Crib as co-sleeper??

[anniefannie]

Has anyone out there used a crib as a co-sleeper by taking off one railing and pushing it up to the side of your bed and fastening it there somehow?

Here's what I want to know:

How did you fasten it on?

What kind of crib did you use? (Would you recommend the kind you used? Why or why not?)

Any other suggestions or things to consider?

The reasons I'm wanting to use a crib instead of an actual co-sleeper are pretty simple. One, all the co-sleepers I've seen are pretty small and I'd like the new baby to be able to stay in there for awhile as we already have three of us in the bed (and my toddler is a wind mill sleeper!). Two, I'd like to have it be wooden instead of plastic (all the actual co-sleepers I've seen are plastic). Three, I'd like something with taller railings so that once the new babe can stand up she/he doesn't topple over the edge.

Thanks for the help ladies!

[Terra]

We have and we still use it! Our almost 3 year old is transitioning into his own bed. He's about 70% there. [letting him take the lead]. Our 16 month old is still with us full time!

I used those bungee cords and hooked them to the frame and then onto the crib frame. Plus, it's pushed against the wall so it's not going anywhere.
We put a guard rail and pillows BEHIND the guard rail to fill in the small gap.

Here's a picture. It works GREAT!!! WE love it!

[whiteyacht]

I've not done it, but if I needed to, I'd follow these directions!

[jennyz123]

Originally Posted by Terra I used those bungee cords and hooked them to the frame and then onto the crib frame. Plus, it's pushed against the wall so it's not going anywhere. We put a guard rail and pillows BEHIND the guard rail to fill in the small gap.

Our setup was exactly the same as yours. Dd slept in it until around 6 months. Then, we put the 4th side back on and moved our bed over a few feet. Later, we moved the crib to her room. Now she has a twin bed in her room, but one of us is often sleeping in it with her. She's almost 3 years old now.

[savyjoel]

I love that. What about nap times? You could not leave your baby there for day naps.

[an_aurora]

We did this with all three kids! It makes a great place to stick my 2.5 year old when she wakes up and comes and crawls in bed with us

We used a crib with a sliding drop-down front with the girls, and just lowered it all the way. That way they couldn't climb out of it, and we could use it for daytime naps. I usually put the monitor near them, and they would grab it and start slobbering on it so I would hear them and come get them. With DS, we have a different crib and took the front rail off completely. He does nap in there, since he isn't crawling and I don't have to worry about him falling yet.

With all three set-ups, I bungeed the crib to the frame of our queen sized bed. Then I took a rolled-up blanket and stuffed it between the far side of the crib and the mattress, to push the crib mattress tighly to the side of the queen size bed. Works great!

[anniefannie]

Originally Posted by whiteyacht I've not done it, but if I needed to, I'd follow these directions!

Great link! Thanks!

And thanks everyone else for the advise and pics... it will be a few months before we set ours up (I'm only 11 weeks preggers right now), but whenever we do I'll be sure to post pics.

Any advise about cribs that are especially good or bad for "side carring"? We didn't have a crib for DD #1 and she still sleeps with us

[anniefannie]

Originally Posted by Terra We have and we still use it! Our almost 3 year old is transitioning into his own bed. He's about 70% there. [letting him take the lead]. Our 16 month old is still with us full time! I used those bungee cords and hooked them to the frame and then onto the crib frame. Plus, it's pushed against the wall so it's not going anywhere. We put a guard rail and pillows BEHIND the guard rail to fill in the small gap.

Is that a changing table next to the crib? That's a great idea!