With Theo, I was at least 8 months pregnant before I started deliberating about cribs. With this one, I feel like everything is at warp speed and if I don't get a move on, I will wake up tomorrow morning and look over to see my newborn asleep in a dresser drawer. October is only 3 short months away, so I have been thinking more about where the heck everyone is going to sleep once we add another person to our smallish space.
Theo's room is an okay size, but has the drawback of accommodating a queen-sized futon as well as Theo's furniture (two bookcases, a dresser, a crib, and a rocking chair). So I really have no clue how we're going to fit two kids in there, which we will eventually need to do. I really like Hester's suggestion, which was to have Theo sleep on the futon (which is very low to the ground) and the baby in the crib. Problem #1 is that I change Theo's sheets maybe twice a week and that would be a pain with the futon. Problem #2 is that I have no idea whether he'd even stay in it.
So, I have come to a couple of possible solutions. Theo demonstrated yesterday that he can climb out of a pack'n'play but he has been in it a few times since and hasn't even attempted climbing out. I think it was an accident. I'm not jumping to the toddler bed until he is consistently climbing out. If that happens, here's an option:
Saw it on OhDeeDoh...today, actually. It's like they read my mind. It's a little mod for my taste but I do like it, and its cute little bench.
The other option is to get a bassinet or a second crib. The bassinet won't last very long so I am not that excited about that. Then I thought I would get the pack'n'play "lite" or "mini" or whatever it's called, and have the baby sleep in that--for the first few months it would fit nicely in my closet or behind a screen in the corner of the room (if I find another place for our treadmill...); eventually, it wouldn't be a stretch to cram it into Theo's room. Unfortunately, the options on the Graco Web site are all a tiny bit hideous to me. Plus I guess we don't really need two pack'n'plays.
So I thought maybe I would go the mini-crib route. I got to thinking about this after a post on Oh Happy Day. Mini-cribs are much smaller than full-size cribs and are a little narrower and taller than the pack'n'play Theo sleeps in now, and I think a mini-crib is about as practical as a full-size crib in terms of fitting a toddler. Theo still has plenty of room in his pack'n'play. I looked at portacribs, like this one, some of which are quite cute. But I do like the mini-crib option because for practicality's sake it extends into a twin bed, although it's not on casters (drawback). This is my favorite:
It's from the dreaded Wal-Mart but the Baby Mod line is inexpensive and has decent reviews. Someday I'll want bunk beds, but that day is far away. Questions: what about bedding? I've never seen mini-crib bedding in stores. And would I use the twin bed? Would it even fit in Theo's room? In theory we'll be in a 3-bedroom before that becomes an issue. But my life does not often go according to theory.Another theory is that Theo will stay in a crib for a while longer, in which case he can use this crib and the baby can use the pack'n'play in our room. Then when he grows out of it, we can use the twin bed option or we can get him a toddler bed and use the crib for #2 or for subsequent babies. That is my favorite theory. Anyway, feel free to share your opinion if you'd like.
Here was my experience having had babies just 23 months apart. We went the two crib route, however, since I did have to have a repeat Caeserean, it was necessary to teach Vickie to crawl out of her crib, since I couldn't lift her. Should have just gone with the toddler bed (or whatever they are called) and saved some money. Once she learned to crawl out, there was no going back. I really do like the bed with the bench, too. It is very cute.
ReplyDeleteMy mom was obsessed with having a crib at her house for Baby Nora, but my frugile dad prevented her from buying a full crib. She opted for the mini-crib, likes those you posted from Walmart. They got the bedding and crib from Babies R Us. It is pretty cute bedding (pink butterflies, nothing very interesting, but cute!).
ReplyDeleteNora likes to roll around in her crib at nights and the mini-crib (at least the one my mom got) doesn't give her a lot of rolling room. I think it woke her up at nights (she got up 3 times every night I stayed at my parents house) for this next visit I'm going to bring the pack and play. Sorry mom :)
This is just my experience with a smaller crib. Good luck with the hunt!
Interesting...Theo has had trouble sleeping in regular cribs in the past because he sleeps in a pack'n'play--his limbs would get stuck in the slats, or he'd lose his pacifier through the slats, etc. The trip we just got back from was the first trip where he had no sleeping problems. He has been a consistently good sleeper for a long time now, thankfully. That is a good point though about the size. The mini-crib is only about 3 inches narrower than the pack'n'play, but it does have slats and not the comfy mesh sides.
ReplyDeleteI have also been looking at Ikea toddler beds and extendable toddler-to-twin beds. They are at least paintable and very inexpensive. They don't have any mini-cribs, though.
Ok, my input (actually I'm quite an opinionated person).... If you plan on having more children, just get a full-size crib where at least one side comes off and viola, you have a toddler bed! Theo could do that for now but then that just means more changes for everyone: move from pack 'n play to crib to bed. and baby move from pack 'n play to crib to bed too? Too bad you can't just buy the baby a crib and keep it in your room (i'm guessing it won't fit?) Skip the mini-crib, waste of money. Also, skip the toddler bed, buy a crib where the side comes off and it works.
ReplyDeletetip: they sell these cat-proofing nets that go over a crib or pack 'n play can actually keep the kids in - Babies R Us. It makes a cool "tent"
Hmmm, too many choices. We just have a crib and when they are out of the crib they go into a regualr twin. Except Henry slept in a double bed for a while because we needed a quest bed and mom and dad didn't fit in the twin bed together very well.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about the full-sized crib is that I don't really have room for one. Nor do I have room for a toddler bed or twin bed actually. I mean I have ROOM but it would be a really tight squeeze. That's why I'm kind of trying to hold off until we have a 3-bedroom or at least a den and can put the futon in that.
ReplyDeleteHence the mini-crib idea, which converts to a twin later.
You might think in that vein that a full-size crib would be a good investment for the future, when I have a little more space (or at least more dividers in the form of an additional room). But I have really liked having Theo sleep in a pack'n'play. It has been so handy and I love the mesh sides vs. slats for a really little one.
But my vanity gets in the way--the pack'n'play minis are just not very cute.
By the way, I am trying to figure out if the Baby Mod one also converts to a toddler bed by taking one side off. It says it does but I think it might be a typo.
ReplyDeleteI also like the Oeuf knockoffs from Baby Mod, like the Park Lane crib. But again it's an issue of space (and cost).
I think you might need to rethink your futon.
ReplyDeleteAt our first house we had a guest bedroom and Madison's room, but when Drake came along we had no room for the crib. We opted to get rid of the guest bed and we bought a air matress for when people came to visit. You and your kids are there the most so make that room the kids room.
When we moved into the house we are in now we made a guest room again, then we had Scarlett and we gave Madison the queen guest room and kick her out when people visit. So far this has worked for us pretty well.
I was really hung up on having a guest bed for visitors but Steve reminded me we are the ones living here! Take it or leave it but this works for us!
I like the mini crib idea, very cute!
Actually, you really have a point, Heather. However...I'd miss the futon. It's so comfortable and I often lie or sit on it reading or doing whatever while Theo plays. We average maybe once every couple of months, sometimes once a month, for visitors, which admittedly isn't super high, but...we just barely bought it (new, I think around $350ish?) last fall. (it's this one--I definitely recommend it if you have a need and space for a futon.)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which, I just saw on the Ikea Web site that the Lillberg sofa, which we have in our living room, is now in sofa-bed form. Too bad we didn't get in on that one, that would solve the problem completely.
I feel torn the same way about our treadmill, which is standing in the spot in our room where I want the new baby to sleep. I have NEVER used it since we moved. I used it occasionally (maybe once a week) when we lived in Salt Lake and had a basement--it was nice for super hot or cold days, and it was out of the way in the basement, and there was a TV right there. Now, it's been standing in the corner of our bedroom for almost 2 years.
But I keep thinking (or at least, Matt keeps saying) that I will regret it if I toss the treadmill now. Someday we will have room for it. Problem is...when is someday? I really have no idea! It could be 5 years from now. We got it for free. Maybe I should try to sell it and turn a profit.
By the way, thanks to those of you who weighed in. Matt is already tired of talking about it but I am just getting started...
ReplyDeletei can't believe i lost my comment - oh well -
ReplyDeletei would adios the futon - sell it and the sofa and get the sofa bed.
will guests want to sleep with 2 small children?
and i would get a twin for theo for his 2nd birthday (that's what we do at our house) and have the baby sleep in a cradle (you can borrow mine) or a bassinet until then.
i'm not a fan of the mini crib or mini bed - because they don't really let you maximize their use or potential.
just my 25 cents.
good luck!
oh - and i would sell the treadmill too-
ReplyDeletei sympathize with your space issues - we have similar ones.
i would toss the treadmill because when you can afford the space for a treadmill, someone will have one available for free or cheap.
ReplyDeleteoh bonny...i love the way you think. that is actually incredibly appealing. now i just need to convince matt!!
ReplyDeleteWe have a pack-n-play that has a bassinet "attachment" to it (basically it just raises the height of the pack-n-play so its about as high as a bassinet), which we've used for both our boys but won't be using this time due to the fact that my MIL just gave us a real bassinet. And once my baby outgrows the bassinet we have an empty crib that we just moved Jonas out of. So if you want to long-term borrow the pack-n-play with bassinet attachment you're welcome to do that. We haven't used it since we moved back, so I don't think we'll be missing it much.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the offer, Holly! I really might take you up on it. Theo slept in one of those too--although now he is still sleeping in it (without the bassinet attachment of course), and he could be in there for a while, so we need something else. I have been looking at bassinets and cradles, but am trying to decide if it's worth the investment. I doubt our future kids will be as close together, so by the time #3 comes around, #2 should be out of the pack'n'play, so maybe we won't need a bassinet or cradle in the future. Anyway, just thinking out loud... I will definitely keep you in mind!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bonny. Treadmills are easy to come by and if you haven't used it in 2 years it seems like a no brainer to me. And adding to Heather's comment you will really appreciate having a dedicated space for both of your kids.
ReplyDeleteWe are currently reworking the house to make all five of us more comfortable on our 1400 square feet. It may involve selling our futon and getting a new couch/sofa bed. I'll have to check out Ijea's new stuff. I wish they had leather in a sofa bed...
PS I love using a cradle. It's so charming. But I would love to see the sixe of box Bonny would have to send to get hers to you:)
They actually do have a couple of leather sofa beds. Nothing very exciting but if you want leather, they have it. There are 2 at the bottom of this page.
ReplyDeleteI do like the Karlstad but would like it better in leather.
What I really want is something like this...only made well. (This one is ridiculously cheap; I wouldn't mind forking over more money but I haven't even found an expensive one that I like.) Every single review I've ever read of Urban Outfitters furniture is terrible.
I am a lover of futons - and Bonny gave us hers!! Then we bought another one - I have never in 40 years of marriage been able to persuade your dad to get a sofa bed - it´s not even up for discussion!! He also hates airmattresses, but I don´t mind good ones - I think he has mostly slept on ones that leaked air all night so in the a.m. you were directly on the floor.
ReplyDeleteWhen B and H were little, Helen gave us a charming kind of couch-bed that came apart as two low mattresses - a perfect solution - Bonny went to one when Harry was born, they were so low that even if she fell off, it wouldn´t hurt! And Harry took over the portacrib - we never even had a regular crib until Helen gave us hers when she went on her mission - and then Hannah used another portacrib I got from Tina´s neighbors. I prefer portacribs to the big kind.
Have you considered a trundle bed? They work well for guests and only take up the space of a single bed when they are not trundling. I have never been able to persuade Dad to get one of those either, but I´ve slept on them in other people´s houses and they were nice and comfy - and maybe you weren´t in the same bed as your spouse, but you were pretty darn close.
I´m sure you´ll find the perfect solution. Just remember, in some cultures, the whole family lives, sleeps, eats and procreates all in the same room!!
"Just remember, in some cultures, the whole family lives, sleeps, eats and procreates all in the same room!!"
ReplyDeletePossibly my favorite blog comment ever. I really could be around your mom all the time. I just love her!
Hey Mom, you are completely forgetting the pink couch we had in the family room. I believe that not only did you buy it new, it was a sofa bed.
ReplyDelete