Hello.
First time parent working on helping my almost 10 month old sleep and settle down better during night wakings. We have been using a floor bed, but I feel like this is not helping us much at this point as she now will crawl out when she is up and crying. We have a baby gate at her door and the room is safe, but this behavior and set up seem not conducive to sleep. I feel a little like buying a crib this late is perhaps silly. I'm considering a pack and play. Any one have any advice for me in making this switch/choice/investment? We are going to try some gentle sleep training, but also want her sleep space to work well.
Update: Wow, thanks for all the prompt and helpful suggestions. I do believe we're in the market for a convertible crib! Our young lady is sturdy and strong so I would like a crib that is the same, also later us as comfortable toddler bed sounds promising. any brand recommendations? IKEA Gulliver?
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experience!
We stuck with a floor bed and it's been great. A couple days of sleep training nipped this trouble in the bud. Bedtime has been relatively easy and pleasant as my husband or I can lay down with her until she's asleep.
Buy a crib that convertes to a toddler bed and a full size bed later. That way it's not a waste of money, but will grow with her.
I'd go ahead and invest in a convertible crib that can change into a toddler bed/full size bed. That will last her for 15+ years.
My daughter has a convertible crib and we just changed over at 3+years from her crib to her toddler bed.
As a mother of 3 young adults, a convertable crib is a waste of money. for the most part they outgrow the toddler bed pretty fast.
A crib is a good investment! My son was in his crib until he was almost 3. I got lucky, as he never tried to climb out, but you really can use a crib for your daughter until she's too big or starts to climb out. A convertible is definitely a great option and a definite good investment!
If you're looking for an inexpensive convertible crib, I would look at the Graco line or Baby Mod (same as Davinci and Million Dollar Baby but sold for less through Walmart).
I would buy a crib that converts to a toddler bed. My tall 2-yr-old still loves his crib, sleeps well in it, and doesn't even fit into the pack-n-play anymore (he can't stretch out). As an aside, we also have a Fisher-Price "Ocean Wonders Aquarium Soother" in the crib - he turns it on and off for 5-20 minutes before nap and bedtime and finally puts his head down. Lovely! No howling! It'll stay in his toddler bed when we make that transition.
I don't think it's too late to get a crib! Kids can stay in a crib until they're 3 (or longer) if they are not climbing out.
(I received that wise advice about 2 weeks late for me! LOL)
Seriously, I'd get her a crib. Or borrow O. for a few years.
Make her room comfy and conducive to sleep by using a nice light light and playing some soft music on CD on repeat at night. Make sure her favorite loveys are sharing her crib too! Good luck.
Yes, buy a crib or maybe you know someone who will give you a safe (non-recalled) crib to have or use. I think you and your child will sleep better.
My son only had a pack and play which worked great for a while but he figured out how to climb out of it before he was two. If it's in your budget, I'd go for a crib. Good luck
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I definitely recommend a crib at this point and at her age. It will be safer and you should be able to use it up until she is about 2 yrs old. A pack n play is okay but I really think the crib is a better investment. I wouldn't spend so much money and buy the conversion kind. You can skip the conversion by putting a twin mattress on the floor w/o the box spring against the wall and with a rail that goes up on the other side that you slide under the mattress. You can find an inexpensive crib at Wal-Mart or even Babies R Us using their coupons. Or even try Craigslist for an inexpensive investment.
I'd probably do the pack and play unless you could get a crib second hand that is checked out for recalls. I think most kids are ready to come out by age two, so you wouldn't get that much use out of it and they can be so expensive! The only other thing you could consider though is if you are going to have more kids, then it would be a good investment because more kids would eventually use the crib. Or if you bought a convertible crib that converted into a twin bed then, then that wouldn't be a waste either.
Go for the crib. Pack and plays are not as sturdy or comfortable and they are easier to climb out of. She will sleep in the crib until she's 3 so it's worth the investment.
