Co-Sleeper vs. Pack 'n Play?

[heather2629]

I want to have a safe sleeping area in my bedroom when we bring our baby home so that he can be in the same room as us for a while. I don't want to put him in our bed, so I've been looking at both co-sleepers (that attach to the side and are stand alone units) and pack 'n plays. I've done some research on this topic, but haven't landed anywhere with a decision.

Even though I'd rather be able to see the baby while he sleeps and the pack 'n play probably won't allow me to, I think I'm leaning toward a pack 'n play because they are more portable and can be used longer, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience using a pack n play as a sleeping area in their room?

Can babies sleep in the bassinet insert of the pack n play overnight?

Do you have any recommendations?

I'm a first time mom, so this is all so new. Thanks for any advice!

PS - Sorry if this has been asked before. I did a quick search of the forum and didn't find anything.

Here's an example of the pack 'n play with bassinet (and newborn napper):
https://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-13815325dt.jpg

 

[JenStar1976]

Personally, I would just get a moses basket. They're cheaper, much more portable and they really don't sleep in them for long. It's all personal though. Having been there before I know what it's like to want to best for your baby, but going back to basics is what I'll be doing this time round. Just my opinion. x

 

[heather2629]

Personally, I would just get a moses basket. They're cheaper, much more portable and they really don't sleep in them for long. It's all personal though. Having been there before I know what it's like to want to best for your baby, but going back to basics is what I'll be doing this time round. Just my opinion. x

I'd never looked at moses baskets before, but I just did and they seem really cute and convenient. I'll check those out, too! Thanks!

 

[JumpingIn]

I've gone for a cosleeper.

The Pack n Play is great for going away but I didn't fancy it as a bedside solution for months. It's big and cumbersome and I want to be able to see and touch baby. I've gone for a Snuzpod, I love it. We have a standard cot in the nursery room for when he's older or as just an alternative place to sleep during the day, but up until he's sitting up he'll be in his Snuzpod beside me. The good thing is it's pretty portable...The bassinet part will fit in the boot of my car so I can always take it with us when we are away.

Moses basket is a cheap alternative that will pretty much do the same job with a bit more distance between you and baby

 

[melissaelaine]

I'm planning to do both. I've registered for one of the Arm's Reach co-sleepers and for a simple pack and play, without all the bells and whistles. I figure that the pack and play will get longer use, but I really want to have the co-sleeping option in a safe way.

 

[Insomniash]

I have opted for a pack and play and I am thrilled with it. With the full bassinet feature it lifts the baby's sleeping area up to the point where it operates almost exactly as a co-sleeper does only with 4 sides instead of three. I have it set up already and I can pull it right to the side of my bed and the baby is perfectly within arms reach. Not to mention it will be a functional piece for much longer. Granted once he gets a bit older I will need to drop it down to the bottom for his safety, but it is my understanding that would be at the same time a co-sleeper would be rendered unsafe. At least at that point I will still be able to use the same item. To me it is the most economical option and hardly a compromise.

On a side note I also purchased a pack n play mattress to add a bit more padding. For my Graco Pack N Play it fits perfectly and was very affordable ($35 on Amazon). If you want me to add a picture of what it looks like beside my bed let me know and I will take one when I get home later.

 

[Insomniash]

I should clarify that the "full bassinet" is not the stuff that they stick on top but rather if you look at the picture you posted it is the platform option that is the full size of the pack n play that is below the other stuff.

Some models advertise it as a change station because they have the other bassinet, but the model I purchased actually advertised it as a full bassinet. It is the same thing though just Graco marketing it differently to make people think they need to spend more on the one with all the top stuff (newborn napper/bassinet). I didn't bother with those add ons because those items would only be functional for a limited time.

 

[heather2629]

JumpingIn - We're only 2 days apart in our pregnancy! I'll take a look at the Snuzpod too - that sounds like a great option as well. I definitely need mine to be portable as we don't have any family in the city we live in and will be doing a lot of traveling.

MelissaElaine - I'm in the same boat, and might register for both if I can't decide. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with both that way. Thanks for the input!

Insomniash - Thanks for your reply! The way you describe the pack 'n play is exactly why I think I might like it. I just wasn't sure what it would be like next to a bed, so if you don't mind sharing a photo - that would help a ton! Also, thanks for the clarification - I was wondering if I would need all the add-ons or just the bassinet portion. Sounds like just the bassinet!

 

[Ahughes]

I want to have a safe sleeping area in my bedroom when we bring our baby home so that he can be in the same room as us for a while. I don't want to put him in our bed, so I've been looking at both co-sleepers (that attach to the side and are stand alone units) and pack 'n plays. I've done some research on this topic, but haven't landed anywhere with a decision.

Even though I'd rather be able to see the baby while he sleeps and the pack 'n play probably won't allow me to, I think I'm leaning toward a pack 'n play because they are more portable and can be used longer, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience using a pack n play as a sleeping area in their room?

Can babies sleep in the bassinet insert of the pack n play overnight?

Do you have any recommendations?

I'm a first time mom, so this is all so new. Thanks for any advice!

PS - Sorry if this has been asked before. I did a quick search of the forum and didn't find anything.

Here's an example of the pack 'n play with bassinet (and newborn napper):
https://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-13815325dt.jpg

My mom is purchasing that same pac-n-play! I love it! I am also getting a bassinet for our bedroom. It is from Babies 'R Us, but is a bit expensive. I can't seem to find it on their website though.

 

[DebbieF]

My daughter slept in the Pack & Play in our room until she was a year old. She used the bassinet part until she could sit up, then we removed that and she slept on the bottom.

 

[heather2629]

My daughter slept in the Pack & Play in our room until she was a year old. She used the bassinet part until she could sit up, then we removed that and she slept on the bottom.

Thanks for sharing! This helps me see that the Pack 'n Play will last longer than a bassinet. I love hearing stories from people who have used a product first-hand, so I appreciate it!

My mom is purchasing that same pac-n-play! I love it! I am also getting a bassinet for our bedroom. It is from Babies 'R Us, but is a bit expensive. I can't seem to find it on their website though.

I think it's cute! My mom is buying a similar one, which is what led me to the Pack 'n Play option to begin with.

 

[greats]

We used a pack n play but got the travel lite pack n play instead of the regular one. It's smaller than the regular pack n play so it fit nicely next to our bed and didn't take up a lot of space.

 

[Scout]

I had a similar pack n play for daughter. I never used the stuff on top or the bassinet feature. Even though daughter was in my room I wanted to use the angelcare sleep monitor (paranoid ftm), so I needed a stable/firm bottom. Plus, I bought a pack n play mattress that fits into the bottom so it seems a bit more comfy to me. She slept in it some off and on, but i ended up cosleeping so it didn't get that much use. Had she not been such a terrible sleeper though, I would have been happy to have her in the pack n play until she outgrew it.

I got more use out of it as a playpen. I needed to corral her at times so I could shower or do something and the pack n play with some toys was perfect for that.

Even though I didn't end up using it for sleep all that much, I think it's a good purchase. I had a bassinet too which is a waste of money since it can't be used after baby rolls. (and mine hated it) The pack n play is more useful for a longer period of time. GL

 

[Harley Quinn]

I'll second the moses basked suggestion. We used a wooden cradle next to our bed for our first son, but for our second we got a basket on a rocker stand. What I loved about it was that we could easily move it from the bedroom to the living room or vice versa while he was still sleeping. So it provided a safe place for him to sleep during the day in the living room and if he fell asleep out there late in the evening, we could move him into our bedroom no problem. We even brought it with us a on vacations or short trips a few times instead of the pack n' play. It takes up about as much room as a collapsed pack n' play in the car.

 

[DebbieF]

We used a pack n play but got the travel lite pack n play instead of the regular one. It's smaller than the regular pack n play so it fit nicely next to our bed and didn't take up a lot of space.

We had this as well as the regular P&P. DD never liked being in this though for some reason. Maybe the new lo will like it better than DD did.

 

[mummytobe_93]

I think its sifferent in different countries. In the UK Most people tend to use Moses baskets and then straight in to a cot afterwards. I am looking at a co sleeper this time to help with breastfeeding.
We don't use pack n plays in the UK we use something similar which is just a travel cot. When my daughter is in it she hates it. It doesn't look as comfy as a cot or Moses basket and she just doesn't seem to like it at all!
Also usually when the baby gets to six months most people move them in to their own room, obviously personal choice but at that time I loved the free time without baby. So even having a pack n play wouldn't have made me wabt her to stay in my room until she was say 1+ x

 

[heather2629]

Greats and DebbieF - I'm going to go shopping tonight and see if I can find that travel-sized one in store to get a better idea because I think that might be perfect!

Scout - I'm a paranoid ftm too, so I get that! I appreciate your input, as I think using it as a play pen will be really beneficial down the line.

Harley Quinn - Great username, by the way I haven't ever known someone to use a moses basket - I think maybe they aren't as common here in the U.S., but I'm definitely going to look into it. Thanks for the advice!

Mummytobe_98 - Ahh so that's what a travel cot is! I'd heard mention of it, but wasn't sure. Makes sense! I do plan on moving him after a few months into a crib, so I'm just looking for something to get by until then.

Thanks, everyone! I love being able to ask a question and get responses from people who have experience! So glad I found this site.

 

[Insomniash]

Here are a couple quick shots of what it looks like with the added mattress (white) vs. the pack n play mattress (light green) for height comparison purposes. Sorry about the lack of flash my phone was mostly dead so it wouldn't work.

My bed is just a mattress, boxspring, and one of those metal frames nothing fancy. Pardon the lack of sheets I haven't sewn them yet lol. It is the perfect length against my queen size bed for me to be able to sit/stand up without it getting in the way (I am 5'8"). Anyway I am really happy with it. Hopefully that helps a bit with your decision making process

 

[tulip1975]

I'm being given a bassinet as a loaner and a used pack n play for free, so it looks like I will have both options. I can't believe how much stuff I don't have to buy even though I am a FTM. I guess this is how it pays to not have a baby until 39.

melissaelaine - I am also a Melissa Elaine. What a name combo to have in common with someone else!

 

[xMissxZoiex]

We are also opting for a snuzpod co sleeper!.

I want to be able to feed my baby with out actually moving from my bed if at all possible I also love how close he will be while being 100% safe from my night time fidgets.