the pack and play at about 8 months and then to his brother's
crib when he was 16 months. Worked great! And I don't regret
waiting since the older immediately dropped his nap once he was
free to roam his room.
Been There
We used a Pack and Play as a crib for our baby from the time he
was 5 months old until he turned one. We got a custom-cut foam
mattress for it and bought the bedsheets that are specifically
designed for portable cribs. It was great!! Any time we went
anywhere overnight, he had his actual bed with him.
Mary
Our baby slept in a Pack and Play for the first 4 or so months of
his life. He slept really well, too. I did notice that the pad
had started to sag a little by the time we moved him to a crib,
but it didn't seem to be a problem. In fact, it kept his head a
little higher, which was his preferred sleeping position anyway.
It was also really nice because his bed was very familiar to him
whenever we went anywhere overnight.
Emelie
I am the last person who should be giving advice about
sleeping, but, my 1-year-old still sleeps in her pack-n-play
every night. We have a lovely crib for her to sleep in, in her
big brother's room, but because he is up all night and takes 1-
2 hours to go to sleep every night, she sleeps in the pack-n-
play in our office. It was totally a temporary solution that
has now turned, 9 months later, permanent. The only problem
is, now when I do try to get her to sleep in the crib, for a
nap for example, she won't sleep. She doesn't relate sleep to
the crib as she does to the pack n play.
So if you decide to go the pack n play route, know you are not
alone.
shauna
We used a Pack and Play as a crib for our youngest until she was
almost 10 months old, because her older sister was using the
crib. We would have kept using it, but her older sister
transitioned to a toddler bed. We lined the bottom with a
bedsheet from a single bed - folded over many times and tucked
underneath securely. Because it was folded over several times, it
gave her some padding, so I think she found it comfortable. She
seemed to sleep fine, at least. The only issue was that my
husband complained about having to bend over so far to lift her
in and out of the Pack and Play. It didn't bother me that much.
cclocke
Hi there,
I used a pack and play as a crib for four months when my daughter was 8-12
months old (we were temporarily living abroad, and renting a furnished place with
no crib). I bought an extra mattress for it, which was like a little futon-y thing,
thicker than the usual mattress-type thing that comes with them, and it worked just
fine. I think I also folded a twin sized blanket and put that under the crib sheet, just
for extra comfort. She slept, well, like a baby.
Abbi Waxman
We've used the Pack and Play for overnight sleep during trips and
have had no problem. I could certainly see using it for a longer
period without any issues.
anon
I have one that I don't use. They don't seem to have enough
support to prevent aches and pains. Look around craigslist and
other sites for a free crib to use temporarily.
anon
i think it's absolutely fine! my year old sleeps in one some of the time (we're sort of
rearranging our bedrooms right now) and she doesn't sleep any differently than when
she's in fancy crib. i've known several people who have never gotten a crib and just
used the pack and play (especially when they had an older child who was still using a
crib and they didn't want to buy a second one). don't worry about it!
anon
we have had our two month old in the pack and play as a crib
substitute since about 2 wks. she is doing fine. the one we have
does have the bassinet attachment so we don't have to reach down
as far to get her out. but, i don't imagine there is any reason
not to use it. especially if it is just for a few months. we will
be moving out infant to our sons crib in a few months.
beth
We used the pack and play with our 1st child, mostly for naps,
and with our 2nd, both for naps and night sleeping (for a
significant period of time) and didn't have any problems. There
may be some safety warnings you need to be aware of, but I can't
recall them right now. I think once they pass a certain
weight/height then you need to consider other options.
anon
My daughter used a pack-n-play for nighttime and her crib for
naps for probably 6 months. No problems.
go for it
Our second child didn't sleep well in his crib and did much better in the pack n'
play so that's what we used exclusively until he learned to climb out of it (at
around 18 mos). Because we live in a small house, we actually used 2 pack n'
plays. One that was in our room where we'd put him down to go to sleep, and
one in the room he shares with his sister which we transferred him to so we
could sleep in our room alone. We liked that the walls of the pack n' play are
soft,and we also purchased a piece of dense foam cut to fit the bottom of the
pack n' play to make it a little softer (he was able to turn over at that time).
do whatever works for you
We used a pack & play as our son's only sleeping locale for
months... maybe even a full year between bassinet, and yes, crib.
We did add two blankets for a little extra padding, but not so
much to create a concern about suffocation or anything. I highly
recommend this option!! We'd pack it up and take it with us on
trips, and he felt totally comfortable away from home because he
still had his primary, familiar sleeping place with him. We plan
to do that with our second, too!
pack & sleep momma
October 2006
I am pregnant with my second child and trying to figure out what
type of sleeping arrangement I would like this time around. We
coslept with our first child until he was about 5 months. It
had been my intention to use the cosleeper, but he didn't sleep
well in it and it seemed so hard and not very comfy. Neither my
partner nor I slept very well with the baby in the bed. So, we
would like our second child to sleep in our room for the first
few months in order to make nighttime nursing easier, but not
exclusively in our bed. I'm trying to figure out what she or he
might sleep in. Those cradle cribs appeal to me, e.g. the ones
that are suspended from two arms with locking castors so you can
put it in different rooms, and that have a mechanism which
allows you to lock the cradle or allow it to swing. However, I
haven't spoken with anyone who has used one. Did you use one of
those? What did you like or not like about it? Used cradles
are frequently for sale on craigslist and BPN with the
note ''hardly used'' and I have to wonder why? Any feedback on
cradles or other sleep systems would be great. Note: we also
tried a Moses basket and didn't like it at all because it
creaked and made so much noise when you put the baby in or took
him out. It always woke him up. Also, we do have a crib in the
kids' bedroom, but my older son sleeps in it now, and I'm in no
hurry to move the second one out of our room. Thanks!
Second time around
We used a Pack-N-Play with the bassinette option in our room for Baby #1. It was
fine, but he outgrew the bassinette part before we were ready to move him to his
crib. Using the Pack-N-Play crib part for everyday use was back-breaking and he
often woke up on the return to the crib if he had fallen asleep nursing.
For Baby #2, we bought a used wooden cradle at a garage sale - they're often on the
BPN and Craigslist as well. We LOVED it and so did the baby. He slept in it for five
months - and never needed the swinging option, but it was good to know it was
there in case he did. It couldn't really go from room to room that easily, but didn't
take up too much space and was a godsend. I'd sell you ours, but we let it go long
ago.
Best to you with this big family change! And, good luck with this choice
Cradle lover
You mentioned that the co-sleeper was so hard and I agree that the mattresses they
come with are awful. Our solution was to get a futon for it so it was more comfy. We
bought ours from Tiny Birds Organics online (a great site by the way with lots of
wonderful baby/kid things!) and have really liked it. Our daughter is 7 months and still
sleeping on it
Susan
We had a cradle and loved it. We could move it around pretty
easily and kept it just a couple feet from our bed. We didn't
rock it that much, but it was nice to do on occasion. I think
they are advertisd as hardly used beacuse their use shows such
little wear. The baby doesn't move much at that age, as you know.
Ours still looked pretty new when our baby was 4 or 5 mnnths, and
we moved her to a crib
Elizabeth
One other alternative is the Amby Hammock (www.ambybaby.com). I know one person
who absolutely loved hers, and I'd be curious to hear from others who have one if they
like theirs also.
Kara, kara at vuicich dot com
Since you already have a co-sleeper, you may just want to get a
better mattress for it. The ones that come with it are,
indeeed, quite hard. If you google ''organic cosleeper
mattress'' you can find lots of nice ones that are made to fit
arms reach cosleepers. And, of course, you can probably get
ones that aren't organic as well
Amy
Our son's cradle worked fine for us until he was about three and
a half months old. That's probably why so many used ones for
sale say ''barely used''. The reality is that they have a short
lifespan. But it was necessary for us since his full-sized crib
didn't fit in our bedroom and we didn't want him in a room alone
at such a young age. We also had been scared out of co-sleeping
in any form.Our guy is a pretty good sleeper where ever he is so
the transition to crib wasn't too bad either. We still have the
monitor in our room on all night. The only thing I would suggest
about buying the bassinet is to see and inspect it in person.
The mattress on the one we got (by Simplicity) was a very thin
piece of foam covered in vinyl and after about 2 months it began
to make my son sweat, which exacerbated his eczema. I wound up
customizing it with high density foam and a cotton cover. Also,
we used the light at the head of the cradle and the vibration
feature A LOT. Hope this helps, Bridget
Bridget
Have you considered a bassinette? I really enjoyed having our baby in that for the
first 4 months. We really used it a lot in all different rooms of the house when all
she did was lay around. I don't know if I've seen a cradle that also has wheels like a
bassinette but if they exist I guess you would have the advantage of being able to
rock the cradle.
i love my bassinette
We were in the same situation where we didn't want our son in
bed with us but wanted him close by for the first 3 months. We
got the Graco 3-in-1 bassinet and LOVED it. It has adjustable
heights, lockable wheels making it easy to move around and
basically three functions:
1) part of one side comes off so that you can use it like a co-
sleeper attached to the bed
2) you can use it like a regular bassinet
3) you can put it on it's highest height and continue to use if
for a while as an extra changing area for a while longer after
the baby out grows it for sleeping.
Our bed was too high to really use it as the attached co-
sleeper, so I would just have the bassinet next to me at night,
and then wheel it around the house during the day as needed, or
to put him in the sun for his jaundice. Plus it takes up a lot
less room than the regular co-sleepers.
The reason why you probably see so many ''barely'' or ''gently''
used craddles or bassinets is probably because you really
aren't supposed to use them past 3 or 4 months. To me it was
worth the money, especially when you can turn around and re-
sell it or pass it on to someone else. You can look up ''3-in-1
bassinets'' on Amazon and I think you'll some some other brands
beside Graco
anon
May 2006
We are looking for a portacrib - the old-fashioned wooden kind
that look like a small crib and can break down for travel or
storage at grandma's house. Do these still exist? My son won't
sleep in a pack'n'play (mashes his face against the mesh sides)
and can't sleep in bed with us, as he is very sweaty and
restless. We are thinking that he might take to one of the
wooden ones as he sleeps well in his crib at home (and nowhere
else!). If anyone knows where to get one, or has one to sell,
we would love to hear from you!
dreaming of overnights
Our daughter sleeps in just such a portable crib. We purchased it
Babies-R-Us in Union City for under $100. The manufacturer was Delta.
Elizabeth
March 2006
Have you used a travel bassinet for your infant? I am looking for something small and
compact for travel and for naps. Sometimes I have to bring my baby to work with me
and I do not have room for a pack n play. Thinking of something like this: Kidco
Peapod Travel Bed http://nursery.babycatalog.com/portable-bassinets/peapod-travel-bed-401001 or Travel & Trundle http://nursery.babycatalog.com/portable-bassinets/infant-travel-n-trundle-37400. Was it well made, comfortable and did your baby sleep
in it? Thank you.
On the go
We tried the Toddler version of the travel and trundle product you are considering and I would
not recommend it at all. All the pieces are of very thin foam, which has to disassemble to
stuff into a little bag, therefore, the sides are pretty flimsy and and uneven...they didn't
really do much to contain our child. Plus, we found it too much of a pain to have to assemble
and disassemble the thing. I don't know if the other product is better, but we regret buying
the travel and trundle and have not used it more than a handful of times, each with no success
in getting our child to actually sleep in it.
anon
Wow- the timing of your question regarding the Pea Pod Travel bed
comes just as I've been ready to unleash a smear campaign. I too
was excited to find a three pound travel bed for my 8 month old
girl. It's compact, it's light. But I have some SERIOUS CONCERNS
about it. First of all, it stinks of vinyl. Maybe it just needs
some airing out. Secondly, my girl is not a light sleeper but
when you zip the flap up, it wakes her up. And finally, I believe
that she was nearly suffocated it it!! We used it a couple of
weekends ago and heard her crying and coughing- she had rolled
herself into a corner and had her face pressed up against the
plastic. The corners are angled. When we pulled her out she was
gasping and coughing for about a minute- it was really, really
scary. I hate this tent.If you're still determined to buy this
item, I'll sell you mine for cheap! I'm looking forward to
hearing what recommendations people come up with because I too
would love to find something simple and comfortable that doesn't
weigh 20 pounds and include mobiles.
Jessica
Feb 2006
In the past, our 21 month-old child has slept in a pack'n'play
when we were away from home. However, he is close to the 30 lb.
weight limit and there's not much room for him to stretch out
anymore. He sleeps in a crib at his grandparents' homes but this
won't work for weekends in Tahoe or other family vacations.
Keeping him in the bed with us is not an option, as he would
rather play than sleep. He also tends to keep us up when he is
sleeping, due to lots of moving, kicking, etc. What other
solutions have people discovered? Any ideas would be much
appreciated.
Grateful Mom
my 2.5 year old is a champion sleeper, but only in a crib like
environment. she won't sleep with me, thinking it's play time
and has never slept on a sofa, the floor or anywhere else.
i recently took her to visit family who don't have either a
crib or a pak n play and was panic striken that she wouldn't
sleep. about a week before we left, we started talking about
how great sleeping in a big girl bed was going to be. when we
got to my family's house, we visited the big girl bed which was
a mattress on the floor, sat on it, put her pacifier and doll
in it, talked about how nice the blankets were, etc.
she had a bit of trouble falling asleep the first time - i had
to stay until she was out - but after that, was excited and
proud to sleep in her big girl bed. when she woke up, she didnt
get out of the bed, but called for me.
now, she wants a big girl bed at home ;-)
well rested vacationing mama
How about an air mattress? Even if he rolled off, he wouldn't
fall very far... I believe Aerobed makes one especially for
kids with raised sides.
Elaine
Hi There,
I know you will cringe, but have you thought about just letting
your little one sleep in a bed? Our's moved to a toddler bed a
few months before his 2nd birthday. When we traveled, we put
extra pillows around his bed and tucked the sheet/blankets/duvet
in tightly. You can also invest in a portable railing so he won't
roll out. He might experiment with getting up. But be diligent,
as with any other change in your child's life, he needs your
guidance and patience.
The kiddie Aerobed. It has slightly raised edges, sort of like
an integrated bolster, so toddlers can climb in and out of it if
they want, but won't accidentally roll off. It's sturdy, packs
down pretty small when deflated, and is large enough that an
adult can actually curl up on it too (handy for nursing or
cuddling a baby to sleep and then sneaking away to your own
bed!) We bought ours on sale at Target last year for $70-
something. (We usually cosleep when traveling but use the
Aerobed at home, and we've brought it on trips too.)
There are a couple of other options for portable beds, mostly
foam pads with a raised edge piece -- fabric with some sort of
stiffener inside -- that goes all the way around. The raised
edge is only a few inches high, so it's not confining, but again
it should be enough to prevent accidental rolling off. These
beds roll or fold up into a duffle bag type thing. The Travel-n-
Trundle is one brand; I think One Step Ahead carries it. These
are smaller than the Aerobed, which is good if you'll have
limited space, but also seem to me to be less durable and less
comfortable. You can also get smaller air mattresses that fit
inside a sleeping bag. ReadyBed is one brand; many but not all
of these come with licensed characters on the sleeping bag.
Also available at Target. We have one that works very well for
our preschooler, but I wouldn't use it for a toddler because it
is quite narrow and there's no raised edge to help keep the kid
ON the bed.
Finally, your cheapest option: Use the mattress from your Pack-
n-Play on the floor! It won't be as comfy as a thicker bed, but
it's better than just a blanket, and without the sides of the
pen in they way, your child will have more room to stretch out.
If you want to create a sense of containment (though no actual
confinement) you can put pillows around the pad.
Have kids, will travel
Sept 2005
We are expecting a baby in a few months (if all goes well), and
live in a small apartment. We would like to stay in this
apartment despite its size, in part because we know we will be
moving again before the baby is 18 months old. Meanwhile, we'd
like to keep the baby stuff as compact as possible. Does anyone
have any experience using a portable-size crib on a permanent
basis? Were you able to find the appropriate sheets and bumpers
to fit it? Right now, I have the Delta Fold-a-Way Portable
Crib, at http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?
product_id=2355979 in mind. It LOOKS like it ought to meet crib
safety standards, though I would of course call the manufacturer
to double-check before purchasing. It takes a 38'' by 24''
mattress. How long do you think it would be before a baby is
likely to outgrow that? What problems do you see with using a
smaller-than-normal crib?
Elizabeth
Try and see how it goes. You will learn soon that with kids long term plans
don't always work...
One person that wrote a review on Amazon used for 2 years.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B000056HKI/103-1272524-5207043
We used a port-a-crib for nearly a year for our 18 mo. old son
after his sister was born, and had no issues at all. You don't
really need bumpers as the sides are really soft. Most kids'
stores sell sheets for it. We just used a wet pad and a bottom
sheet for it and then put his blanket on him. Worked just fine.
Sally Flinchbaugh
We bought the same portable crib you have (Delta), for similar
reasons - we have a small place and regular cribs just seemed
unnecessarily big for such a small person. Babies grow, of
course, but our son is still using the same crib at 15 months,
and is not yet in danger of outgrowing it. To me, it seems like
a cozier environment for him than the larger cribs.
We have not had a problem buying sheets, of which we keep ~4-5
in rotation. They are a ''standard'' size used in all portable
cribs and pack-and-plays, so you can find them online, at
Babies R Us, and other places. You just won't be able to do
sheets in a coordinating nursery theme, of course. We even used
a standard-size crib bumber and wrapped it around a bit more.
Other things - the mattress that comes with the crib seemed a
little flimsy, so we ordered a portable crib mattress ($20)
that adds another couple inches of softness. The one downside
of significance is that the portable crib doesn't let you drop
the side down with only 1 hand, so you have to always remember
(always, always!!) to lower the side before standing up with
your sleeping babe for the delicate crib transfer operation!
One bonus - it's on wheels, so if you have wood floors you can
push it a bit like a stroller/carriage, which can be soothing.
Porta-mama
Our 18-month-old has been napping and night-sleeping almost
exclusively in a pack-n-play (portable crib) for the last six
months or so. She still fits in it (though it's now quite crowded
with all her favorite books, stuffed animals, etc.).
I'm no expert, but I don't think it would be a problem for even a
newborn to sleep in a regular portable crib; if it has mesh
sides, you probably wouldn't need a bumper, and I think most
portable cribs come with a tight-fitting sheet. The only downside
might be that, without one side that drops down, as (some) cribs
have, it might be harder to put the baby down without waking her
or him.
robin
My second baby slept in a portable crib in the dining room
until he was 18 months old. He was in a bassinet from birth to
3 months or so, then we bought the portable crib. The crib came
with a thin mattress, that I didnt think would be comfortable,
so I folded some blankets and placed them underneath the
mattress. He didnt seem to mind. I used a cushy quilt as a
bottom sheet (second kid, not as worried about sids) but a
regular crib sheet would probably work. Or maybe a bassinet
sheet... I used a regular bumper that doubled over itself at
the ends. There was no downside to the portable crib, except
that, becasue of the makeshift aspect to it, it definitely did
not look as ''cute'' as the other crib in the first kids bedroom.
He was in it until 18 months or so, but truth be told, he
outgrew it at about 16 months.
the baby doesn't care how cute the crib is
The crib you mentioned looks fine for a permanent (up til 18
months or so) crib for your baby. My only concern when you said
''portable'' was that I was picturing the plastic/metal ''pack &
play'' cribs, which don't have adjustable heights, so you'd be
bending over a lot, to get the baby in and out...(bad for your
back), but the one you've picked looks like a smaller version of
a full-size crib.
I don't know about sheets; we've always used regular crib-sheets
for our pack & play when traveling, but they're too big, so we
have to tuck them under the mattress. But I bet there are sheets
available for your crib mattress; it's just a matter of finding
them (try WalMart or Babies R Us). When the baby outgrows the
crib, you can use a twin-size futon on the floor or low frame, or
get a ''toddler bed'', available very cheaply at Ikea and other places.
heidi
Why not use a regular pack-n-play? (Or what I have always
referred to as a playpen.) Padded mattress covers and sheets for
them are available at any of the baby stores, and many come with
features like a bassinet that sets inside the frame for when the
baby is a newborn. We take the pack-n-play with us everywhere,
it's so handy. In fact,ours is a hand-me-down from my sister,
who used it as her daughter's crib till she was at least one year
old.
today's portable cribs are pack-n-plays
We used the Graco 'pack-n-play' until our child was 8 months old
for very similar reasons you describe. It worked out just fine.
It did get a little harder on our backs when she got older
because the pack-n-play is closer to the floor. Other than that,
we could have kept using it until she was 2 or so without a
problem. The model you describe has good height so that probably
won't be an issue. I don't know about sheet sizes but they no
doubt sell their own sheets if the size is not standard
dimensions. Congratulations and good luck.
RK
We used a Pack & Play as a crib for the first 8 months or so of our son's
life -- we wanted him in our bedroom, and a regular-sized crib simply
wouldn't fit. We just used the crib insert with some sheets we got at a
local kids' store (regular crib sheets are of course too small, but I think
that portable cribs are pretty standard sized), and didn't bother with
bumpers as the sides of the portable crib were soft anyway.
The advantage was the size, and it worked very well before our son was
6 months old and learned to sit. He was a pretty quiet sleeper, didn't
fuss or roll around too much.
The disadvantages appeared as our son got a bit older. The first major
problem occurred just after the time our son learned to sit up. At about 8
months, he could pull himself to a sitting position by grasping the soft
side of the crib. He then could see us in the room, and would not go
back to sleep, but would sit up and cry until we came to pick him up.
This eventually led to us setting up the full-size crib in his new bedroom
in the lower floor of the house. Otherwise nobody was going to get ANY
sleep. We had tried sleeping with him in our bed, and he woke up every
45 minutes or so, so that simply was not an option.
The second disadvantage was fairly minor, and we noticed it after we
moved our son to his new bed -- the crib insert was not terribly sturdy,
and as my son had grown older and heavier, it had started to sag a bit in
the middle; so it probably wasn't as comfortable for him as it had been in
the beginning, when he was tiny. If this had been the only problem, we
could have simply removed the crib insert, and put the sleeping pad at
the bottom of the portable crib (it's suggested that's what you do with
older babies and toddlers at night anyway -- the crib insert is just so you
don't have to bend down so far to put the baby to bed when you still
have to do head support) -- but the original problem would still have
remained.
Karen
I'd just get a Pack-N-Play. You can usually find them used on
this network or on Craigslist. If you find the one that has the
bassinette on top for infants, you should be all set for the
time frame you mentioned (18 mos.) I think the bassinette holds
them for the first 3-4 months. And, best of all, you can take
your baby's very own bed along when you travel. No sleep
troubles out of town!
Anon
April 2005
Hi, we have a 4 month baby and she is sleeping is her pack and
play. She is sleeping in our bed and hte pack and play is
smaller than a crib.
I would like to know experiences from other moms. Is this ok?
Do I need to have a better mattres?. Is this bad for her back?
Or is better to have a real crib?.
Thanks
Maria
Definitely buy a crib. Pack N Plays are fine once in a while,
but they are not have to meet the safety standards that cribs
do. Given the amount of time your baby will be sleeping over
the next few years, it is really important that she is in a safe
environment when she sleeps. Cribs are safer than Pack N Plays.
Liz O.
I also used my pack-and-play as a crib for a while. My baby was
tiny and I used the bassinet feature of the pack-and-play until
she outgrew it. We didn't have a crib yet and didn't know she'd
outgrow the bassinet so fast, so the only bed we had for her was
the pack-and-play. It worked fine, but got very tiring to bend
over in half in order to place her down in it or pick her up out
of it. Also, for us, as the weather got colder last winter, we
didn't like her sleeping only a couple inches off the ground,
where the coldest air was. So we got a crib earlier than
expected. How wonderful it was to be able to stand up straight
and put her down in bed! (because the mattress is a couple feet
off the floor) The crib certainly helped us (our backs) more than
it helped her.
She still sleeps in the pack-and-play on trips. It's easy and
convenient.
sue
Oct 2004
My son just turned two and still happily sleeps in his crib. We
are going to be out of town for the holidays this year and I
don't think he'll fit in the pack n play anymore. What have
others done with the sleeping arrangments for their toddlers
while away. Sleeping in our bed is not a realistic option for
me because he moves around so much I don't get any sleep. There
also isn't an extra bed where we'll be staying. Any suggestions
would be appreciated. Thanks!
Stephanie
Make a ''pallet'' for your son out of a piece of foam or lots of
blankets. Put it in a corner so it seems secure like a crib or
bed, and line up stuffed animals all around him. If he ''falls
out'' he'll only roll off the blankets and it won't hurt or
probably even wake him. Best if you can do this against an
interior wall of where you're staying so it's warmer.
Laura
You might try trading in your pack and play for a similarly
designed playpen. When we transitioned our 10 mo old from our
room to his, we put him ''temporarily'' in a playpen to sleep, He
was so comfortable there that he still sleeps there at two and
a half, and has plenty of room. When we go on trips we can
bring it, and it folds up to just a bit bigger than the pack
and play.
anon
Oct 2002
My 21 month old is a little guy, but I guess he's kind of long,
because he has outgrown his pac n' play crib. His head touches
one end and his feet the other. He does sleep curled up, but he
doesn't look too comfortable in there. He is not a super
adventerous boy, and isn't attempting to climb out of his crib
at home (he loves it, in fact), but he doesn't really like that
portable crib anymore! We just came back from another vacation
where our kid was in bed with us the whole time, and unlike our
king at home, we were in a squishy queen sized bed and it was
pretty bad news. What do parents of toddlers do when they
travel? He isn't ready for a big boy bed, he'd roll right out of
it...the floor doesn't seem like the greatest option (and I'm
not sure he wouldn't just stand up and walk around),so where can
he sleep when we go away? Thanks for the advice, folks!
Molly
My child had outgrown the portable crib for our last vacation,
too, and I was perplexed because he loves the crib and doesn't
want to sleep in a bed (and I didn't want him in ours either). I
ended up putting him in the sofa bed at our Embassy Suites
hotel, and arranging all the chairs and cushions around him to
make a giant crib-like contraption. Those soft mesh safety
rails would have been a better choice, though. Be warned that
kids who like their cribs like to roll up against the sides, and
if there are no sides they will roll until they roll out. To my
surprise, he called us to get him out of bed every morning, just
as if he was in the crib!
Fran
There are some great portable bed rails fold compactly for
travel and open up to make a twin size bed practically crib
safe. I think mine is Safefy First and I love it. All 3 of my
children started traveling with it between 18 and 22 months.
Beware though, it's not usually long afterwards that they want
a big kid bed at home, too.
Julie
There are companies who specialize in rentals of baby equipment
in many areas. I found some in Lake Tahoe by doing a search on
yahoo... something like ''crib rentals - lake tahoe.'' Most hotels
or motels can also offer a crib if you call ahead and reserve it.
My own child won't sleep in a pac n play or a crib anymore, so
we tough it out with me sleeping in a bed with him, bed pushed
against the wall on one (his) side, and my husband in another
bed. You could try surrounding him with pillows to keep him from
rolling, or even invest in one (or two) of those rails that slip
under the mattress for young children and take it with you when
you travel. I think they are available at Target. Good luck!
Traveling with Toddlers
If you want an official bed, try:
http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.jsp?lGen=detail&itemID=769&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=117&iSubCat=15&iProductID=769
Or:
http://www.onestepahead.com/jump.jsp?lGen=detail&itemID=1114&itemType=PRODUCT&iProductID=1114
But you can accomplish pretty much the same thing with a quilt
(or the pad from your Pack-n-Play) and a couple of firm pillows
or cushions on the floor! That's what most people I know have
done if/when they don't want the toddler in Mommy & Daddy's bed.
Another option would be a ''big bed'' with a bedrail. Bring your
own or ask the hotel for one (many have them available). He may
be more ready for a big bed than you think.
Holly
June 2004
I'm wondering if anyone has found an alternative to the cardboard
''mattress'' that comes with a ''Pack 'N Play''-type portable crib.
We are planning a long roadtrip with our daughter this summer and
while she sleeps pretty well in her crib, when her sleep is
disturbed I think it may be due to the uncomfortable ''mattress''
(I know I wouldn't want to be sleeping on that). Of course one
option is to get a piece of foam (not a suffocating type) cut to
fit but I thought maybe there is a real product or handy alternative?
road trip mom
I know, those Pack 'N Play ''mattresses'' are not comfy! We found
a mattress that fit into it (on top of the flat cardboardy one)
at a baby store in SF on Clement Street. I don't remember the
name, but it's quite a large store, close to Arguello. I went
in there and told them what I was looking for and the woman
went right over to a stack of different-sized matresses and
pulled one out. Be sure to get the dimensions before you go
shopping because another guy at the store was going to sell me
the wrong size. But it fits perfectly and our daughter slept
really well on hers.
We had the same issue. There are mattresses you can purchase
for around $20. Locally, ROckridge Kids has them. I wanted to
have mine sent to Grandma's house so I bought mine on-line from
a family business at
www.babyfactory2u.com
It was nice - 3 inches thick. She slept like a dream. Baby's R
Us online also sells them.
I also bought an egg-crate foam mattress (really a dog bed but
the same size as the pack 'n' play) because it can be rolled up
to take up less room. We use it on road trips. I got one for a
friend who is travelling all over Europe with her 11 month old.
Her daughter is sleeping great. The store is on San Pablo and I
believe its name is Famous Foam Factory. Enjoy!
Shari
The Consumer Reports Guide to Baby Products (2001, p. 71)
advises: ''If the play yard is used for sleeping, remember that
the mattress pad is thin for a reason: to prevent a child from
becoming wedged between the pad and the sides. Never add extra
mattresses or padding, and don't use blankets or other types of
soft bedding, which pose a suffication hazard.''
So you probably should not get any type of mattress for the Pack
'n' Play. Sorry.
David
Jan 2002
Does anyone have experience with check-in a portable crib at an
airline? Is it possible/necessary to take a portable crib along so
the baby will have a place to sleep? I don't want to spoil the
precious sleep pattern the baby (now nearly 11 months) finally has
established (after breastfeeding and family bed), so I thought to
take a crib. It is our first ever flight and big trip (2 weeks) with
the baby, so it is kind of making me nervous...
Bring a portable crib with
and check it as luggage.
We took one with us when we went on
extended trips, weren't going to move too much from place to place,
and had no other options. Which means that we only took it with us a
couple of times. Usually hotels could provide us with an acceptable
crib of some kind, or we were able to borrow something from someone,
and we would explore this in advance.
Good luck!
Yes, you can take a portacrib along: you will need to check-in this one as well.
We always took our Graco with no problem. We wrapped ours (and the
carseat)in clear plastic for extra protection. Some times , when we had more
luggage, we wrapped carseat and portacrib together to make one bag out of
two
good journey
Checking in a portable crib is pretty easy, especially if yours has
either a handle or wheels. We did it just a short time ago, and the
airlines treated it as if it were just another piece of luggage, and
it came through fine. However, we ended up not using it. Being in
another place with different people, routines, and so on was
unsettling enough to our then 7-month-old son that he ended up
sleeping with us. However, depending on where you will be, if the
portable crib can be converted to a playpen, it might be nice to have
a safe place to put the baby for a few minutes.
I bought rolling luggage big enough to squeeze my portacrib in
by taking it out of the bag and setting all the bars crossways in
the suitcase. This makes for a very heavy suitcase, when I fill
up the rest of the space with my things, but at least I don't
have to carry the crib by hand.
If your baby will sleep in a portacrib it can be very handy.
If your baby is mobile and you don't have a crib, one person
needs to basically be in the room with the baby any time the
baby is sleeping. With a crib, you can leave the baby sleeping
in one room and be in another part of the house without worrying
that he or she will get hurt upon awaking. If you don't want to
have to carry one, can you borrow a crib there from someone
whose child has outgrown one, or rent one?
If you take a portacrib from home, it may help to acclimate your
baby by putting him or her to bed in it in a different room of
the house (so sleeping somewhere other than normal isn't totally
new) for a few nights before you go.
Enjoy your trip!
-Charis
Concerning the portable crib, most airlines are glad to check
these through as luggage. You may want to bring a bag to
cover it or ask for a large bag at the check in desk.
We used ours often while traveling. It was a good place to
put familiar smelling clothing, blankets and toys for the baby
to sleep near and play near. It was also a good way to put them
down in an environment where we didn't want to put them on the
floor or ground, and where we wanted to give them a bit of protection
from animals or other children. The baby didn't always sleep the
whole night in the portable crib, but it certainly was great for
the first part of the evening.
Our baby is a great sleeper at home, but traveling can be disruptive, so we
do take a portable crib. We have a Pak-n-play, and check it with no
problem, but be sure to ask the airline to give you one of those plastic
bags to wrap it in: the outside of ours has gotten fairly shredded by
baggage handlers. We also have learned to put folded blankets underneath
the fairly skimpy mattress of the Pak-n-Play to make it a bit more
comfortable, and we take unwashed blankets from home to make the new
environment smell a bit more like home.
The crib is no problem to travel with -- it is the easiest piece to
clear the search. If you don't want to use a crib at your destination
hotel or have the baby sleep with you, the crib is the way to go.
Felicia
Jan. 2000
Can anyone recommend a good portable crib that I can use with my six month
old when we go out of
town? She sleeps in her own crib at home and I am hesitant to let her sleep
and take naps in a regular
bed because she moves around so much she might fall out. The last time we
traveled with her she was
still sleeping with us and didn't move as much in her sleep so it wasn't an
issue. What do people do in
these situations? Some of the portable cribs I've looked at seem to be
playyards first and portable cribs
second-meaning they don't look that safe. I also want one that is truly
portable because we plan to travel
across country in the next couple of months and it would be one less thing
to worry about. I've looked
at the Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper which looks a little more "crib-like" than
the play yard versions. Does
anyone have experience with this? I would appreciate any recommendations
people could give.
Thank you very much.
Ann
We have used the Graco Pack n Play for 2 years now with our son, and still
think its great. It may be
one of the ones you mentioned as being like a play pen, but we have never
used it for that. Its sturdy,
has a nice flap to cover the mesh on the side away from the wall, if you
want to reduce stimulus for
your baby, and my son seems to find it quite comfortable. (He also uses it
for naps at daycare every day)
He is an active 2 yr old and hasn't been able to tip or even wobble it. It
is also very portable.
It folds up into its own duffel bag, and we have dragged it all over the US
on too many trips to count.
Terri
In response to your questions regarding "play pens" I would like to give
you my
experience. I initially registered for a small version of the crib/playpen.
What I discovered when I finally took it to a park for a picnic this summer
when
my daughter was 5 months old, is that it is really quite tiny and does not
avail
much room for a sleeping/active baby. While I was there I noticed that a
friend
of mine had a large playpen. I ended up taking my original playpen back and
bought the "Tot Yard" instead. It is very portable and serves the purpose as a
sleeper and a playpen. My daughter will be a year old next month and weighs
over 20 lbs. The playpens structure is sturdy enough and I have had no worries
over safety issues. My thought process in this whole deal was that I would
have
ultimately had to buy two different play pens as my daughter got older and
that
wouldn't be cost effective as well as not necessary. I hope this information
helps.
Jen
The Graco Pack-and-Play is what we have always used for our now 2+ year old
when we travel. We've never used it as a playpen. It is safe, easy to set
up/take down and travel with and they are readily available. The pad on the
bottom provides adequate support and the more deluxe models come with a
fitted sheet (which mine doesn't have, but you could use a crib sheet) As
with so many other things, as your child becomes more familiar with it,
he/she will probably feel comfortable sleeping in it. Letting your child try
it out at home for naps before you travel may help with this, and we bring
the blanket, favorite stuffed toy and lullaby music from home to make bedtime
away from home as familiar as possible. You can buy a basic Pack-and-Play at
Target for about $50.00 (they also carry a higher-end model) or you might
find a used one at a consignment place (try Darla's on San Pablo in El
Cerrito).
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