Question about cribs, versus pack'n'plays

Hi all -

It's been a while since I've posted, but in case you don't recognize me, I'm the crazy Mum who has 11 month old twins and am expecting another set of twins this June (16 months apart, yep). (PS the second set was completely natural, the first set we had some drug assistance).

ANYWAY - my girls won't be ready for "big girl" beds when the new twins are born... the idea of buying two more cribs just seems expensive and then - what - the girls will be in beds by the time they are 2 or 2-and-a-half?

So, am I a bad Mommy for thinking maybe the new twins would be OK in pack'n'plays to sleep? I can't see how it could hurt them? But - I don't know. On the other hand it seems like I'm being cheap - no?

What are your thoughts?

 

I don't see anything wrong with it if they sleep well in them. Or you could put the babies in p-n-p at first if they have the bassinet part too.


Good luck!

 

I dont think you are being cheap, but if it was me, I would get 2 more cribs, only because my oldest was in a crib till he was almost 3, and I plan on doing the same with my twins. The reason I kept him in a crib so long as that I didnt have the energy to chase him around and put him back to bed 100 times a night with 2 new babies at home. He was 2 when they were born. At 16 months when your 2nd set is born, your girls may be in their cribs for another 12-16 months.

 

I don't think you are being cheap either. But like a pp said, my boys were in their cribs until they were three. And we bought convertible cribs-so they go to toddler beds, to full sized beds. So in the long run, saving money. Eventually, you will need to get them beds, no? So if you get the cribs that convert, you would have that covered. We got ours at JCPenney...and they were on the cheaper end... $250/each. Good luck with your decision!

 

I'm all for cribs as long as possible and think I'd take the plunge for two more as well ... I have three cribs and am happy that I did not go to a pack n' play for my older child or move him to a big bed - better to be "caged" in the crib as long as possible, IMO. He's still in it at 3.5 years. I have also found that my older two could climb out of a pack n' play much earlier than they could a crib - something to consider.

 

Ditto this. I dont have more kids, but we did a FET when the girls were 2-- if it had worked we would have had three 3 and under. We woudl have gotten another crib for the reasons mentioned above.

My cribs converted, so we went to toddler beds (for the extra space) and used those for another 2 years (cribs for the first 3 years). We JUST switched to bunk beds at age 5--there is simply not enough room for two twin sized beds in their room.

Our were cheaper than buying cribs/toddler beds/twin sized beds etc...plus the mattresses.

 

I don't think it's wrong to not buy cribs, I'd put the babies in the PNP. But I want mine in cribs as long as possible, too, so I'd personally probably buy cribs.

 

I put my twins in big beds at 16 mo because they were crawling out. First we just converted the cribs but at 21 mo we bought big kid beds. I know everyone says it is harder to keep them in bed but I think the opposite. At a young age they aren't nearly as stubborn as they were excited to get big beds and we never had a problem keeping them in like I did with the cribs. I also know other moms who think putting them in big bed earlier is easier. Just use p-n-p for a couple months and see if htey are ready to be big girls and pass the cribs on to the babies. Also the babies can always share. I had my twins sharing a crib for 6 mo. I am also expecting my second set of twins but farther apart and only set up on of the cribs as I plan on them sharing for a while also.

 

I haven't had a crib since child #3. He slept in it maybe twice, so I got rid of it. Never had one for my twins or Spencer. But we also co-sleep for much of the first year and a half. With Sabrina and Sydney, I had an Arm's Reach co-sleeper (which turns into basically a PnP), and the other PnP I'd had with my older children. I actually use them both now with Spencer, too. He's 20 months old. I'm not ready to have him upstairs where I can't hear him (our master BR is on the main floor), so he sleeps either in one PnP in my room (always for naps, and sometimes at night) or in the PnP in the living room. He'll usually sleep better at night in the living room where he's not so near me, but I can still hear him if he does wakes up.

The main reason for not getting cribs with S&S was that we just didn't have room. We were in a tiny 2 bedroom house, and they were children #4&5... NO space for big cribs. We moved into this house when they were about 18 mo old and it seemed silly to buy them then. So they continued sleeping in PnPs until a little after turning 2, when we got toddler beds.

 

I think I would wait it out also before buying cribs. A pack and play can keep the second set of twins just fine until the older ones would be ready to move to a bed. Mine shared a crib, a toddler bed, and now a big bed. They have never been apart at night, unless one is sick. Even if you do end up needing another crib, you might be able to get away with only one. But, I'm also another mom with much better experiences with switching children under 2 to a bed, than an older child. You just never know what will work until you're actually there. You may just want to wait and decide then.

 

I always moved my kids to toddler beds at 15mo or so since they climbed out of their cribs at that point. You could always try that.

 

hey you sound like us lol!

 

I agree with waiting it out. We moved my DD to a toddler bed at 2 and a half because when we found out it was twins we needed the bigger room(hers) for them. So we did the toddler bed and moved her room and made a big deal about how she was a big girl. But, that said my twins slept in a pack and play in my room until about 3 or 4 months(I think). Some kids climb out early and some don't. I could have kept my DD in her crib until she was about 3.

 

I don't think it's wrong to not buy 2 more cribs. My twins still nap in pack n plays and they'll be 2 tomorrow. So they definitely could stay in pack n plays for quite a while.

Shannon

 

My girls shared a crib till 14 months. At that point we moved one to a pack in play. At 24 months they went to toddler beds and at 3.5 to twin size beds

 

I too am in the camp of just buying 2 more cribs. I just moved my DD to a big girl bed and she is 3. If I would have moved her earlier I would have been chasing her all around the house in the wee hours. No way was I doing that. Her transition went off with out a hitch. I plan on keeping my twinsies in their cribs until they are 3 as well.

You can get decent cribs that convert at Walmart.com for just as cheap as a pack n play. 120-130 bucks and they have a nice selection and free shipping!

 

I got my cribs at Ikea and they are about the same size as a pack n play, cost $99 (plus the cost of a mattress), use a standard crib mattress, are cute, and convert to toddler beds.


Link to crib.

 

Thanks for the replies!

Meantime I did find 2 hand-me-down cribs that I'm going to take. I don't think they come with the mattresses... So depending on where we are (trying to sell house to find a 4-bedroom! fun, while pregnant) we may start with the p'n'ps and see how it goes.

Appreciate all the great advice. Pro's and con's for each scenario.

C.