C0-sleeper

I'm not sure about the mini-cosleeper but I have seen it at Babies-R-Us so you could go there to check it out...also check you local thrift shops for a used one, I always find great things at Once Upon a Child.

I just wanted to tell you that co-sleeping is a wonderful nature thing, do not let anyone make you feel bad about your decisions for your family! You have to do want feels best for your family. We had our 16 mnt old in bed with us for 6 months (from 6-12 months) and I wouldn't change it for the world, it was what he needed at the time.

Good Luck finding something that works for you!
N.

We tried the mini-co sleeper with our second but we just ended up sleeping together anyway since it was what we did with our first. With 4 kids, I would probably give a separate sleeping space more consideration---I don't know how you could all fit in a bed together!! I honestly didn't see what the difference was between the co-sleeper and/or a crib (besides the co-sleeper being small). You can always put a crib right next to the bed too and you could use it longer--the co-sleepers can only be used for a short period of time. Just a thought.

HI C.,

I have a cosleeper and love it. My son is 2 months old now. I am not sure yet about a playyard since they are kinda small but I have heard using it for toys, etc for storage. You have a handful in your bed! I can understand wanting a cosleeper!

Good luck and congrats with you new little one to come!

Enjoy!

B.

I was short on room with out last and used the mini co-sleeper. I was able to use it until he was about 9 months old. Just because he was able to stand and it isn't that deep. I am pg again and will use it again I loved it. I got my off the internet (new) because I found it cheaper and they bring it right to your door. I have nothing against thrift stores but I like to know who had it and how they treated there stuff.
Good luck
K.

We used our mini co-sleeper set up as a bassinet for our third. (We had moved to a smaller house, and there wasn't room for the pack and play in our bedroom.) I often fell asleep nursing, but could easily put the baby back into the bassinet if one or both of our older kids came into bed with us. It can't be used as a pack and play, and it only worked for us until our baby was about four months old. It's not very deep, and once the baby starts scooting around, it made me nervous to have him in there. But by then I was more comfortable with him being safe in our bed. It has very limited use, but for us, it fit the bill.

Are you looking for one that fits IN your bed or BY your bed? I would definitely have the baby in something with the other kids jumping in the bed. We got outs so my husband wouldn't roll on the baby.

Go Co-Sleeping! We hear so much negative, but it's done around the world, and it is beneficial for our kids.

I have 2 children 3 years old and 7 weeks old. I co slept with my first because she did not like her bassinet. My 7 week old, she is in our bed for feedings and if i am to tired to get up and put her in her swing she stays. Let's just say we are co-sleeping!I did run out and buy the mini co-sleeper hoping she would like it. I ended up returning it. I was very excited when I purshased it. The one I bought was for infants up to 6 months old. It was a great idea and it would have worked if I would of got my newborn used to it. Also it was very hard to put up and take down and our bed was too high for it but you can buy leg extentions for it but only available on line! So if you do decide to purchase it you should leave it up at all times. So we are co-sleeping and she swings (we had an extra swing so we have one upstairs and another downstairs) too during the night if I need to get more comfortable. Both of my children have loved the swing! They do make a swing sleeper for the same price as mini co but again is only for infants up to 6 months. Yes some are against co-sleeping but only you know what is best for your baby. I say if it works for you and you are comfortable with it then stay with it.
We are working on a new bed time routine with our 3 year old. She would always wake up in the middle of the night and come to our bed. She is a roly poly legs kicking everywhere. I was afraid she would kick the new babe in the head so we had to get her out of our bed. This new bed time routine is working great! She is a big girl now and we are so proud of her for making this transition!

We had the large co-sleep b.c we had twins and that converted into a regular sized playyard (like the graco pack and play) so the mini co-sleep would obviously be smaller, probably by about a 3rd, still room to play but not much, and when he/she is a toddler will grow out of it that much quicker. With that being said I highly recommend the co-sleeper system. You are right, with older kids climbing in it gets crowded and a little less safe with a baby in the mix so its so nice just to push them out into the co-sleeper when necessary and pull them back when you need to nurse, etc. without having to get out of bed...heaven! They are costly though as you would know if you have been looking into them but perhaps you could find one used? Also converting them from co-sleeper to pack and play as quite the process so you wouldn't want to have to do that very often. I think the products are very well made, safe and durable.
K. H.

Hi,

I didn't read all the responses you got, but here's my story. Our first was in our bed all the time and I never rested well because I was always afraid of one of us rolling on him. With our 2nd we got the co-sleeper and loved it! It was great to always have him near and reachable and we never had to worry about rolling on him; plus with nursing, it was great to just slide him over to our bed and back again. We sold it after he grew out of it and now we're having our 3rd and we are buying another. This time I not only like all the reasons we had it before, but both our boys seem to find there way to our bed sometime before dawn every night. This isn't ideal of course, but I certainly wouldn't want one of them to roll on the baby, so she will be safe in the co-sleeper. It's true it only lasts a few short months because they grow fast, but it's a great size to also use as a changing table on a lower level or a small play pen for short term use. I want to train my boys to stay in their beds at night, but it will be a long battle and I'm hoping that with the baby being awake so often at night that the boys will perfer to sleep in their rooms to avoid the chaos...perhaps I'm being overly optimistic, but here's wishing! Good luck.