I finally convinced DH we need a PacknPlay and will likely have LO in there for the first 12-16 weeks next to our bed. I was intending to get one with a bassinet attachment but saw a friend yesterday who said don't bother with it - because of the adjustable height of the bottom, she had her LO in a PnP from the beginning sleeping in a boppy. I know it's not a huge extra expense to get the bassinet but thought I'd throw it out to you guys - is it a waste?
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We used the newborn napper for the first 2 months for LO to sleep and 4 months for naps.
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It isn't safe to sleep on a Boppy pillow. I would just get a PNP with a bassinet without the extra stuff...newborn napper, mobile and changing table.
You can find a basic model for around $60:
http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Pack-Travel-Playard-Green/dp/B005UV0UEA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358175646&sr=8-1&keywords=pack+n+play -
We used the Rock N Play sleeper as a bassinet and it was essential during the first 4 months. It kept him at an incline and the breathable sides kept him secure without being swaddled (he hated swaddles). It folds up so you can easily get it out of the way and bring it to different rooms. He would sit in there while I showered, too.
We have a Pack N Play that we use for traveling. I never used the bassinet attachment because he was too big for the max. weight by the time we went away. -
@autumnlove: was going to mention this! I would let DS nap as a newborn in the Boppy, but only if I was next to him folding laundry or something, eyes never leaving him.
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Great, thanks all! I didn't know that about the boppy - she's an MD so that surprises me
LO was swaddled in a boppy, don't know if that changes things.@rachiecakes: I do like the idea of the RnP but we only have space for one of the other.. since I think we're also going to need the PnP we'll at least start with that, I think.
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Our PNP has the bassinet feature and it was nice but our bottom piece is not adjustable. Lowering a baby to the bottom of the PNP is a pain. I would say you definitely want baby up high. So either a bassinet or a raised PNP.
Ours also had the diaper changing station part but I didn't like it because it wasn't flat and make changes hard.
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Does the pnp not come with adjustable heights? We had our LO sleeping in the pnp at the highest height for the mattress and recently just dropped it down (like a crib).
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I second the Rock N Play suggestion. My LO is 4.5 months old. He's now just getting too big for it. It was great when he was colicky and needed the comfort of it.
With the Pack N Play, we have one with a reversible napper/changer. We use the changer the most and keep all of his clothes in it for changing for the night/day. When he was a newborn, he slept in the napper for about a month at most.
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DEFINITELY not safe to sleep a baby on a boppy!
The bassinet is great because it is an angled sleeping area which is what babies like, a more confined sleeping area.
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our PnP came with a bassinet like the ones pictured, but DS didn't sleep in it at all!! he just slept in it on the regular mattress and was swaddled.
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I am confused. I thought when the mattress was up high, that is considered the bassinet? Vs. newborn napper. Anyway we didn't have the newborn napper and two babies have slept fine on the mattress in its highest (bassinet) position. I think some pack and plays don't have the adjustable mattress option so be careful.
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I think you can get a basic PNP with the bassinet attached for under $80. We got ours from my sister so we didn't need to buy one. Could you borrow someones or get a hand me down from someone you know? If not, a very basic one would work just as well!
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@cascadecherub: Do you like this PnP? We registered for this one.
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Ah hmm - hers does have an adjustable bottom so maybe she was talking about the newborn napper. That's what I thought the bassinet attachment was. I have no idea now!
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@Smurfette: Yep, we like it a lot. We've been using the napper/changer from day one. It sits in our family room between the rocker and the couch, so we can easily change him there versus the nursery. It's been great for us so far. My MIL purchased it before I had a chance to switch it to a different pattern, but in general, I like it. I didn't feel the need for all of the extra bells and whistles that some of the other models came with. At his daycare, he sleeps in a PnP as well with a mobile, so having one with it will be handy for future travel.
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I think it all depends how little your LO is. My LO came home at around 4.5 lbs so we didn't feel comfortable putting him in the rock and play until he was bigger, that's why we used the newborn napper. I also like the changing station as well, and we still use that.
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@cascadecherub: Yeah I am not in love with the pattern either, but I didn't want to spend a lot and wanted something general neutral, since who knows what gender #2 will be. We are planning on keeping in the living room for awhile as well to not have to go to the nursery for changes.
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Are you talking about the newborn napper section or the bassinet feature? The bassinet is the part that is raised from the bottom. The newborn napper is on top of all of that. Honestly, I never liked the bassinet b/c it wasn't perfectly flat. I bought a used $30 bassinet that worked GREAT for 3 months. I plan on selling it for $50 at some point...
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The newer PnPs have newborn napper attachments. Our older PnPs have a bassinet attachment, which basically essentially raises the sleeping surface to the top. We loved using that for sleep and the changing table attachment for changes, but that's because we didn't like changing diapers on our bed and we didn't have a changing table or dresser in our room.
We did many a nap on the boppy (swaddled too) but only when I was awake and right next to them the entire time. Kind of like cat naps. If I had to leave the bed or couch it was on, I'd transfer the baby to the rock n play or crib or bassinet.
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@Smurfette: I think you'll like it then. We kept Ethan in the newborn napper for those first few weeks. It's very much a bucket napper like the Rock N Play, so he lays low and is cradled that way.
Later on now at 4.5 months, it's great for changing him in the family and transitioning him from play time to bed time.
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@cascadecherub: This is exactly the one she has. I guess I thought the newborn napper was the bassinet. God damn. I need some kind of gear coach.
ETA she has that one WITHOUT the newborn napper. She just put the kid in the raised bottom.
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@JoJoGirl: I think that they call this one the "newborn napper." I've seen others with ones with a bassinet where it has a retractable hood like a car seat. I chose this one because it's reversible and doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of other PnPs. It's served us well in the almost 5 months we've had it.
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I'm still confused by the PnP issue. I thought the baby would sleep in the bassinet part for a while but at our infant care class the nurse said it wasn't as safe as just putting the baby on the flat mattress in the PnP. We have one with all the bells and whistles but I think for nighttime we are just going to try and go with the recommendation of baby swaddled on the flat mattress.
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We have a pnp with the newborn napper, same style as @cascadecherub just a different pattern.
We keep the pnp in the living room and he naps in the napper during the day. He sleeps better in the napper than the crib (at 5 weeks old)
I love it, especially the napper. I also use the napper if I need to put him down to use the bathroom etc.We also have the rock and play and i use that at night next to my bed (for now).
Its the perfect height, plus more portable than the pnp.@Smurfette:
We love ours too. I use it for daytime naps and nighttime changings. -
@travelingbrit: Okay I definitely thought the napper WAS the bassinet. But now I'm not sure if we should get that or a Rock'n'Play or both
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@JoJoGirl: I know! I had to make that decision before B was born and went with the Pnp.I thought that B would sleep mostly in the crib (silly me!) and nap in the pnp. Turns out he doesn't sleep well in the crib!
I only ended up buying the rock and play 3 weeks ago when it was on sale on amazon for $30. Now he gets a good nights sleep and mommy gets a good nights sleep. I just love how it sits right next to the bed, it's so seamless to get him in and out.
Personally, I would say the rock and play is much better in the immediate newborn stage. You would probably get more use out of it than the pack and play. We took the PnP to MIL's for Xmas, and although it's portable, it's still a production to put up and take down. If we had had the rock and play then it would have been easier.
I think though, that the pack and play will become much more useful as he gets older. I think both definitely have their value!
Either way, if you end up getting a pack and play, go with the napper! Your little one will probably sleep a lot better in the napper and it provides an extra changing area. Once he gets too big for the napper its easily removed. -
@travelingbrit: This is really helpful, thank you! We are going to work on our registry this weekend. I am guessing the PacknPlay will be a definite and we'll see if we can finagle ourselves a Rockn Play too.
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@JoJoGirl: Just add the RocknPlay without your DH knowing
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@Smurfette: Hahaha. Luckily for me (?), he is super involved in all gear decisions, so I don't think that would work when it arrived at the house and he didn't recognize it
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@JoJoGirl: Well in that case, tell a friend that you want it but DH wouldn't let you add it and hope they just buy it for you. Sneaky!
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@Smurfette: Lololol. Okay perfect plan.
LO was swaddled in a boppy, don't know if that changes things.
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