Am I a "Bad Mom" if I use a Pack N Play instead of a crib?

[tinabohio]

We coslept with both kids. My youngest would not sleep in the crib, but liked the PNP well enough. At night it was all cosleeping though. Her crib sat there forever, so pretty. Now that we took the side rail off and converted it to a toddler bed she loves it. My eldest preferred cosleeping or sleeping on a QUEEN SIZE MATTRESS (the kid got my old matress and we took the king size) by herself.
I'd wait on the crib until about 3 months or so so you can see how the sleeping arrangements are going and really decide on what kind you may want and scope them out super well. I cannot say enough about having a convertible crib, if not for it my DD would have never used the thing!

[ellie1912]

I used a Pack'n'Play with my now 2 year old son from the time he was a newborn until he was about 5 months old. At the time I could not see spending over $200 for a crib- and I had a friend who was going to lend me her crib once her daughter-in-law's little girl moved up to a toddler bed. :) And so I waited and ever since my son was about 5 months old he's been sleeping in the borrowed crib. :) I will be returning the crib once my son moves up to a toddler bed :). I think you can do just fine with a Pack-in-Play until they are around 6 months old or so, they will be come moble and a Pack-in-Play will not be sturdy enough for them. But since you will need a crib eventually start your search now---as others recommend keep an eye out on Craigslist, yard sales and ask friends and friends of friends if they know anyone looking to get rid of a crib... Oh, yes, the borrowed crib I use did not come with a matress- we bought a brand new one at Wal-Mart -- with a giftcard we were given after our son was born. Maybe you'll be able to do something similar!--- I'm sure you'll be able to find a nice crib! Best Wishes! & Congrats! :smile77: -K-

[arose304]

My youngest DS slept in a PNP from till we put him a toddler bed. No problem. He loved it. Also once when he got sick in it I could just take it out in the yard and hose it off. We had money, I just did see the need. He loved his PNP and why waste money for a few months when he was going to go in a big boys bed. It's whatever works for you. Everyone is diffent and as long as it works for you that's what matters.

[momaskew2]

Oh my, HCW mommas are so good with words!! :-)
You will learn pretty soon whose advice to listen to and whose not to, just based on your parenting styles if nothing else. IMHO, I'd wait on the crib to see what the baby is like! I was all set for my DS to be a scheduled napper who slept in his own bed, and we ended up co sleeping. PnPs make wonderful laundry bins!!
In the words of Dr Suess "A person is a person, no matter how small." They have feelings and preferences all their own, and they're not shy about making them known either! You, dh and baby will figure out what will work best together.
I wish you and your growing family all the best!!

[reflect23]

My youngest daughter never slept in a crib. She was in a pack 'n play until we moved her to a toddler bed. We cut a foam mattress pad to fit inside their and used a twin sheet over everything. The only downside, like some of the others have said, is your back. Just my opinion.

[CoveredinGrace]

Not a bad mommy, do what you want. Queen said it best, but I agree with everyone above me.

The only thing I wanted to add was this:
Don't let her buy you a crib. Just don't. It only feeds her belief that you are unable to care for your family/child on your own and need her help. You don't. And you don't want to owe her ANYTHING if that's the attitude she has, so don't let her do you any "favors", k?
Hugs,
Jess

[justmeagain]

I had a crib......a nice crib. I had a whole "nursery"......guess what.....talk about a complete waste of money! That crib was NEVER used, not even once. I even had a bassinet in the beginning.....that was a no go. I had a VERY high need child. She slept in our bed. Makes me sick thinking of all the money I wasted buying things I was told I needed.

[oscamaya]

I just moved my daughter out of the pack n play and into her brother's crib about 2 months ago. She is now 17 months old. Her brother would not give up the crib and i refused to buy another one. She didn't come close to tearing it up. When she got bigger I put a thick comforter down in the bottom so that it would be softer for her.

I know. I am a 'horrible' mom because I don't do what all the books say, but my kids are happy and healthy.

[cearhart]

I agree you will figure out what works well for you and your baby. My DH was born at 2.5lbs and had health problems so she had to sleep strapped to a large foam pad to keep her from chocked to death on her puck. I know it sounds bad, on the plus side she is 10 years old now and it great health. The point is she had to sleep in a PNP because this foam pad thing would not fit in her crib plus I wanted her at my side in case of an emergency. So you will do fine in what ever you choose.

[FrugalFoodie]

Just a tip on the PNP. My sister used one for her son, the one with the bassinet in it. Well the bassinet part is not built for long term use. It started to bow under the weight and kept his head in one position all night and this in turn caused a severe flattening of his head in the back. He is in a crib now but he is now facing a helmet to correct the flattening. When he lays on his back now he CAN NOT turn his head because his skull has been pushed out on both sides of his head. It's like trying to roll a triangle-doesn't work. If you don't use the bassinet part as a sleeping bed then it wouldn't be bad. Just beware of the bassinet part!