Advice wanted for Co-sleeper (full size) bassinet.?

Question

Hi! Since my husband and I have decided to throw out our old crib, we need to decide on a money saving alternative before the baby comes. I will be having a c-section, and plan on using a bassinet of some sort initially. We are also trying to save a bit of space, as we don't have an additional room for the baby (he'll be in our to start with, and then share his older sister's room later). I would love your input on this co-sleeper, especially: pros, cons, how long your baby used it (plus apprx weights), and if the side permanently stays down??? I do know that I want a bassinet bcs I'll be breastfeeding, and I will eventually buy a crib, I just cannot decide if this one is worth the investment (can I use it longer than 3-4 months?) Is it better to buy a pack and play version??? Thanks in advance for your time and help!

My daughter currently sleeps with us part time, so I am trying to avoid putting an infant directly in bed with us all... I think for his sake, our new baby would be more comfortable in a bedside bassinet.

I also wanted to clarify, that I need advice on the brand of bassinet called co-sleeper bassinet, not co-sleeping in general. thanks!

Answer 1

Don't throw out your old crib. Use it is a co-sleeper. This is what I have done. Now you may want to mattress lower than your mattress (like an "arms reach co-sleeper") or you can have it level. As I did. You may need to adjust the legs. By adjust I mean chop of bits. If you need the crib higher you can also firmly screw pieces of wood to the bottom.

What to do. Remove one side of the crib (the drop side). Check to see how stable the crib is like this. If it isn't stable take a 2x4 and cut it to fit between the legs of the crib. Bolt it to the crib under the mattress. This should stop the crib sides from being able to move more than normal.

Take the crib without the mattress platform(if possible, if not you are just going to have to climb underneath) and your bed frame. Using c-clamps firmly attach the crib to your bed. I like to put the crib down from the head board so that the baby can not roll over into my pillow as my pillow is above the top of the crib. If you have the crib mattress lower than your mattress this is not a concern. (Also if you offset it you can put a small table there, or preferably build a shelf the width of the crib for you light, glass of water,etc. If you build a shelf the width of the crib you do not have to worry about things falling off). Fully assemble the crib at this point.

Assess how much your mattress can move sideways in your bed frame. If your mattress can shift sideways, then you need to attach your mattress to your bed frame. This can be accomplished by running rope through the handles and tying to to the frame. Other measures can be taken depending on your individual bed.

Now assemble everything. Your frame, the mattress, the crib and the crib mattress. Make sure that the crib can not move, and that your frame and mattress are secure. Now if you notice the crib mattress is not snug. Push the mattress all the way against you mattress and measure the gap between the mattress and the side of the crib. Go to your local fabric store and buy a piece of foam the length of the crib mattress and the height of the crib mattress and 1.5 to 2 times as wide as the gap. Depending on foam thickness. If you are crafty sew a cover for the foam. If you are not crafty snuggly wrap it in a spare sheet and make sure the edge is towards the bottom outside. Jam the foam in between the crib and the side. NOT BETWEEN your mattress and the crib mattress. The crib mattress should now be completely firm with no gaps and should not be able to move at all.

This is a) way cheaper than a co-sleeper b) larger than a cosleeper c) stronger than a cosleeper. Trust me. On a few occaisions I have ended up in the crib when hubby has taken the baby to bed. It holds me up just fine, it will hold up any size baby or toddler.

Lots of other people have done this as well. Google it and you will find some more people and plans. I can't seem to find them. *lol* And I have to go make lunch as my toes are currently being bitten.

(Reminder: You must keep the babies area free of pillows, stuffed animals and fluffy blankets. The same as you do in a crib)

Answer 2

My sister used it, but after awhile she found it easier to nurse in bed without it. I think it had to do with the position she had to nurse in, some babies are picky! I know of a few moms who put the mattress down on the crib and scoot it close to the bed, that way they don't have to bother investing in the cosleeper. I just used a bassinet by the bed for the first few months, then he moved into our bed. I liked the bassinet because it was small, so I could move it into the living room during the day. The crib we have converts into a toddler bed, so eventually we'll be able to use it if he is comfortable leaving the family bed (he's almost 1 1/2 years old). I think for the next baby we'll look into the humanity bed since we always live in cramped quarters. Good luck! I found lots of reviews on baby gadgets, those seemed to help me a lot, I think I got most of our stuff at Target online.

Answer 3

To answer your questions: Can you do a vow renewal? Yes. It's a very quick and informal ceremony. Make all decisions about this and any party to follow as a wife and not as a bride. You were a bride 3 years ago and now you're an old married couple. It could hurt you socially and professionally to have a dress up party to pretend any different. A second ceremony? No. You had a wedding the day you married your best friend, and that was your choice. Regret does not erase that. You can invite your family and you can wear any dress you like, though bridal lace would be weird and you could not have a veil or train. You could choose a color and cut that's actually flattering on you. You can have a beautiful cake and a party limited only by your budget and imagination. You just would not expect gifts nor have any of the bridal things like tossing the bouquet. No first dance or dance with dad, and no one is giving you away. You don't have attendants or pre-vow parties or anything like that. It's more like an anniversary party really. No one has to administer the vows, and since there are no official papers to sign, anyone could do it or you don't need anyone. Just read or recite whatever vows you want to each other.. Best wishes.

Answer 4

I wouldn't buy either, personally. I've coslept for 2.5 years without any extras, and it has worked out quite well. Our mattress is flush on the floor, so there are no worries about my kids falling when they try to crawl off. And, it's the best space saver! Very useful for breastfeeding also, you don't have to move the baby from anywhere, they are already right next to you - not even a foot away.

Dont listen to people telling you cosleeping is a horrible thing and so dangerous - America is the biggest place where cosleeping is NOT common. It can be dangerous with an over-exhausted mother, but otherwise, you are aware of the child next to you. In 2.5 years of willing cosleeping, there has not been one instance where I came close to endangering my children.

Also dont listen to people saying youll never get the kid out of your bed - my brother was a cosleep-only baby and moved easily to his own bed around 18 months, Meanwhile, I was a CRIB baby, and ended up cosleeping from like 3-11. I could have died from an asthma attack I had when I was 10, except I was sleeping next to my mom. Generalizing on something like that is not a smart thing to do.

In short, advice from people who have never coslept and have never considered cosleeping is not going to benefit you in anyway. They're only going to see one side of the picture, and it's not the side you're on.

If you are concerned about rolling on your baby (which really is a very low risk, in most situations), you can get one of these:

Answer 5

I used it with both of my children and loved it (children are two years apart). They both initially slept in bed with me, so having this set up by my side of the bed gave a "guard rail" Then they transferred into it. The side does stay down and it was so worth it to hear a voice and look over to see them staring at me. After using it next to bed, I moved it across the room when they got to be around 6-8 months (depended on the child). Then moved them into their own room in this bassinet(top part removed) for familiarity reasons. After about a month of that they moved into a crib. My DD was sleeping in it when we took trips away from home until she was almost 2 (not the top part, but the bottom part). At this point obviously she was getting too big, but also complained about how the center peg would be uncomfortable when she happened to be laying on it. Now with my DS, he still uses it when we leave home (he's only 9 months). For now it is in the closet waiting for our next trip. But if all goes well, we'll be using it for our next 2 children as well....but don't know yet because it could or could not last. So to say it shortly, lasted through 2 children of permanently sleeping total of 10 months (first couple of months slept in our bed), with about 4 months total of sleeping in it off and on for travelling and setting up at other's home for naps. And it still works wonderfully!! So worth the investment!

Answer 6

You'll have to read the side of the box, or contact the manufacturer for size and weight limits.

Personally I think co sleeping is about the worst thing you can do for your child, but everyone has their reasons for doing it.

I'd stick with a bassenett, or even one of the pack and plays (theyre just the same as a regular bassenett as far as support for the baby), since they can do so many other things also. Its just never a good idea to have the baby in the bed with you, even when you're nursing at night. Its so easy in those early weeks to fall asleep and smother the baby. It only takes 15 seconds. Just dozing off for 15 seconds is enough to deprive your newborn of air and suffocate it.

We had a God-child who died that way. Horrible. Mom was exhausted and breast feeding in bed, and even though she was sitting up she smothered the baby, and didnt realize it until HOURS later when the baby, who was placed back in the bassenett, wasnt breathing.

Anyway. Cosleeping in the same bed offers the same risk. Besides that, it takes a huge toll on your marriage relationship, and it takes FOREVER to get the child out of your bed and into their own crib/bed once you're through with the desire to cosleep.

The cosleep bassenetts are safer, since they keep the child away from your blankets and body, but it still leaves you with the issue of eventually getting them OUT of your bed and on their own.

But in their defense, I've known many families who swear by them. Its a personal choice. If you're up for the battle of ending the cosleeping cycle in a few months, then of course its an excellent choice for your situation.

:) Many of the bigger baby stores actually have those co-sleep things set up on actual beds so you can see how they look and feel for your situation.

Answer 7

we used our crib for our first born for only a couple of weeks, until we figured out babies really did evolve to sleep with mommy and learned how co-sleeping enhances the nursing relatioinship and lets everyone sleep better. for our second born, we never bothered to set up a crib at all. who needs them? not the babies. they don't want them at all.

so, don't buy another thing until he's about 4 and ready for his own bed. until then, let him sleep happily where he belongs, at his mother's side.

We put a twin bed on the floor next to our King for our older son, when the baby arrived.

Answer 8

There's this one: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5172325
But you can only get that one online. One of my friends had one of those, and loved it. They have it in different colors.

Have a Wal-Mart near you? I have this one:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=2636044
You can order it online too. The bassinet and the by-the-bed sleeper you can use up to 18-pounds.
The changing table you can use up to 25-pounds

You can also use it as a portable rocking bassinet. I love it.