Co-sleepers??

[mad4mady]

Hello All- I am pregnant with dd2 and I am trying to figure out sleeping arrangements. Dd1 slept in our bed with us until she was ready to sleep in her own bed (age7)  so I have no experience with cribs or cosleeper. Dh and I have decided we like the idea of having baby with us in our room but, we also like having our bed to ourselves after all these years.So we decided the best choice for us is a cosleeper bed. I have been looking at the arms reach co sleepers and I like that it looks easy to pull baby into bed with me to feed her and that she will be right next to the bed but, they also look small...does anyone have any experience with these co sleepers? Can baby sleep in one for a year. Is there a better option out there on the market? I like that the arms reach also looks like it can be freestanding if say I wanted to move her for a nap in her room while I was in there doing other things, etc.

Thanks for any experience or ideas

Megan

[mamaforever]

I don't have any personal experience with cosleepers, but when we have baby #2 (we will start TTC this summer), I am leaning towards using a sidecar crib (pretty much like a large cosleeper).  This is mainly because we only have a queen size bed so need that extra space for the new baby, and because we already have a crib so wouldn't have to spend extra money on an arms reach cosleeper.  Here is a helpful site about sidecarring a crib if you're interested:

http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/turn-your-crib-into-cosleeper.html 

[Buddhamom]

Your question was the same one I had since our 6 yr. old still sleeps with us sometimes so on those night our babe will need somewhere to sleep instead of between us.  I am getting the Original Arms Reach co-sleeper because it got validated that the top sleeping section can be removed so she can use the co-sleeper even when she is able to move around since it gets deeper and turns into a play yard.. 

[Shaki]

We had a co-sleeper with our first DD (now 5) and tbh it was more of a laundry/book holder than a space for her to sleep in. It was also sort of a "baby safety net" in that if I had her sleeping on the outside of the bed, if she were to roll, she would roll into the co-sleeper  not onto the floor (this never actually happened, she never rolled off but I liked having the co sleeper there just in case). We are expecting our 2nd DC sometime in the next few weeks and will be using the co-sleeper again. I'm doubtful that he'll actually sleep in it much, but I like the "safety net" factor, plus our DD does still get in our bed with us in the early mornings and I like the option of having a baby only space attached to the bed...so I guess my take on it is that even though a co-sleeper may not wind up being a space that the baby sleeps in that much it still serves a purpose. And who knows maybe he'll sleep in it more than DD did.

[Dlynn918]

Originally Posted by mad4mady 

Hello All- I am pregnant with dd2 and I am trying to figure out sleeping arrangements. Dd1 slept in our bed with us until she was ready to sleep in her own bed (age7)  so I have no experience with cribs or cosleeper. Dh and I have decided we like the idea of having baby with us in our room but, we also like having our bed to ourselves after all these years.So we decided the best choice for us is a cosleeper bed. I have been looking at the arms reach co sleepers and I like that it looks easy to pull baby into bed with me to feed her and that she will be right next to the bed but, they also look small...does anyone have any experience with these co sleepers? Can baby sleep in one for a year. Is there a better option out there on the market? I like that the arms reach also looks like it can be freestanding if say I wanted to move her for a nap in her room while I was in there doing other things, etc.

Thanks for any experience or ideas

Megan

Hi Megan, were due in September with #3 and were in the same boat as far as not wanting to give up our current sleeping arrangements. :-) We have been exploring options for a while and I will share what I have discovered.The options are limited, or so I am finding. Outside of sidecarring the crib (our room is too small), or an arms reach and a pack and play, which seem like a pain cause you will still have to get out of bed and lift fussing, rooting hungry baby up and onto your bed anyway.

I found these but they are all expensive and only one is sold in the US. DH is thinking about building one himself now! I cant see spending hundreds of dollars on something that you only use for 6 months or so.

US Model

http://www.babybunk.com/whatis.htm

$295 just for the bed, mattress etc not included

UK

http://www.bednest.com/

239 euros, about $400 after us conversion and shipping but comes with everything. I contacted the company and if you get a group order to one address they will reduce the shipping.

Germany

http://www.ecobaby.gr/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=36

$259 euros but havent looked into shipping BUT if you go to the German website it shows how it also converts into a desk, bench, chair etc...very COOL! Havent looked into US shipping yet.

Anyone else have another item comparable???
 

[mad4mady]

Originally Posted by Dlynn918 

Hi Megan, were due in September with #3 and were in the same boat as far as not wanting to give up our current sleeping arrangements. :-) We have been exploring options for a while and I will share what I have discovered.The options are limited, or so I am finding. Outside of sidecarring the crib (our room is too small), or an arms reach and a pack and play, which seem like a pain cause you will still have to get out of bed and lift fussing, rooting hungry baby up and onto your bed anyway.

I found these but they are all expensive and only one is sold in the US. DH is thinking about building one himself now! I cant see spending hundreds of dollars on something that you only use for 6 months or so.

US Model

http://www.babybunk.com/whatis.htm

$295 just for the bed, mattress etc not included

UK

http://www.bednest.com/

239 euros, about $400 after us conversion and shipping but comes with everything. I contacted the company and if you get a group order to one address they will reduce the shipping.

Germany

http://www.ecobaby.gr/product_info.php?language=en&products_id=36

$259 euros but havent looked into shipping BUT if you go to the German website it shows how it also converts into a desk, bench, chair etc...very COOL! Havent looked into US shipping yet.

Anyone else have another item comparable???
 

Thanks for the info. They look interesting however, they are way over my budget...I like the idea of making one...Wish DH had wood working skills. I am thinking I am going to have to do the full size co sleeper because I really haven't found any better options. I am hoping I can find one on craigslist that is in good condition, that way if baby only sleeps in it for a few months I won't be bummed on spending the money.

[Dlynn918]

I agree. I wish something like that was available here! Were going to check out the arms reach for the heck of and see.

[Magnolia mama]

I am due with my first in a couple weeks and still have not found something I want to use for baby. I looked at the Arms Reach co-sleeper and it just seemed so cheap. The mattress was flimsy and the surface underneath hard. I don't want to invest in a crib that will be $500 or more because our plan is to have baby sleep in bed with us after a few months. We are trying to find other options, but it is difficult. I like the baby bunk idea, but I too find it a little over our budget for something baby will use only a couple of months.

[amia]

Another vote for the Arm's Reach. I used a full-size one, that is the size of the playard. I used it up until crawling, and then I lowered it to a playard but my baby hated that. It is plenty sturdy. The mattress is hard, but at that age they don't seem to mind. I put a fleece blanket under the sheet for extra softness and a cotton waterproof barrier on top so the actual unit never got spitup, etc on it. They take standard playard sheets so you don't have to buy spare sheets from Arm's Reach.

If you buy one one Craigslist you will likely be able to resell it for what you paid for it. Infants don't put a lot of wear and tear on these things.