co-sleeper question

[CloudBee]

My sister used to have one that had these bars that slid under her mattress, so the co-sleeper attached directly to the bed.

I've been unable to find something like this online. Everything is large and bulky, and has a floor base. What I see is similar to a mini pack & play.

Has anyone seen or know of those mattress attachments where the sleeper hooks onto the side of the bed vs. sits on the floor?

[Deleted]

the Arm's Reach co-sleeper? It has a floor base but it attaches under the mattress as well.

www.amazon.com/Arms-Reach-Co-Sleeper-Original-Bassinet/dp/B001E8YG66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354638068&sr=8-1&keywords=arms+reach+co+sleeper

[lmb5109]

I think this is the Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper. We got the mini one and it comes with straps to attach under the mattress to the other side of the bed. We won't be using these because we are using the AngelCare monitor and I need the monitor to not pick up DH or I moving.

I watched this video

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzGpJuSYRG0

[CloudBee]

Dec 4, 2012 11:21:34 GMT -5 @mrsbecky07 said:

the Arm's Reach co-sleeper? It has a floor base but it attaches under the mattress as well.

www.amazon.com/Arms-Reach-Co-Sleeper-Original-Bassinet/dp/B001E8YG66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354638068&sr=8-1&keywords=arms+reach+co+sleeper

I can't tell based on the pictures. It looks like the base is mandatory for use regardless, though?

My sister had something that floated and was called a co-sleeper. Sort of like one of those clip on high chairs, but the bars went really deep between the mattress/box spring.

I really don't want one that sits on the floor if they still make that other style.

[catbus]

Sounds like something that might have been recalled and then banned by CPSC, honestly. Sorry!

[badtzmaru22]

Ive never seen anything like what you're describing, but I can't imagine something like that having a very high weight limit at all. The arm's reach mini has storage under it, which is nice, and it didn't take up much space at all.

[chia]

This is the one we had:
www.amazon.com/dp/B00198F1X8/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=krissfacepage-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00198F1X8&adid=1VDBE4BMHJ680Y0A67Z7&

It worked great - with an option to either hook it to the side of the bed, or use it free-standing.

[pugz]

rock n play is where it's at dude!

[dcrunnergirl]

I found this, but I don't actually see it for sale anywhere.

buymodernbaby.com/blog/2011/05/02/culla-belly-co-sleeper-coming-soon/

I would imagine something that floated wouldn't be able to hold much weight.

We used a PNP sidecar'd to one side of our bed with the bassinet feature (or whatever it's called when you raise the mattress) for DD, and had an Arms Reach colseeper sidecar'd to the other side for DS. Our bed was like the mothership with both cosleepers, but it worked well. The Arms Reach takes up space, but it folds up fairly small like a PNP whereas that floating one probably doesn't fold up. You can probably also get a used one on CL.

For #3, we'll use the Arms Reach again. The sidecar'd PNP was decent, but I was never crazy about how the mattress didn't lay completely flat when it was elevated.

ETA: We're not using the RNP b/c I'd like to avoid having to break the habit of them sleeping in the elevated, cozy bed. We had no problem transitioning from the sidecar'd cosleepers to cribs.

[bunch]

I'd wait to see what you like when baby was born. I thought dd would be in our room forever, but it did not work out like that for us at all.

To answer your question, I've seen people modify cribs to do this. If you still know pixie princess' blog, there were instructions on how to do it there.

[CloudBee]

Dec 4, 2012 14:11:01 GMT -5 bunch said:

I'd wait to see what you like when baby was born. I thought dd would be in our room forever, but it did not work out like that for us at all.

To answer your question, I've seen people modify cribs to do this. If you still know pixie princess' blog, there were instructions on how to do it there.

Was this your approach? Holding off on the big gear, and even keeping it off of your registry?

I hate bulky stuff. There's the bouncer, swing, activity mat, etc. It's just all so much. I never wanted an activity mat. I thought a quilt + a couple toys or animals would be adequate.

I would like him to sleep in a crib, but it seems like every time that comes up people say "you need to be prepared, you need to have a bassinet, R&P, or co-sleeper!". The R&P is small and fairly inexpensive, but as someone mentioned above, I'm not sure if I want my baby to start out sleeping on a snuggly incline. I would rather only do the incline if they have bad reflux, vs. start that way from the get-go.

Any advice on some of the stuff I could go without and even leave off my registry?

I put a travel sized swing on my registry because it's so small, and my sister looked at it today and said I had to register for the $179 swing that sways side to side. I'm not doing that.

[karinothing]

We just had a co-sleeper none of that other stuff. I would put it on the registry. You can always return it if it doesn't work out.

I do also agree with your sister becuase not all babies like the front to back.

And the play mat was probably one of our best purchases, plus it folds up and can easily be put away

[CloudBee]

Dec 4, 2012 14:29:06 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I do also agree with your sister becuase not all babies like the front to back.

So it's better to pay or have someone gift me with a $179 swing in case my baby prefers side to side? That seems like such a big purchase when I don't even know if he'll like the swing. I am torn, lol.

[dcrunnergirl]

Dec 4, 2012 14:26:16 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Dec 4, 2012 14:11:01 GMT -5 bunch said:

I'd wait to see what you like when baby was born. I thought dd would be in our room forever, but it did not work out like that for us at all.

To answer your question, I've seen people modify cribs to do this. If you still know pixie princess' blog, there were instructions on how to do it there.

Was this your approach? Holding off on the big gear, and even keeping it off of your registry?

I hate bulky stuff. There's the bouncer, swing, activity mat, etc. It's just all so much. I never wanted an activity mat. I thought a quilt + a couple toys or animals would be adequate.

I would like him to sleep in a crib, but it seems like every time that comes up people say "you need to be prepared, you need to have a bassinet, R&P, or co-sleeper!". The R&P is small and fairly inexpensive, but as someone mentioned above, I'm not sure if I want my baby to start out sleeping on a snuggly incline. I would rather only do the incline if they have bad reflux, vs. start that way from the get-go.

Any advice on some of the stuff I could go without and even leave off my registry?

I put a travel sized swing on my registry because it's so small, and my sister looked at it today and said I had to register for the $179 swing that sways side to side. I'm not doing that.

I think you can leave the cosleeper off your registry and just see what happens. I know lots of people who's kids just slept in their cribs in their own rooms from day one. Try it out and see how it goes.

We started with both babies in the bottom of one PNP in our room. None of us slept well b/c we didn't like them being that low to the ground on the uncomfortable PNP mattress (we were first time parents with zero baby experience, so we were a bit crazy and paranoid).

We then moved both babies into one crib in DS's room with us on an air mattress. None of us slept well b/c we all kept waking each other up.

Finally, we then moved to the "mothership" approach and coslept, and went out and got the cosleeper and used our PNP. That's what worked best for us at the time. In retrospect, we probably all would have been just fine if the kids slept in their own cribs right from the start.

[karinothing]

Dec 4, 2012 14:32:36 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Dec 4, 2012 14:29:06 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I do also agree with your sister becuase not all babies like the front to back.

So it's better to pay or have someone gift me with a $179 swing in case my baby prefers side to side? That seems like such a big purchase when I don't even know if he'll like the swing. I am torn, lol.

The thing is, you can always return it if the baby doesn't like it and you can buy stuff that he does like. I do know folks that have bought more then one swing becuase of this issue

[h]

We had a small travel swing that only went front to back, and neither of my kids liked it at all. It is the only piece of baby gear that I ditched after DS2 because it was so useless for us. With this one, I either want a better swing or none at all.

[froggy76]

Dec 4, 2012 12:25:50 GMT -5 pugz said:

rock n play is where it's at dude!

Amen.

[bunch]

We used a pnp instead of a co sleeper. I found it a lot more generally useful, smaller and cheaper.

I also agree that the activity mat was one of our best purchases.

I'm not a baby gear minimalist, I just held off on the more expensive specific stuff until I knew I needed it.

[mrssandro]

The only item I want to get at the point is a cosleeper so I am finding these responses interesting. I don't want to buy it NEW and most likely will end up getting it on craigslist. For me I know it's only a short period baby will be sleeping in our room. Last time it was 3 months (right before I went back to work) and the transition was easy. What I didn't like about the PNP is that I had to get up to get baby. I imagine reaching over to grab baby would be easier than having to get up out of bed every time. Yes, I am lazy.

I should add still have everything else. I am thinking this time my personal purchases will be less than $300 dollars. Just need a new stroller and co-sleeper. If's a girl I am all set.

[Deleted]

I think if you want to limit baby gear you could get a PnP, keep it in your room next to your bed for the first few weeks (if you want to go that route) and then you still have a PnP when you want one, when you travel, or when the baby is no longer co sleeping. I loved our co-sleeper but it was a huge PITA to set up and take down, so although it is supposed to be portable, it didnt really work out that way for us at all.

Activity mat = must for us. Same with the swing. The bouncer was nice and useful but not necessary IMO.

you can hit up consignment shops for a LOT of these big items too.

[h]

We used a PnP next to our bed and it worked great. If you are trying to minimize gear, I think you need a co-sleeper or PnP (but not both), an activity mat, and someplace to sit the baby while he/she is awake (a bouncer or a swing, but not necessarily both).

[pugz]

The RnP is so awesome, I love how it folds up, and you can pull it close to the bed and rock it gently when trying to get baby back to sleep. Gretchen is able to sleep on many surfaces and always has, RnP, bouncer, swing, and she can also nap in her crib, I try to have her take one nap a day in the crib so she gets accustomed to sleeping flat.

If you don't want a RnP though I'd put the pack n play in your room and have him sleep in that. I got a simple PnP with no real frills as I knew we wouldn't change diapers on it. We take her to the nursery for all diaper changes as that's where her CDs, wipes, and her diaper pail are. It is in our living room currently, a place to set her down and change her clothes, put on lotion after a bath, etc. Keeps her out of reach of the pugs. www.amazon.com/Graco-Pack-Playard-Bassinet-Pasadena/dp/B004Y9AKZI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354658233&sr=8-2&keywords=graco+pack+n+play

I think a swing the plugs in and swings side to side is the way to go if you get any swing at all. Gretchen uses it multiple times a day, she falls asleep in it on her own. We also use the bouncer regularly. Really it's just a short period of time that all this stuff will be out at once, then it goes into storage for the next kid.

[CloudBee]

That's the same PnP I registered for, Pugz.

[pugz]

I love it, although mine doesn't have that mobile thingy on it. It is really gender neutral and modern, perfect for middle of the living room

[CloudBee]

My sister just called me at work, randomly. I tell her about my co-sleeper dilema, and she has an arms reach packed away in her closet. She's given away just about every other item but that. I forgot to ask if it clips to the bed or not. She has 4 biological kids, and with the 1st she definitely had one that hung off the side of the bed.

Regardless, she's letting me borrow the co-sleeper, so I won't register for one.

[mrssandro]

Score for CloudBee!

[fortmyersbride]

Great score on the arms reach! That's the one item that I wished we'd had for DS as well. DD slept in the top of it until 6mos, then the bottom part but next to our bed until 13 mos. She just recently started sleeping in a crib in her own room, but still comes into our room in the mornings on the weekends and still uses the cosleeper then.

[CloudBee]

Dec 4, 2012 18:51:12 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Just check the manufacturer date/code - they recalled all the ones made between 1997 and 2001 - not sure how old your sister's kids are.

www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11187.html

Thank you for posting! Her first was born on 2001. I will check the tag before I take the co-sleeper from her.

[mellymel]

Dec 4, 2012 14:47:47 GMT -5 h said:

We had a small travel swing that only went front to back, and neither of my kids liked it at all. It is the only piece of baby gear that I ditched after DS2 because it was so useless for us. With this one, I either want a better swing or none at all.

We had a small travel swing as well. DS loathed it. We returned it and used a giant side to side swing. It was a lifesaver!

[pierogigirl]

Travel swings suck. They are so low to the ground and it's hard to get the baby in them. If you're going to get a swing, get a "real" one. DS1 hated everything except being held. DS2 like the swing for a short time. While he liked it, it was worth having an expensive and large piece of equipment in my tiny house.