Rent a Crib or Buy a Mattress for the Pack n Play?

magicwishes · Apr 20, 2015

We have a child who will be 13 months at the time of our trip. At home she sleeps well in her crib. I do not think a pack n play alone will be supportive or soft enough for her. Thoughts?

I am considering renting a crib vs buying a pack n play mattress off Amazon that will be delivered to our hotel. Any recommendations on either? Has anyone used a rental company or pack n play mattress you'd recommend?

CourtneyL · Apr 20, 2015

I'd just rent the crib. In the past I've rented from A Baby's Best Friend and Kingdom Strollers. No issues with either company or the cribs. You could bring a crib sheet from home so the rental crib is more familiar to her.

Karenj2 · Apr 20, 2015

Two thoughts...
1) Your LO might be so tired that she'll fall asleep in the PnP - my now 5yo hated our PnP but slept fine at WDW.

2) if you're staying at the deluxe a (and possibly the moderates) you might be able to request a crib & not a PnP. We were able to get a crib at the Poly & last year when we went with our twins & our friends who also had twins, Disney gave us each one crib & one PnP (which we traded with them so they could have two cribs).

magicwishes · Apr 20, 2015

We will be staying at AKV Kidani. Do you think we could get a crib there? Does it cost any extra?

I'll look at those rentals. We are probably going to rent a city mini double. We have one but will have 4 kids under 8 so I think we'll need two.

Thanks for your help. I just discovered a bunch of things to do before the trip. It can be overwhelming to make a bunch of decisions and pull it all together.

Crystal824 · Apr 21, 2015

I don't know if this will work for you, but we brought one of those pnp sheets that is thicker (kind of like a mattress pad cover). We put that on first and then a regular sheet over it. It just gives them a bit more cushion. I was worried about this too on my daughter's first trip. I agree that when my daughter was 9 mo and used to sleeping in a crib, she had no problems. She was so tired every night, she was happy to get in the pnp.

magicwishes · Apr 21, 2015

We have one of those more cushioned sheets. Great idea. Thanks.

Lemurone · Apr 21, 2015

I've always just folded up blankets or even an extra comforter to put in the pack and play. She slept so well in there that I actually do that in her crib now (obviously not for younger kids where that could be a health hazard). I'd fold up a quilt or blanket and then put a sheet over it. Nice and comfy!

colleenr · Apr 22, 2015

we also used one of those cushioned things and then put a regular sheet on top of it. I took my own sheets for it. Took a couple extra just in case the diaper leaked.

OnThisMagicNight · Apr 22, 2015

We've traveled with a pack 'n play mattress and loved it - I highly recommend it: http://www.mamadookids.com/products/foldable-play-yard-mattress-topper/. We didn't have any issues transporting it since it folds up and it really makes the pack 'n play very comfortable. My son slept great on it each time we used it (and he previously would never fall asleep in a pack 'n play.) Also (because I'm a bit of a germaphobe), we purchased a pack 'n play slipcover that we always brought along. http://www.coverplayard.com/product-category/playyard-slipcovers/.

magicwishes · Apr 23, 2015

OnThisMagicNight said:
We've traveled with a pack 'n play mattress and loved it - I highly recommend it: http://www.mamadookids.com/products/foldable-play-yard-mattress-topper/. We didn't have any issues transporting it since it folds up and it really makes the pack 'n play very comfortable. My son slept great on it each time we used it (and he previously would never fall asleep in a pack 'n play.) Also (because I'm a bit of a germaphobe), we purchased a pack 'n play slipcover that we always brought along. http://www.coverplayard.com/product-category/playyard-slipcovers/.

Any special sheet?

OnThisMagicNight · Apr 23, 2015

magicwishes said:
Any special sheet?

Nope, we just used a regular pack n' play sheet on the mattress and it fit fine. I do think I'll look into some type of waterproof play yard mattress pad or sheet to protect the mattress when we start traveling with baby #2. We lucked out and never had any leaks on our trips, but obviously the mattress is a bit of an investment and I want to protect it. The slipcover that comes on the mattress is washable but I don't believe it's waterproof. I always have relatives that want to borrow the mattress when they are traveling or visiting and I know one of them just put those large waterproof burp pads between the mattress and the sheet and said it worked okay.

SassyCat · Apr 23, 2015

On this magic night, Would this fit in a large suitcase! We are flying, and I'm worried about lo sleeping in a pack n play. We are staying at the gf - do they only have pack n plays or do they have cribs? Also, is this mattress firm enough to keep a tummy sleeping baby from smothering their face in it?

amber_cntrygrl · Apr 23, 2015

We always just used folded up blankets to provide extra cushioning for my boys when they were younger. They slept great.

OnThisMagicNight · Apr 23, 2015

SassyCat said:
On this magic night, Would this fit in a large suitcase! We are flying, and I'm worried about lo sleeping in a pack n play. We are staying at the gf - do they only have pack n plays or do they have cribs? Also, is this mattress firm enough to keep a tummy sleeping baby from smothering their face in it?

Yes, we've packed it in a large suitcase. It's foam, so it does have some give to it if you needed to squeeze it in there. We've also packed it in a duffel bag and once we gate checked it with our stroller...(not sure this would always work, but we have a travel bag for our stroller and we stuck it in there...we've done that with other things too and so far no one has said anything, but I know that could easily change depending on the airline/person.) If you wanted to try it out in your suitcase I know you can also purchase it on Amazon (better return policy.)

I'm not sure if the GF has cribs, but we were able to get one from the Contemporary when we stayed there. They aren't true full size cribs though, they are the same size as the pack 'n play, but taller (and metal/on wheels.) They look like this: http://www.growingupdisney.com/2010/07/crib-options-at-walt-disney-world.html We ended up using the pack 'n play instead once I figured out the mattress size wasn't any bigger.

And yes, I would say the mattress is firm enough for a tummy sleeper (so long as baby is getting on their tummy by themselves...I probably wouldn't chance it with a young baby who doesn't know how to roll over yet.)

Betty Rohrer · Apr 23, 2015

one thing to watch when putting extra mattresses in any crib is that it is low enough so standing baby's head and shoulders are not over side. yes we had a 15 month old standing in crib lean far enough to fall to floor, he did not climb out he was just leaning over and went head first over the side. happened so fast could not get there fast enough to catch him, he was unhurt but still was scary

SassyCat · Apr 23, 2015

Onthismagicnight, thanks so much for the reply! My lo is six months, and he started rolling over a couple of months ago. I always put him on his back to sleep, but ever since he learned to roll over he will only sleep on his tummy. At home he sleeps in a wooden mini crib (which is just a smidge bigger than the pack n play). He is going to be too big for it soon I think. He hasn't slept in our pack n play...he mainly just screams in it...which has me a bit concerned for his sleeping on the trip.

HCinKC · Apr 24, 2015

SassyCat said:
Onthismagicnight, thanks so much for the reply! My lo is six months, and he started rolling over a couple of months ago. I always put him on his back to sleep, but ever since he learned to roll over he will only sleep on his tummy. At home he sleeps in a wooden mini crib (which is just a smidge bigger than the pack n play). He is going to be too big for it soon I think. He hasn't slept in our pack n play...he mainly just screams in it...which has me a bit concerned for his sleeping on the trip.

I would start napping him in it ahead of time. Have it in his regular sleeping space and do your regular nap time routine, so he knows it is time to go to sleep. It's definitely hard when they get upset. Still, better to have him get past the screaming at home than go through it on vacation.

SassyCat · Apr 24, 2015

I went ahead and just reserved a crib from kingdom strollers. I feel like my lo will do much better in that, and it is one less thing for me to worry about now...lol. Also, the price for the length of our stay was the same as that pack n play mattress. Hopefully it will go well

Rent a Crib or Buy a Mattress for the Pack n Play?

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