Do I even need the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper?

[Tmama]

Since this is kiddo # 2 I wanted to do things differently.  With DS, we had a bassinet and it was literally next to me in bed.  I did that up until 4 months or so (can't remember exactly) and then we transitioned him into a crib but it never worked out and the co-sleeping began...all the way until now at 3 1/2.  So, Im just a nervous mama with co-sleeping directly in our bed right away but plan on nursing laying down etc. but couldn't relax the whole night through as a newborn in my bed.  So I was pondering getting the Arms Reach but keep hearing how it's sort not needed.  If I have a bassinet and pull it close to the bed - is there any difference other than the fact that that it's not "hooked" onto the bed seemlessly?  I just don't know what to do.  Also, DS #1 is still in my bed and I have a feeling that will continue unless DH decides to start sleeping with him in his bed.  

I do have a king sized temperpedic but it's not enough room for all of us, LOL.

[DaisyMay]

I would say a bassinet right beside the bed would be little or no different to a co sleeper.  We had the co-sleeper for #2 and I was surprised that the side alongside the big bed didn't drop all the way down so that the co sleeper was like an extension of the big bed - that was what I was expecting.  Thinking about it, I can see why that might be safety risk (if the attachment to the big bed failed or loosened), but at the time, I thought that with the extra lip between you and baby, baby might as well be in a bassinet or moses basket as you're no "closer" to actually cosleeping with the cosleeper. 

[othersomethings]

With DD, I assumed the baby moses basket beside my bed would be the answer - had it there for 3 months and never used it. Finally gave up. 

With this one, I looked into the "arms reach" and when I realized the side didn't go down, but that it was basically like a bassinet with a slightly lower side...I said forget that. So now I'm looking into just sidecar-ing our crib to our bed. There are a couple of logistical problems with it, but if I can make it work, I think it will be the best option. Especially since I'm not convinced DD1 will be sleeping in her own bed by then. (Hopeful, but not optimistic.) I love co-sleeping with her, but I don't plan to do it forever and like you, there literally isn't enough space for four of us (even in a king) since my husband is not a small man.

The crib sidecar solution might solve the two problems...give more room til DD is ready to move, and once she has moved...allow this baby to sleep with us without sleeping "with us." to hopefully make transition with him smoother down the road. 

I don't know...I'm spit balling here. Just another option to think about. 

[Jayray]

We sidecarred a crib to our bed and DS1 slept in a moses basket in the crib for a few months.  Then transitioned to the crib, with part time co-sleeping--just whatever happened in the night.  If I was still awake at the end of a nursing, I put him back in the crib.  If not, he stayed in the big bed.  I enjoyed this set up.  (FWIW we also did some part time cosleeping when he was in the moses basket.  But that was mostly out of laziness--I just didn't feel like putting him back in the basket after nursings.)

[mija y mijo]

I've used a bassinet and a pack n' play in the past and both worked just fine.  This time we're going to use a mini co-sleeper because I got rid of all our baby stuff and I found a good deal on one at a consignment shop.  It's also going to take up less space, which is a plus because we don't have much room in our bedroom as it is.

[ShanaV]

Seconding the rec to just sidecar a crib.

I got a co sleeper and it's like a pp said - effectively the same as a bassinet beside the bed. If you get the original size cosleeper, it is almost the same size as a crib anyways.

So if what you want is a seamless bed extension, just skip the extra step and go right for the sidecarred crib. It's easy with a convertible crib that only needs three sides to stand on. We had to play around with height adjustment a lot, but we have a high bed.

[~Adorkable~]

Ihave been pondering some of the same things about a arms reach. Does anyone have one of the full size "original" models and can give me a measurement? I am wondering exactly how high the lower side is. I know they use this 24" measurement in the decryption but in thinking that is the height of the matteress within it and that the side is a few inches higher?

Here is what I'm thinking about, if I can get a model that the low side is the same as my bed, and it's mattress is a few inches lower, then it would maintain the safety while the babies are in it (though possibly being slightly less safe if the babies were in my bed next to it) and it would have bonus of me being able to slide them back to their bed much easier since I would not have to lift over a lip after nursing. I would just have to lift them to get them into my bed, but I figure then is when they are already up and I will needing to arainge things for nursing so it's pretty ok to need to do it then.

Right now my bed is nearly exactly 24 in and very square at the edge which makes it great for a cosleeper, depending on what comes to 24" on the arms reach I could possibly buy a original or the lower universal to make it work, since e latter is a few inches shorter and adjustable. I also have the option to put my bed on small risers, something that could cheaply give me a inch or so in height.

So anyone got a arms reach handy to measure for me?

[the janet]

We will be co-sleeping, in the sense that there is no extra room for the kid so s/he will be sleeping close to us but not in the bed. I was really excited about using the Arms Reach Co-sleeper but I'm not sure that's the best option since there's something screwy w/our bed and it jostles a lot if someone moves. I imagine it would wake the kid up every time if the co-sleeper was attached. So now I'm thinking about a bassinet. Living in a NYC apt, we don't have room for a full crib next to us. Then I thought about something like this (http://www.amazon.com/Better-for-Babies-Inc-Co-sleeping/dp/B000QSGT4C/ref=pd_cp_ba_2) but the jostling bed would still be an issue.

We may have to resort to just removing one of the dresser drawers and creating a makeshift bed in there!

[othersomethings]

Originally Posted by the janet 

We will be co-sleeping, in the sense that there is no extra room for the kid so s/he will be sleeping close to us but not in the bed. I was really excited about using the Arms Reach Co-sleeper but I'm not sure that's the best option since there's something screwy w/our bed and it jostles a lot if someone moves. I imagine it would wake the kid up every time if the co-sleeper was attached. So now I'm thinking about a bassinet. Living in a NYC apt, we don't have room for a full crib next to us. Then I thought about something like this (http://www.amazon.com/Better-for-Babies-Inc-Co-sleeping/dp/B000QSGT4C/ref=pd_cp_ba_2) but the jostling bed would still be an issue.

We may have to resort to just removing one of the dresser drawers and creating a makeshift bed in there!

When looking at that, it seems to be just a pillow/foam buffer sort of deal. Are you worried about your baby next to the edge of the bed? A toddler bed "rail" might be a better option since it would take up WAY less mattress real estate.  Something like this, perhaps.

[~Adorkable~]

Originally Posted by the janet 

We will be co-sleeping, in the sense that there is no extra room for the kid so s/he will be sleeping close to us but not in the bed. I was really excited about using the Arms Reach Co-sleeper but I'm not sure that's the best option since there's something screwy w/our bed and it jostles a lot if someone moves. I imagine it would wake the kid up every time if the co-sleeper was attached. So now I'm thinking about a bassinet. Living in a NYC apt, we don't have room for a full crib next to us. Then I thought about something like this (http://www.amazon.com/Better-for-Babies-Inc-Co-sleeping/dp/B000QSGT4C/ref=pd_cp_ba_2) but the jostling bed would still be an issue.

We may have to resort to just removing one of the dresser drawers and creating a makeshift bed in there!

who that is a really expensive piece of foam!!  you could probably have a custom piece just like it cut for way way less.  here is a company http://foamorder.com/ that i have worked with in the past and really loved, i used to be in the same city as them and they were great folks, they ship things vacuum packed so that is nice
 

[greenmama66]

I had one with my 4th- honestly for me it was a waste because I sleep with babes in crook of my arm. This time I'm getting a Humanity Co sleeper which is a big pillow thing so baby can't roll off bed. I've also had babies fall though bed rails so I won't use that again LOL. Scary when you hear a thump on the floor and wake up to find your 6 month old fell through somehow the cracks of those mesh bedrails.

[Marissamom]

I was thinking about getting a bassinett early in my pregnancy, but transitioning my toddler into her own room went much more quickly and smoothly than I thought it would. so we'll do what we did last time, have a packnplay that acts as a changing station for the first few months and then is used for naps and the first part of the night. but I can't stand not having my newborn in the bed with me, I worry way too much if I can't constantly hear and feel their breathing. 

[othersomethings]

Originally Posted by greenmama66 

I had one with my 4th- honestly for me it was a waste because I sleep with babes in crook of my arm. This time I'm getting a Humanity Co sleeper which is a big pillow thing so baby can't roll off bed. I've also had babies fall though bed rails so I won't use that again LOL. Scary when you hear a thump on the floor and wake up to find your 6 month old fell through somehow the cracks of those mesh bedrails.

I don't understand how that is possible...aren't they designed to prevent that? 

[mylilmonkeys]

What are the current weight limits on the Arm's Reach?  I remember when I was first looking at them, I decided it was pointless because the weight limit was so low.  One of my babies was just shy of 11 pounds at birth, and was 20 by 6 weeks.  We ended up returning the infant car seat we'd bought because we'd only used it 3 times and he was near the weight limit.  Anyway, if you are thinking about using it for twins, I'd be concerned about the weight limit and how long you'd really get to use it for the money.

We've sidecar-ed the crib, but our crib is getting unstable after 4 kids, so we're building a sidecar attachment to our own specifications.  It'll fit a full crib mattress, since we're having twins.  But it's inspired by this style: http://www.babybunk.com/ .  One problem we always had with the crib sidecar, with the side off there was always a gap created by sliding the crib mattress to meet the adult mattress.  I stuffed a body pillow into it which has worked fine, but I've never been fully comfortable with that solution.