Saturday, August 16, 2008

Co-sleeper

When it comes to preparing materially for the baby's arrival, David and I are taking a fairly minimalist approach. Our small apartment, budget constraints, and a preference for simplicity make us more inclined to seek only a few essential items for baby care. And we really don't mind if they all come secondhand, as long as they are safe to use.

Cloth diapers in varying sizes and styles are tops on my list, along with a bed, a sling/carrier, a car seat, a stroller, and some clothes. Other things would be nice, but they aren't essential. All the baby will really need for the first few months is me.

With all this in mind, one thing I am willing to pay a little more for is a suitable bed. With hopes of exclusive breastfeeding and a tendency toward attachment parenting, I am seriously considering a co-sleeper. David would prefer not to have the baby sleep in our bed, so a little bed attached to ours seems to be the next best thing. I've read lots of great things about co-sleepers: they attach securely to an adult bed, the baby's mattress is nearly level with the adult mattress to reduce mom's arm strain when lifting baby into bed to nurse, and some of them even convert into regular cribs for when the baby is older and mobile and needs better containment.

But I really don't know anything about the various models and sizes that are available. Arm's Reach seems to be the dominant brand - they sell on Amazon, too. Please share any thoughts or experiences you've had with co-sleepers!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is an item really worth having (although you may wake up to find that you've dozed off with the baby in your arms, and the co-sleeper is empty!). The more kids we have, the less special "baby equipment" we buy, but I would never want to go without a carseat, stroller, or co-sleeper. Really makes a difference.

Adam said...

we have considered investing in this apparatus ourselves, mainly due to space limitations.

eventually we would like to purchase some furniture that our child can grow up with, but for now, with no formal nursery or childrens room, we are going to have to put that on hold for now :(

let us know what you learn about these and we will certainly do the same!

God bless

Anonymous said...

Frances, I am a big believer in attachment parenting (The Baby Book, Dr. and Mrs. Sears) and we always have our babies in bed with us. After awhile with a high needs baby it can be a matter of survival. Eventually the children do need their own space and silence and some minimal seclusion- just like we all do!

Marianna said...

I found your blog through a link on Carrie's blog. I am a friend of Carrie's sister Monica. I have that co-sleeper and love it! It is something you will be able to use with all of your children. You can use the co-sleeper part for a baby up to 30 lbs, and it converts to a traditional pack n play that will hold a child up to 50 lbs. I have a friend who's child slept in a pack n play for his first 2 years of life, and he did just fine. I got my co-sleeper for next to nothing at a consignment shop. I would look on Craigslist, eBay, and check local consignment stores. It is very expensive new ($250)!