Limited Space and Would like Input on a Mini Crib or Pack and Play for Baby.

I'm going to go old school here. Since you are having a baby in April and moving in June how about using a dresser drawer? Baby is not that big and he/she won;t take up that much space for that short amount of time.

Back in the days of old they did this. So for such a short time until you get resettled it might be an answer to a problem.

Good luck with the birth and the move.

The other S.

I vote pack and play. You can use those longer than a mini crib and can be stored away for travel later on if you do move.

We used a pack and play in our bedroom for our third child. She had her own room, but it had a bed in it because it was our guest room. And we had guests coming the month before she was born, so we didn't feel like setting up the crib yet. And then she was born in August and we had family coming in at Christmas. So we didn't even bother with the crib until after the first of the year. The pack and play worked just fine. And, the one we had came with an attachment that went across the top to use as a changing table. It was a great solution.

I'd go with a pack and play with the bassinet top. Baby can be close by you when necessary, tucked into their room later and it can be a portable playpen or travel bed. Just more versatile. We had a pack n play for DD when she was tiny and she slept in our room in it for about 4 months. She was 8lbs at birth.

You can use a pack-n-play for quite a while . If at some point you need or prefer actual furniture... Ikea has great space saving furniture ( including cribs) storage ideas & containers. They even have changing tables that fold out from the wall

I had looked into getting a mini crib when my son was born. They do actually cost about the same or maybe a little more than a pack and play. I had looked into a Davinci mini crib. The baby can actually stay in it until about 2 yrs old. I think the weight limit was around 50 pounds. The one thing I did not like about some mini cribs was when it had a folding option. They just did not seem as stable.

For my second, I used the ArmsReach Mini-cosleeper. It's about half the size of a pack in play so it takes up way less space in your room. Plus you can set it up high, flush to your bed, so you don't have to bend over to lay baby down every time.

Both my babies were 9+ pounds too. I was able to keep him in the cosleeper until he started rolling at about 4 months (then I moved him into a crib). If I had gotten the model that converted into a mini-crib (instead of just the cosleeper) I'm sure he could've stayed in it longer if needed. I believe the weight max was 22 lbs (for the model I had anyway), which he hit at about 6 months (BIG boy lol).

Also, the mini-cosleeper made nursing SOOO much easier...almost wish I would've had it with my first.

So to sum up...the mini's are a great space saver and great for nursing if you have the extra 100 bucks or so to spend.

If not, I'm sure you know he would also be fine in a swing or pack-n-play. Newborns are pretty great for being able to sleep anywhere :)

ETA: I should also note that I had the Graco pack-n-play with bassinet and newborn napper attachment with my first...it worked fine...just took up SO much room in our bedroom (and babies are so small lol).

I have never used a mini crib but have used a cosleeper (mini pack n play) for three months with my son. My thought? If you ALREADY have a pack n play and will be moving in June, go ahead and use that. One less thing to lug around in the move!!!

I would just use a pack-n-play. I have the a mattress pad from Babies R Us for the pack-n-play mattress (they call it a padded sheet but the fabric does not hold up very well, it pills very badly, it is great for a pad but not a sheet).

Once you've moved you can get a regular crib.

M

We used a play yard (Carter's brand) with a bassinet attachment. They are much larger than a regular bassinet because it is the size of the pack n play. You don't have to buy a special mattress or anything because it uses the one that comes in the play pen, just brought up higher. We had one that also had a changing table area which was really nice! Plus, it has been useful as a play yard and for sleeping while we travel, up until my son was 2! The only special thing that I bought was a sheet for the mattress (make sure you go with the same brand).

I think for such a short amount of time, I would go for the cheapest option, which would be the pack n play. I got crib sheets for mine and have used it fir sleeping in a trip etc, and it worked great and now that my baby is 14 months he can get in and play with toys while I cook supper etc, so the pack n play is something u can use now and later. Congrats on number 3:)

Updated

I think for such a short amount of time, I would go for the cheapest option, which would be the pack n play. I got crib sheets for mine and have used it fir sleeping in a trip etc, and it worked great and now that my baby is 14 months he can get in and play with toys while I cook supper etc, so the pack n play is something u can use now and later. Congrats on number 3:)

I have a mini crib & love it!

You would probably need to get a pack-n-play anyway if you do any travelling or your child ever stays overnight away from home, so I would just get the pack-n-play. We used out pack-n-play when we stayed in hotels, when we went camping, when we visited relatives and when the kids went on sleepovers at relatives, so it is useful to have.

My daughter was 8 lbs. 3 ounces when she was born. We kept her in a cradle for several months and then a pack n play until she was 14 months old, all by the side of our bed. She grew like a weed too. I would get the pack n play, spend the money and get a decent one too.

I would use a pack and play too. My twins slept in the ONE crib together for about the first four months and then one went into the pNp. It worked out great because he actually slept more soundly in it than the crib. No way was I going to spend a fortune on two cribs when they are used for such a temporary amount of time :-)

I'm not familiar with mini cribs. I did purchase a collapsable crib which is smaller than a standard crib from wallmart. I read that its very popular with foster parents that have lots of children coming and going. They said they sleep three year olds in it, and mine was in it until that age too. I bought it because my baby refused a pack n play and I needed something to travel with. Honestly aside from the flimsy mattress, i thought they were great. I cut and extra piece of foam to supplement the mattress and my daughter slept well in it. However, if this was going to be a permanent solution, I might go to an upholstery shop and see if they could make a custom cushion to use as a mattress.

If long term, I would use a mini crib but since it I will only be three months pack n play is fine. Just not a lot of support as they get older. I know I would not want to sleep on a pack n play mattress

I used a pack and play instead of a crib for both of my boys. It had the removable bassinet part, and the changing table that flips over the side. It looked a lot like this one, and I recommend it because the bassinet is as long as the bottom, so you don't have to worry about baby growing out of it. http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Pack-Element-Stages-Oasis/dp/...

This worked great for me. It was easy to partially collapse and move anywhere in my home. I could keep baby in my room, or put him in another room if needed. For a while, I had a one-bedroom flat in Germany, so a part of my dining room was transformed into the baby's room. Not having baby in my bedroom with me kept me from jumping up at every little snort and snuffle he made...which caused him to start sleeping through the night quickly and easily.

Best wishes!

♥
C. Lee