Co-Sleeper or Mini Co-Sleeper ?

[Barcino]

I am thinking about purchasing a cosleeper and was wondering if I should go for the full size or the mini?

If you had one will you let me know how you liked it?

[*Aimee*]

we have a mini and I love it! I only use it for the first few days after their born because I don't trust myself (I'm tooooooo sleepy!) and my room is small so the mini is my favorite.

[XanaduMama]

I have the full-size, and honestly I'd get the mini. We never used ours as a pack n play, which seems like the only reason to get the full size (and even then...I'd get something more portable and easier to set up!). Actually, we hardly used ours at all--ds just ended up sleeping in the bed with us, since we couldn't put him down. Anyone else HATE that stupid lip/divider thing? It would be sooo much better if it could be flush with the bed :angry

Anyway, I'd try to get a used one if you can (they're ridiculously overpriced). Or, even better, get a cheapish crib and side-car it to your bed. We have ds's crib wedged between our bed and the wall, and it's SO much better.

[Barcino]

Thanks for your opinions - I think if I get one it will be the mini - I know I will want the baby in our room for a few months. I actually thought about moving the crib in to our room but it takes way too much space so that is why I am thinking of going with the mini.

[rad]

We have the mini. We got that one since our old room was way too small for the full sized. But I'm actually glad we did. It's a nice size.

[ltk]

we either put baby to bed on our bed, until he could role and also used the pack and play basinette features early on (until he was 20 lbs. Once we were in bed, sleeping ourselves, we would just co-sleep with him in between us. I felt like the co-sleeper was a bit flimsy and I didn't understand why it was next to the bed only to have a divider between us.

[Barcino]

Thanks everybody! I will go ahead with the mini I think.
We do not want the baby in our bed - I am actually a heavy sleeper even when I have had a baby between that and the fact that our old bed has a huge gap between the headboard and mattress it is just not safe. I know a couple who lost an 8 month old recently when she got trapped between the mattress and headboard and I am not chancing it in our bed and with my sleep issues. I still want the baby next to us but not IN bed with us. Just our particular choice.

[diamond lil]

I am pg with my first baby and we bought the Mini this past weekend. I was having fun playing with it last night. I got it set up in the baby's room, then I pulled it into our room to see how it would look. I was suprised that it is bigger than I thought it would be, so I am very glad we went with the Mini rather than the regular size co-sleeper. Our room isn't all that big.

One thing I'm concerned about is our bed is still a good 6 inches higher than the sleeping nest of the co-sleeper. I haven't figured out how I can raise the co-sleeper aside from buying the little leg exentions that are featured in the acessories catalog that came with it and that would only give me an inch or 2 more height.

[ZoeyZoo]

I'm side carring a crib but I had looked into this for a while... The full size arms reach wasn't much smaller than a crib. The fact that we didn't have a lot of room for a crib is why I looked into the arms reach in the first place. If you're not looking to use it as a pack and play and don't have a big room, I vote for the mini. I ended up side carring a crib because I thought it would be a longer lasting option than the amrs reach.

[oyinmama]

I'm side carring a crib but I had looked into this for a while... The full size arms reach wasn't much smaller than a crib. The fact that we didn't have a lot of room for a crib is why I looked into the arms reach in the first place. If you're not looking to use it as a pack and play and don't have a big room, I vote for the mini. I ended up side carring a crib because I thought it would be a longer lasting option than the amrs reach.

we are looking for a longer term solution as well -- and are looking at the full size, since it has a weight limit of 30 lbs and the mini's limit is 23 - i figured it'd be useful for longer.

*off to search for threads on side-carring a crib. but if anyone cares to answer, here are my questions: is this an easier way to get the crib mattress flush with the bed mattress? do you have to take the bed-side rail down altogether, or just lower it? can it be done with any crib?


One thing I'm concerned about is our bed is still a good 6 inches higher than the sleeping nest of the co-sleeper. I haven't figured out how I can raise the co-sleeper aside from buying the little leg exentions that are featured in the acessories catalog that came with it and that would only give me an inch or 2 more height.

what about a set of bed risers - most of them are 6 inches exactly - they are designed to give more underbed storage and are available at organization shops and such. http://www.organizeit.com/bedroom.asp we have our bed up on a set and i'd assumed we'd get another set for whatever baby-sleeping solution we ultimately choose

[oceane]

*off to search for threads on side-carring a crib. but if anyone cares to answer, here are my questions: is this an easier way to get the crib mattress flush with the bed mattress? do you have to take the bed-side rail down altogether, or just lower it? can it be done with any crib?


not sure if this might be helpful... pictures of a sidecar crib and how they did it (http://groups.msn.com/SteveandLishsFamily/sidecarcrib.msnw)

I have read on here that it can be done with IKEA cribs, which to me sounds like it can be done with any crib that has an adjustable side rail, ie one you can take out without having the whole thing collapse.