Need advice on buying travel crib or not...

[catepelose]

Hello everyone! This is my first post ever but I've been learning lots by lurking... Thank you in advance for all of your help!

Here's the dealio:

We are pregnant with our first and are planning to co-sleep. However, I was planning on putting the Baby Bjorn Travel Crib on our Baby Registry. We are renters and are currently living in a very small (1 room) cabin and we don’t like to buy/own lots of stuff we don’t use. It would be great for us because it folds down very easily into a small space and is lightweight, but is also longer than most portable cribs making it able to be used until about 3 years old. I’m just not sure if we would use it though… I was thinking we might have to use it if a family member babysits or just for occupying the baby if I need to do laundry, dishes, etc. I would wait to see if we need it except that since my SO and I are not the richest people in the world and there is so little on our registry as is (just the bare necessities) that I was hoping someone might purchase it for us.

[rere]

I definitely find that having a safe place to put baby down to be helpful.I know there are plenty of people who never have any sort of sleeper for there baby and are just fine but at the same time you don't know what kind of baby you're going to get.And if this is your chance at the sleeper I would go for it.It doesn't take up a lot of room and you can always pass it along.

[maptome]

MIL got one for us for when we stay over. DD needs me next to her to sleep, so we never use it. I have tons of stuff we never use and then there was also a ton of stuff we had to buy those first couple of weeks. I would go ahead and register for it at a place like Target, where you can easily take it back and use the store credit if you change your mind. (Or wherever is convenient for you.)

[Katie T]

It wouldn't hurt to get it just in case, but I wouldn't use it. I had a cradle and crib for my first and they never got used. I set the cradle up to #2 and it rarely got used and for #3 I just said forget it lol.

Since you don't know if you will use it and don't have the funds for it later I would put it on your registry and if you don't use it you can always sell it if it is in the way.

Congrats on you coming babe!

[Jend1002]

We don't cosleep, so DS has a full size crib, but we bought a pack and play for similar purposes - travel or if we were at a friend's house past DS' bedtime. We used it a few times, but now DS is really really tall! He can't fit in it. My point in telling you this is that if you do decide to go for something portable, definitely try to go for something that is long, like the crib you described!

We live in a very small (but 2 bedroom) condo. I hear you on not wanting lots of things!

[hjrowan]

I have to put in a good word for the Bjorn travel crib - we bought one last year when DD was about 8 months and it has been fantastic! It seems to be the lightest but sturdiest travel crib - not the same beast as a PnP. PnP's are really heavy, this one folds up small and we've taken it to the UK several times very easily. It's also been used as DDs nap space when she's at her babysitter's place.

If space is at a premium it's definitely worth considering and several PP's have mentioned you don't know what kind on babe you're going to have - they could be a little escape artist or a real wriggler, in which case it may be good to have a secure place for them.

Good luck!

[Louisep]

Co-sleeping is the best travel tool ever! We've never used a travel cot because ds is in with us. However, there was a time around 5-7 months when i got occasional use out of a pack and play. It is good to have somewhere safe to put them when you absolutely need to do something.

[maguvet]

I have this crib and I love it! DS is 9 months now and we travel quite a bit, so it is great. We cosleep most of the night, but he uses it for daytime naps, or to go to bed earlier than me, when we are away from home. It is superlightweight and easy to pack up. One of my favorite baby items.