Play N Pack or Crib?

Question

Hi All,

I am 25 weeks pregnant and about ready to start shopping for my little girl. We are trying to decide what to buy. A crib or a play n pack. We will be going through a transition with moving so we will have a small place. We will have room for a crib or pack n play but they will both need to be in our room. Can a new born sleep in a pack n play. Which one do you suggest i buy? Any good places i should shop for quality items for a cheap price.

Thank for your response. =)

Answer 1

We have our daughter in our room and we had to make the same deciion, we went the pack and play, cause it has the bassinet part that she can sleep in till about 6 months and then that part comes out and she can sleep in the pack and play. I personally think it is okay, I mean my daughter is fine, plus the one we have has vibration, a night light, nature and water sounds and music. We bought the Graco pack and play in the Theresa pattern, it is soo pretty, they have other girly patterns as well, and everything to match.
Look at these,
http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=9B00CBM&CategoryID=3

http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=9887THR&CategoryID=3


http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=9888JEN&CategoryID=3


http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=9448CRA&CategoryID=3

Answer 2

I think for the initial couple of months you should co sleep with your baby, and buy something like a snugglenest, which is much cheaper than a pack and play. Pack n play is good for the first couple of months and so is the snuggle nest. Also if you decide to breast feed it is much more conveninet to just nurse the baby withpout getting out of the bed. Once your baby is abt 4-5months old, you can simply put the snuggle nest in the crib that way it will be much easier for him to transition into a crib, otheriwse babies hate sleeping alone in the big empty space all by themselves. You can buy a snugglenest from ebay or anywhere online or walmart or look for it even on craigslist.org for your area.

Also you can carry it anywhere easily.

If you are looking for a long time thing which will be convenient for you while traveling you can try graco's travel bed, it is much better, lighter and convenient the base is a bit less cushiony though but you can always put a foam layer under it, i am currently overseas and it is so convenient, a small bed for the baby anywhere you want and it can be used for babies upto 1year, that is much more longer than any pack and play and also the pillow cover becomes a perfect sheet for it. It weighs just 3lbs.

Answer 3

We used a pack n play for the bassinet for both my sons, but once it was time to move to a crib - and it quickly was - we went to a regular crib and sent the pack n play to my mom's for when we come to visit. Cribs have MUCH better mattresses and are sturdier. Also with young babies, you can raise a crib bed, making it easier to lay baby down or pick baby up - you'll really have to reach in with the pack n play. So - don't worry about buying the bassinet - pack n play is fine there - but do invest in a crib. Your child will likely sleep in it a couple of years (and if you have more kids you can re-use) and it's worth the investment. You can get some very reasonably priced if you're really budgeting at Target.

Answer 4

I have a 9 month old, and I have to say I would not know what to do without both.

For the first 3 months, we used the pack and play as a bassinet. We needed it downstairs as the doctor told me no stairs for 6 weeks. Besides, he was getting to big for the bassinet at 3 months. We then switched him to the crib upstairs to sleep, and used pillows around him on the bed for his naps.

Now, he is no longer safe on the bed, as he is starting to crawl, so we removed the bassinet feature and we are using the pack and play as a place to put him down for naps during the day. It is deep and ha can not go anywhere, but not quite as comfy, the pad on it is very thin. It is great not to have to run upstairs all the time, and the diaper changing station on it is great.

We are just to the point where the crib has to drop to the next level, as he is starting to pull up on things. We went with the crib that converts, so it drops twice and then we can change it to a toddler bed.

Depending on when your move is, I would say you could get by with the pack n play for the first few months or longer, my only concern would be the comfort level of baby sleeping in it after the bassinet part is moved. Mine is in it for a 2 hour nap, but not for his night time sleep (9-10 hours)

Answer 5

If you have a small space, I would get the pack n' play. We have both a crib and PNP. We only use the crib at night. The PNP we use throughout the day because we can move it into whatever room we happen to be in (the office or family room).

I'm sure they are all the same, but we have the Rainforest themed pack n' play (Fisher Price I think). It's really cute and it came with the changing table, bassinet insert and accessories bag (on the side). Our daughter loves the mobile that came with it as well.

Answer 6

well you will need a crib for sure because your child cant sleep in a pack in play for more than just a couple of nights if that they are ment for use like if you go to grandmas or something not an everyday thing. so if you are wanting to just buy one buy a crib plus it is worth the money and your child can use it a lot longer.plus some cribs convert into a toddler bed then to an adult bed so that would be the best idea then you will not have to buy anothere one when your baby is older. one plaze i looked was at walmart i know that sounds cheap but they really do have a good quality plus they are a little cheaper there. we bought ours on sale at jcpenneys on sale and it was a convertable one we only paid $279. there are cheaper ones though.you can also buy a pack in play that has a bassinet in the top and that is good until your baby starts to roll over and is good to keep your baby in to be right by you.we also go tone of these as a gift at our baby shower and they are great, but you still need a crib. good luck and i hope i helped you out.

Answer 7

Start in the pack and play and then move to the crib.

An infant can sleep in a pack and play until 15 pounds, if I recall correctly.

I suggest both--our pack and play was a gift while the crib was a $100 value and has worked great.

If you have a nursery, park the crib in the nursery but put the pack and play in your room. It will be easier for the first 3 months or so because you'll hear your baby sleep and wake up, and you don't have to move as far to get to the baby.

We also used a swing since our son had colic.

Answer 8

i would shop walmart. and to me the smartest is a crib that changes as the child grows. I used a bassinet beside the bed then transferred them to the crib. After having two now my second being almost 5 months i would suggest the changable crib. It will also save on money later. I went crazy trying to find a toddler bed for my son before my daughter got here so she could have the crib. They say babies dont like the open space of the crib after the closeness of the womb but i used wedge for my son and nothing but the bed for my daughter and they both prefered the crib. Hope this helps. God bless.

Answer 9

With our son we used the pack and play until he was about 6 months old. Then we bought him a crib. It was so nice to have the pack and play since it is smaller in size so it fits better next to the bed. When they are newborn to 10-15 pounds they can sleep in the top part which is so nice to have them that high up. Easier to set them down and pick up since they are so small. After the 10- 15 pounds you take the top off and they can sleep in the bottom. Our son really enjoys the crib now and had no problems adjusting to it. We also kept the pack and play and when we go to grandparents house we take it. It is very easy to put up and take down. Best of luck and congratulations. We bought ours ot Walmart and it has lasted very well. It was 50-60 dollars. Not bad for something that you can take with you at anytime.

Answer 10

I would say generally people use a crib but I'm pregnant with our second and we arent using a crib this time. My older son had a crib until he was 15 months and switched to toddler bed but the whole 15 months he slept in a pack n play at my moms house with no issues when he stayed with her so this time we are opting just for a pack n play. My son hardly spent any time in his crib anyway. He regularly ended up sleeping with me for the first 6 months.

Answer 11

My sister actually has both a crib and a pack n play, the crib is in the baby's room and the pack n play is in my sisters room and to this day he still has not used his crib once, he actually prefers the pack n play and its useful so that when she comes home to visit family she has that for him to sleep in, I personally if I had to choose, would choose the pack n play for now, its just more useful to have around