Cribs vs. Pack n' Plays?

Question

Ok I feel really terrible about this but I'm standing my ground with the way I feel.

My cousin is getting ready to have a baby in October. The other day we were talking about what all I got at my baby shower and what stuff I used the first few months and what I didnt need til later on. [[ NOTE: Neither of my kids have ever slept in a crib]] She asked me why I never used a crib, if it was because I simply didn't get one or if I had different reasoning. So I explained to her my reason. I never used a crib because in my own personal opinion I dont feel like my babies are safe in one. I know 2 peoples who children have fallen out of their cribs and been seriously injured. My one friend's 11 month old was napping in her crib while she did some household chores. While she was folding laundry in the next room she heard her daughter let out a blood curdling cry, she walked in the bedroom and found her on the floor. She had fallen out of her crib. She called 911 immediately but the doctors told her that she did such extensive damage to her skull that it would no longer grow with her brain and she would have to have multiple surgeries to correct her skull. The other child I know that fell out of his crib, knocked out 2 teeth and suffered a broken collar bone.

I don't know about any of you, but I couldn't imagine my baby having to go through that. So therefore, my children have both started out in a bassinet and then I moved them into a pack n' play. They don't sit as far off the ground as a crib and if they fall, they aren't falling as far. They are less expensive, easy to set up and easy to move. When my daughter turned 20 months I moved her into a toddler bed and she is doing great in it, while my 6 month old continues to sleep in his pack n' play.

I am not ANTI-CRIB, I just personally won't use one. So, today my Aunt calls me and pretty much gives me the 3rd degree because she bought my cousin a crib as a shower gift and since I told her why I dont use one, she doesn't want to use one either.

I feel terrible because my Aunt spent all this money on a beautiful crib and now my cousin wont use it. I tried explaining my reasoning to my aunt but she just kept telling me I was being unreasonable and I needed to tell my cousin that I was just overreacting and that she should use the crib. I did call my cousin and tell her what happened but she is persistant in sticking with her decision.

I was just wondering how many people have never used a crib either and what your reasoning was, whether it be price, not enough space or anything else.

Answer 1

right now we use the pack n play at night as she still sleeps in our room; she naps in her crib and will sleep in it as she gets older....if you are worried about a baby climbing out...you can buy a mesh cover at babies r us, or anywhere online called a crib tent 2 i think that zips them in so they can't fall out; they can see and breathe through it easily....keep anything like a bumper or toys and such out that could be used to step up on, if you are really worried, put a big pillow or something on the floor, but when you get to that point it may be time for a toddler bed; and no, i don't feel like it is a prison; it is a safe place for a baby to be, just like a pack and play when they are sleeping and can't be watched by a sleeping adult....ppl should use common sense and their knowledge of their child...i would think that to an older child, meaning not close to nb, that a nice firm mattress would be more comfy to sleep on than even the most padded pack and play you can find...which is what we bought...but, we also bought a very nice mattress for the crib...right now she is in the bassinet, and will stay there until she hits the weight requirement, and will likely sleep in the bottom until at least the six month mark when sids drops dramatically or she starts disrupting our sleep severely with her grunts and groans and ahhhhs as she rolls around....

Answer 2

It sounds to me the crib isn't the problem. It's the parents. If your child is old enough and strong enough to climb up and fall out of the crib it's hardly the crib's fault. My son slept in a crib until he was about 10 months old. About that time he was strong enough and tall enough that with the mattress on the lowest level he could still pull himself up a little and try to climb out. Some kids aren't climbers and safely stay in a crib until their parents get around to purchasing a toddler bed. There is nothing wrong with the crib. Tell your cousin to accept the gift and just be aware of her child's abilities. When he's capable of climbing up and out it's time to use a big boy bed.

Answer 3

We bought a crib before my son was born and NEVER used it. I just felt like I'd be putting him in cage, not only that if he was in a crib I couldn't hear if he needed me right away, if he was coughing, etc... so he has slept next to my husband and I since he was born. We ended up selling the crib. Our sleeping situation works great for us :]

Answer 4

if used properly a crib is just as safe. My children have never gotten out of their cribs. And they bothe used them until about 20 months. But to each their own...

Answer 5

I co-sleep. I started out using a crib, but that quickly stopped. She slept better when she was in bed with me. All around I just love co-sleeping.