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01-27-2013 at 9:26 PM
UponAStar6...
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UponAStar63 is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 7:52 AMNewbie

XP: Questions about PNPs

I have a few questions regarding Pack and Plays which I also posted on my BMB... I just saw my first question is similar to one asked on this board a few days ago, but maybe you ladies could help me out with my other two questions?

First of all, just curious how many of you have used the Pack and Play as baby's primary sleeping location, at least for a little bit? We ordered a crib but it probably won't arrive until at least a month after he is born. We were planning to have him sleep in the Pack and Play in our bedroom for the first month or so anyway, but I am second guessing myself whether this is the best idea or not.

Also, the Pack and Play we have, the Graco Element, has a changing table on it... It is the kind that you have to actually take all the way on and off, not the kind with the newborn napper that flips or rotates off to the side. Can I have the baby sleep in the bassinet part with the changer in place or is it best to remove it completely? It covers about one third of the bassinet and I wasn't sure if putting the baby on the other two thirds would work, or if babies scoot around and he could work his way underneath the changer.

Lastly, did you guys use a mattress protector and or sheets for your Pack and Plays? If so what kind did you use? I have read reviews on BRU and Amazon that the Graco brand sheets are horrible and wasn't sure what the best alternatives were.

Thanks in advance for any info!

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01-27-2013 at 10:42 PM
ShellBear+
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ShellBear+ is not online. Last active: 05-20-2013, 12:55 PMBronze
Well I don't have a baby yet but I also have this pnp. I plan to have the baby sleep in the bassinet part in our room for the first couple months. The changer is meant to be left on and the baby can be placed to the side of it. They won't move around at that age. Also I registered for the American baby pnp sheet from amazon since the graco ones apparently are crappy. It has elastic and should fit better.

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01-28-2013 at 12:10 AM
katiejo121...
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katiejo1216 is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 1:49 AMBronze

What are you second guessing yourself about?  Having the PNP or having your LO in your room with you?  

We love having the PNP.  Our LO is almost 6 months and is still in the room with us.  I am not ready to have him in his nursery quite yet but that is just my personal preference.  I am also nursing so it is nice to have him close overnight.  He refuses to sleep anywhere besides my arms during the day but when we try to put him down for naps we use the crib.

We buy the cheap Circo pack and play sheets at Target.  They work well enough...not the easiest to get on all the time but they work.  If there are any diaper leaks or lots of spitup we wash the sheet and the PNP mattress is easily cleaned.  

If you have the PNP already I would just use it when your LO arrives and see what you feel comfortable with.  Enjoy your last few weeks of pregnancy!

 
01-28-2013 at 12:56 AM
UponAStar6...
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UponAStar63 is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 7:52 AMNewbie
Thanks for the feedback, I will definitely check out both kinds of the sheets mentioned!

Oh and what I was second guessing was the PNP use for primary sleeping, definitely not the part about having him sleep in our room for a few months... I am planning on nursing too so after heeding the advice of others who have gone before me I know this arrangment will be a better option than us being on different floors for lots of reasons... Plus I will probably not be able to take my awestruck eyes off of him anyway, no matter how sleepy :

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01-28-2013 at 6:55 AM
kellyrn995...
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kellyrn9956 is not online. Last active: 05-24-2013, 5:39 PMGold

I have the PNP with the newborn napper/rocker and changing table. We plan to use this in the bedroom and use the bassinet feature as his primary sleeping location unless he hates it. Then we'll try his crib. I personally think it's risky to not have a crib when baby comes home; you never know what you and the baby will like best. But that's just me, and I'm sure there are plenty of families who go without a crib for the first few weeks just fine.

I bought  a two pack of playyard sheets from Target for $9.99. They seem just fine IMO. I registered for some Graco ones and didn't get them, so just went with the Target ones.

I wondered the same thing about the changing station, and am curious to see the answers to that part of the question. It seems risky to me to keep the changing station attached, but it would be a PIA to have to put it on every time I want to change him in the middle of the night.


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01-28-2013 at 8:33 AM
PBear93
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I think your question about the changing station is different based on what kind of one you have.  Some of the newer pack n plays have an elevated changing station that sits quite a bit higher than the top of the PNP, I think that one would be ok.  The one I have sits right on the edge of the PNP, I don't think I would be comfortable with that one once LO started moving in their sleep (which my LO did pretty early)

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01-28-2013 at 9:34 AM
MainelyFoo...
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MainelyFoolish is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 6:14 AMGold

Both of my kids have slept in our bedroom in the PNP for the first 5 to 6 months. It's fine. Just make sure that if your kid exceeds the bassinet weight limit (usually 15 lbs.), you move the mattress down.

Our PNP has an attached changer and I don't move it. I put the kid in the PNP with his head facing the other the side of the PNP, his feet under the changer. It's not like the baby is sitting up in the night and bumping his head/feet on the changer.

I have some play yard sheets from Target and some from BRU. The ones from Target are a very tight fit and a little hard to get on the mattress. The BRU ones are bigger and much easier to use, but I'm not sure they're still being made (I think there were Koala Baby brand).


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01-28-2013 at 2:15 PM
eyenigh
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eyenigh is not online. Last active: 05-25-2013, 8:46 AMBronze

I love our PNP, and it had been my intention to have my son sleep in it for the first couple of months in our room, too, but I ended up hating it for that purpose. The mattress was really crunchy and it kept me up all night-- and the last things wanted was less sleep at that point! We wound getting a Rock N Play and then transitioned to the crib by the time he was 8 weeks. 

That being said, I love the PNP now. It's a great baby jail when you need to keep them safe for a little bit!


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