Pack n Play sleeping question

[princessisadora]

So maybe I am dumb but I'm utterly confused as to where this baby is going to sleep. Lots of people told me a pack and play could take the place of a bassinet for the first few months while baby is sleeping in our room. So we got one. I will post a picture cause I'm really confused as to if the baby can sleep in the cozy little vibrating bouncer or I have to strip everything down and just leave him in the hard flat mattress. Also the manual says the bouncer is ok for naps but not prolonged sleeping. What is considered a nap 1 to 2 h? Don't newborns wake up every 2h anyways to feed??

[Flair Underwood]

For bedtime, no matter how long it is, I wouldn't use the napper. For our bedroom/bedtime, I specifically went for the stripped down pack and play - no changer no napper. If I'm not planning to be awake, I'm not comfortable with a baby in anything like a swing, bouncer, etc...

I will add - I'm also a total worry wart and helicopter mom.

[princessisadora]

Thanks. That's what I think we are doing. Bare back pack and play it is

[lakecountrygal]

Your pack-n-play is way more high tech than mine. Mine doesn't have any of that stuff so she sleeps right on the flat mattress.

[vivela]

Glad you asked this. I have the exact same pack and play. It also has the two levels... Should I put him all the way in the bottom, or is it ok to put him in the higher, detachable level?
My mom said she thought the detachable level was really high and would make it easy for him to fall out. But I figure if I only use the higher level for a few weeks while I'm recovering and bending over is uncomfortable, he won't be in any danger of rolling yet.

[GOmamab15]

I don't think it's a dumb question. I have been asking myself similar questions this week. I might have to buy a bassinet due to space constraints though.

[sandandsea]

We didn't use the napper thing for sleeping but more for a place to sit DS around the house, while I showered etc. as a baby he slept in the basinet part of the pnp kind of next to/under the diaper changer part.

[sandandsea]

I think the top part had a weight limit of 15 pounds or something. Similar to the diaper changer. So we used those until DS teacher the limits then moved him to the bottom level. The top level is much easier for getting tiny babies in and out of it.

[frecklesnbrains]

My baby is currently sleeping in the "newborn napper" of our pnp, but our model looks much deeper than yours. It's similar to the rock'n'play... Maybe even deeper. I can't see him falling out for a while. I haven't used the high/basinet part yet.

[greysonsmom]

The top isn't too high for a newborn, once they hit the weight limit or can sit up then lower it. Also if you feel the mattress is too uncomfortable you can buy a real mattress for it.

[txmommy14]

Our newborn (and DS as a newborn) sleeps in the napper part. But she's even fussing with that so last night we broke down and let her sleep in the rock n play and we all had a more restful night.

[princessisadora]

Thanks for all the replies. As I'm setting up the gear I realize how many questions I have about everything. I also have a rock and play that my friend got me as a gift she told me it was a life saver for her as one of her twins wouldn't sleep anywhere else! DH was getting really frustrated about the whole where would the baby sleep thing specially when reading all the warnings and things it was pretty cute seeing him worry so much.

[babyzebra]

My pack n play looks a little different than yours with a different newborn napper, but DS slept in the newborn napper for the first 1-2 months or so and that's what we're planning for this LO. After that, we will move to the top level of the pack n play until the weight limit is reached and then we'll use the bottom level with a pack n play mattress.

[frecklesnbrains]

Jun 1, 2016 6:02:13 GMT -5 babyzebra said:

My pack n play looks a little different than yours with a different newborn napper, but DS slept in the newborn napper for the first 1-2 months or so and that's what we're planning for this LO. After that, we will move to the top level of the pack n play until the weight limit is reached and then we'll use the bottom level with a pack n play mattress.

This is what we think we'll do! We don't have a crib.

[microworm]

To echo others, put the newborn on the flat mattress on the top setting. We used the rock n play for the first 2 months (kind of similar to the napper) for no other reason than someone suggested it and I regret it. It was difficult to get him used to sleeping on a flat surface after that. Unless the baby has reflux issues, then the elevated sleeping position works wonders.

[nitecheese]

DS slept in the napper of the pnp next to our bed for the first month or so. After that, we moved him to the traditional mattress of the pnp.

[frecklesnbrains]

My baby is having difficulty with the flat surface. He curls up into a ball and falls over on his side. This can be prevented if he's swaddled but he's started hating being swaddled.

[packerfan4life]

Jun 1, 2016 7:18:12 GMT -5 frecklesnbrains said:

My baby is having difficulty with the flat surface. He curls up into a ball and falls over on his side. This can be prevented if he's swaddled but he's started hating being swaddled.

Don't give up on the swaddle! DD hated the act of being swaddled but without it she would startle herself awake all the time.

[microworm]

Jun 1, 2016 7:18:12 GMT -5 frecklesnbrains said:

My baby is having difficulty with the flat surface. He curls up into a ball and falls over on his side. This can be prevented if he's swaddled but he's started hating being swaddled.

DS did that too. Pedi assured me that it was fine if he rolled onto his side himself. Still scared me a bit. So we kept with the swaddles and he slept in those for the first 3 or so months.