Pack n Play vs Crib

[sillygoosegirl]

Do we need both?  How to decide?  

SIL is planning on giving us a pack n play (this summer, before our baby is born, so her baby can use it when they visit).  I've heard people say that a pack n play shouldn't be used as a long term sleep solution, but I can't remember ever hearing a reason for that other than the manufacturer didn't design it for that and doesn't recommend it.  But looking at the product description on Amazon, it certainly does look like the manufacturer did design it for sleeping and does recommend it for sleeping.  Oh, and I've heard people complain that the PnP mattress is too firm, but I've also heard other people say that the PnP mattress is "correct" and a good crib mattress will be similarly firm, since babies do need a really firm mattress to be safe (firmer than seems like it could be ergonomic, let alone comfortable, to many parents).  

I'm not excited about spending $$$ on a brand new crib that will most likely be discovered to be unsafe by the time we have our second baby anyway.  And I have to say, the mesh sides do look safer than wood rails.  And it looks far more convenient for having in our room, which we plan to do at least until weaning.  My earliest memory is of climbing out of my crib, and it's always been a memory that scares the crap out of me, so it may be that I have a slightly irrational fear of cribs.  

Ugh.  Decisions.  

[thatgirl2478]

IMO, PNP are more of a temporary sleeping arrangement and/or a playpen type containment device. Additionally, from my experience with my DD, babies are noisy sleepers. I didn't sleep well with DD in the room and moved her to her own room and crib as soon as she no longer needed night feedings. I don't know how long you plan to bf but weaning could take a loooong time.

I would only get a PNP if you need a sleep solution on a separate floor or plan to travel a lot.

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[bethaboo]

We plan to have both. We'll use the PnP for the time when she is in our room and then the crib when we transition her to her room. We plan on moving next April and so we'll hold on to the PnP in case we buy a two story.

[mandymay]

We used (and will use) a PnP in our room with our daughter until she was 7 weeks when we transitioned her to her room and crib. We used a quilted fitted sheet to plush up the mattress part and it worked well.

[andthentherewere10]

We have a small house and have both. We have a cheap crib from IKEA www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80248573/ in the nursery and the PNP in the living room. I like to have him in the LR napping while I'm out and about doing dishes, cooking, laundry, playing with the dogs. He sleeps in the crib at night, though. I think they are both really essential and we'll be using the PNP for vising grandparents/hotels, etc for quite awhile.

[MrsDarcy]

I personally would not be comfortable with my baby sleeping long term in a pack n play. They mattresses are not really meant for long term sleeping, and they're foldable, so there's ridges and it just looks uncomfortable. I would get a crib for sure when you're ready for your baby to sleep alone (which may be sooner than you think!).

[ringstrue]

Have you seen a PNP "mattress"? It's really nothing. Maybe as comfortable as laying on carpet? DD never liked laying on them and never napped well on it. The crib mattresses are actual mattresses.

I'm not sure why you assume any crib you buy will be unsafe later? Regulations to sell cribs now are really strict, and most recalls give you a free part to fix the issue if any.

If you fear a kid climbing out of a crib, you just drop the mattress another level, or when you are on the last level you can switch to a toddler bed.

Also, there is a big gap between when toddlers stop using a PNP and start using a toddler or normal bed. And I know quite a few parents who have relied heavily on their cribs for their older babies/toddlers to finally get some decent sleep.

[curbsideprophet]

The crib we bought in 2011 for DD is still fine and we will use it for this baby.

We also have a PNP but I would not want to use it got long term night time sleep. It is fine for travel or naps.

I think the suffocation risk would be higher with a PNP than a crib, so not sure why you think a crib would be less safe. However I have no specific data to back this up.

If climbing out is a concern I would think most kids could climb out if a PNP sooner than a crib. They will also most likely outgrow a PNP sooner.

[jeaniebueller]

We primarily use the pnp for travel and the crib at home.

[VillainV]

We're moving soon, so we only bought a PNP for now and will buy a crib for the new house. The PNP is fine for sleeping. The mattress is really a board covered in a thin layer of foam and nylon. We put a waterproof mattress pad and sheet on it, and it's better. You can buy a replacement mattress for it -- we ordered one, still waiting for it to get here.

[starlily]

We used a travel PNP in our bedroom for convenience until DD was around 6 months old, then we transitioned her to her crib. The crib was purchased in 2010 & hasn't been recalled; we'd use it for DD2 if we didn't convert it to DD's regular bed.

I think it would be a lot easier for toddler to climb out of a PNP. It also doesn't look like a comfortable surface to sleep on for years. DD quit sleeping in the travel PNP entirely by 11 months. The "mattress" bothered her. Nor would I want to bend down so low constantly to pick up a child.