Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Where Will Baby Sleep?

I'm still here; I just haven't had a lot to blog about lately.

My mom gave me her bread machine that she never used, so I've had fun playing around with that lately.

I have been researching different childbirth "methods." I'm still not set on any one approach, but I am feeling more prepared and even excited about giving birth. If I had to do it today, I could (but, of course, I want Baby to stay inside for a couple more months to grow bigger and stronger).

We know we want Baby in our bedroom for the first few months at least (actually, we don't have a lot of choice, since our apartment only has one bedroom). We were considering getting an Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper, and maybe we still will, but a lot of the parent reviews I have read online say that their babies outgrew them after four or five months. I don't know if it would be a good use of money to get a co-sleeper that could only be used for four or five months and then have to purchase a full-sized crib, as well.

Another option would be to get an relatively inexpensive Moses basket (has anyone ever tried one?) or bassinet, plus a crib. Any advice from moms who have been there? Did you have your babies sleep in your room? When did you move them to another room?

7 comments:

staceyhoff said...

melissa i have always kept my newborns in bed next to me ; of course i know i am a light sleeper and will not roll over on the baby. because my husband does move around a lot, i slept with my back to him and baby next to me, with my pillow alongside baby so she couldn't roll off . this left a good amount of space from the edge . of course, no pillow for baby and you have to be somone who doeesn't mind your blanket only coming up to your waist. I did this with all 3 of mine. makes it easier to nurse to, just put her on and don't have to get up half asleep ha ha

i have also heard of putting baby on the fllor next to the bed on her crib comforter with the halo sack werable blanket so the blanket doesn't bunch up .

~ Stacey

staceyhoff said...

ooh i also meant to tell u i have heard good things about the moses basket, and often girls keep them 4 their dolls later on. co-sleeper i also heard was a waste of $. sorry about my typing i am holding my 5 month old girl and using the one finger peck method ... ha ha

~stacey

Shannon Sinclair said...

-Melissa,

Moses baskets would be a good option since they are affordable and can be used as an heirloom as stacey described. mosesbaskets.com have special stands you can put the basket on to rock it even!

Melissa said...

Staceyhoff--Thanks for letting me know what you've heard about Moses baskets vs. co-sleepers. We are leaning more toward the Moses basket now. Cute idea about using for dolls later. I would love to sleep with Baby in our bed, but I have a tendancy to "sprawl," so that there's sometimes barely enough room for my hubby! I don't think we could do three in a bed. :-)

Shannon--thanks for the link. I will check that out.

staceyhoff said...

you are very welcome, Shannon! :)

The Mom said...

The moses basket is a good idea but I absolutely LOVE my 3 sided baby bed that is pushed up next to our bed. It's sturdy, has ample room at the beginning for extra diapers, clothes, wipes, etc. and then converts into a little bench when not in use for a baby. So it's versatile.

My babies have been in it up to 5-7 months. My little boy slept better alone in his own room by the time he was 5 months old. My little girl preferred our room so it worked longer for her.

It's basically the Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper style but instead, my brother made it for me. The cost was pretty low considering the only financial expense was the wood and mattress and we just used pine 1x4's for the 3 sides, 4x4's for the legs and ply wood for the "bed" part. I sanded and painted the entire thing white and then bought a bassinet size mattress to fit.

I love it and don't know what I'd do without it -- especially during the early months. I nurse in bed so it's nice to have the security of knowing that my baby can't roll off our bed in case I fall asleep before he/she is done nursing. I find this set up so convenient.

Good luck and I hope you can find something to work! If you're interested in exactly how mine works, I can email you a picture if you want.

Congratulations on your baby! Keep enjoying your pregnancy. :)

For a Season said...

If you check out the details when you buy a crib, you can find ones that the side is not an integral part of the frame. We took the side off, roped the crib frame to our bed frame so their was not a gap and lowered the crib mattress to match ours. Baby had a cozy spot next to me for the 1st 2 months. (Then we had a family bassinet to use until about 4 months of age, when another family member needed it!) Depending on the size of the bassinet, they outgrow them between 4-6 months.