Bassinet or playpen for downstairs?

[Lunabelle]

So I really can’t decide whether to buy a bassinet/ moses basket or a playpen for baby no2 while he/she naps. I want to keep her close to me as a newborn, so wouldn’t feel comfortable taking her upstairs to her crib. I also want the place of sleep to be perfectly safe. I think moses baskets are soo cute and have always dreamt of having one, on the other hand I think a playpen could be used for longer as a safe place to put the baby down if I need to attend to DD etc.

What do you all have for downstairs sleeping arrangements? And what are your experiences with a playpen? I never bought one for DD as when she was a baby we had a smaller open plan flat, so was easy to always keep an eye on her and she really wouldn’t have stayed in a playpen on her own.

 

[Kiwiberry]

Definitely playpen, a bassinet will be replaced too quickly. Also, as soon as baby starts trying to roll over, it will be a little scary to look away even for a second in a bassinet or anything similar.

 

[Bevziibubble]

I agree. A playpen will be used for longer.

 

[Lunabelle]

Thank you for your opinions. That’s a good point about the baby rolling over, i was just thinking if the baby is small as our DD was, he/she would be able to use it for longer but it’s actually not the case. So I will start looking for playpens instead

 

[Kiwiberry]

Thank you for your opinions. That’s a good point about the baby rolling over, i was just thinking if the baby is small as our DD was, he/she would be able to use it for longer but it’s actually not the case. So I will start looking for playpens instead

I would also suggest to get a mattress for the playpen, the one they come with is not very comfortable and it's very thin.

 

[Lunabelle]

Very good point, I am thinking of making/ ordering a custom fit mattress so it fits perfectly and is safe.

 

[Bevziibubble]

Good idea

 

[Lunabelle]

Actually DH doesn’t agree in case it wouldn’t fit perfectly, so I have found some traditional style wooden ones with wheels where you can buy a proper mattress too. They are not much larger than a crib, but at least it will be a safe place to sleep downstairs for as long as needed and then if we will need to upgrade to a bigger playpen later we can do that.

 

[Rags]

Is say play pen. Ds was only 6 weeks when I woke through the night to find he had pushed himself up to the top of his mosses basket and had his face pushed against the rounded side!! I was nearly sick, if I'd not woken he could have come to harm. He never went back into it again.

How about a travel cot rather than play pen? That way it is easy to store, has a thin mattress and is handy if you go away.

 

[daniyaaq]

I’m getting a portacot for day naps.