I voted crib only, but that is just for my particular circumstance. I plan on using a cradle in our bedroom for the first couple of months and then the crib in the nursery from then on. My in-laws offered to buy us a crib and got us a nice convertable one (crib - day bed - twin size bed). This way baby girl can grow up with her furniture and always have something nice to remind her of her grandparents. I also got a brand new free mattress through a friend.
Our house is TINY, so not planning on getting a pack-n-play at all. No where to put it!!
I think as long as your baby is comfortable and you have a plan, so then give it a try. Worse case scenerio is that you eventually decide to buy a crib after all.
I voted crib and play-yard. We used a bassinet the first mth or two at night so baby could be in our room and used the crib for nap times and after 2mths and then we used the playpen for outside or visits to friends and family as they are easy to transport. In our experience our boys really did not rest well in the playpen. Having said that, it may be that our boys just were not use to sleeping there and had we started them out in it they may have been fine. And with your modifications (foam mattress) it would surely be much more comfortable. So you do what you think will work best for you all.!!
I agree with lifesconcerns-the pac-n-play is great for travel and outside. I do worry about making a softer mattress. There sre safety regulations on mattresses, and firm mattresses are shown to reduce risk of SIDS. I'd read about that before making a final decision. My son never noticed the firmer pad on the play yard when he napped in it.
I think the play yard is a pretty good idea, DS is almost two and we moved in july and until we got him a toddler bed he'd slept in a crib and play yard before and the play yard while we were moving and he seemed fine. I think they make play yard mattress pads specifically for play yards and then you don't have to worry about the safety issue. But DS never notcied the harder pad in his play yard. he actually slept in a play yard most of his life even though we had a crib but didnt have the room for it. now we have more room i think we are going to use a play yard with the bassinet thing in it for the first few months, or a moses basket, and then use the crib, only because we already have one and now have room for it
Sorry, didn't mean to be rude about the safety thing! I can be a bit of a worrywart, but I'm also a nurse and just HAVE to look everything up (drives my husband crazy)!
Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas.. I have considered it many times over.
40plusmom- I didnt think about the concern of SIDS, I initially thought comfort.. so good thought for me to process. Thank you!
MarLea will be in our room for the first month or longer and then move to share a room with her big sister. We're hoping not to inconvience big sister during her normal sleeping time or MarLea if big sister Sydney decides to wake up early (like usual) and play or mess with her... this is my first time adding a sibbling and trying to put them in the same room.
We have the space for a crib, but dont find it necesary to buy both... Guess we will see as the time gets closer and the baby showers are over.
Also I had my son in a play pen only when we had moved and had no where for the crib. That was around 1+yrs old. During nap times he also had a soft fold out couch that he would have in there with him to sleep on. He loved it and never climbed out. Then at 18mos old when we moved, the crib and play yard completely got left behind and he moved into a toddler car bed. Still arent having any sleeping issues.