Do I really need a pack & play?

[smcdonald2]

Sorry if this is a weird question. Almost everyone regisTers for a PNP and almost everyone I know says it's just an oversized toy box in their living room. Just not sure if we'd really use one, so I thought I'd get your opinions. My mom is babysitting for us full time during the day. In the evenings, DH and I make dinner, talk, watch TV...seems like we'll be holding or wearing Dc (since we haven't seen her all day) or playing on a blanket in the floor. We've got a crib for sleeping, a superyard for when she starts moving...what's the PNP for? I should mention that we are really into voluntary simplicity and we don't like to have unnecessary possessions.I'm thinking about skipping it unless I just find a really nice cheap one on craigslist. Am I crazy?

[cvanbrunt]

No, you're not crazy. Here's how we used ours for both girls. For the first few weeks DH and I took turns "sleeping" and feeding in the guest room with the baby while the other slept. We have a big house so it was used as the changing table downstairs for a few weeks as well. After that, it has been used a handful of times as crib when we go to my sister for Thanksgiving and it has been used exactly once as a playpen. You can always get one later if you find you need it.

[SnuggleBuggles]

No, you're not crazy. Here's how we used ours for both girls. For the first few weeks DH and I took turns "sleeping" and feeding in the guest room with the baby while the other slept. We have a big house so it was used as the changing table downstairs for a few weeks as well. After that, it has been used a handful of times as crib when we go to my sister for Thanksgiving and it has been used exactly once as a playpen. You can always get one later if you find you need it.

That's pretty much how we used our's.

I really was happy to have one. If you have a 2 story house, I think they are valuable.

Ds2 was in it more than ds1. We used it as a playpen for him when we needed somewhere safe to put him briefly. But, you have the SuperYard so you likely won't need it for that.

Beth

[vludmilla]

Nope. I hated the one we were given and rarely used it.

[zag95]

We've used ours quite a bit on trips to the beach or traveling places. Our house is a single story, so it isn't as useful as those that have 2 levels. Also has been used when company comes!

[ahrimie]

We used ours a lot in the first 3 months or so because we have a bi-level home. I'm mostly downstairs so we used it as her bed. After that, we've used it as a travel bed since DD doesn't like to sleep with us. I purchased a mini-crib's mattress and use it with the PNP for use now.

But I would suggest buying a simple PNP. We bought one of the flashier ones and I don't see much need for the extras. The features I do like are: bassinet and canopy though.

[mousemom]

We have a small apartment and did not need one. We used our bouncer or a blanket on the floor when we needed to set him down during waking hours and he napped in his crib, which shares our bedroom, or, more often when he was little, in our arms. If you have a larger house or travel more often than we do, I could see it being useful.

[ZeeBaby]

We used the bassinet feature with both of our girls the first few months as a crib. We still don't have a crib for DD2. We also used it as travel crib for DD1 when we visited friends and relatives. We got ours as a gift off of our registry and I feel like it has been extremely useful. We also using the changing tray with DD2. It is definitely one of the most used items from our registry. If we didn't have it, we would manage, but it would be much tougher. I just find with two that you need so much more stuff to not be overwhelmed. We borrowed a 2nd pack n play for DD1 to keep her contained when I am busy with DD2. It has been very helpful.

[frugal mom]

We used ours quite a bit. I have one with the basinette feature, and DD slept in that next to our bed for the first 3 months or so, rather than using something like a co-sleeper. Then we took out the basinette and moved it to her room for another month and used it as a crib until we got her real crib. She's now 18 month and still naps in it at least once a week when my MIL watches her at their house. We also take it with us as a travel crib on road trips. So for us, using it for sleeping had been great. I've never used it as a playpen, though.

[arivecchi]

We have used ours a ton with both kids. We used it as a bassinet the first couple of months and used the changing pad a ton as well. Once they get bigger, we leave it in the living room for tummy time and so they learn to sit in a safe place. Great for travel as well.