Cribs
Traditionally the place that a baby would spend most of his time while asleep, a crib is a big purchase made by parents. A crib in many ways is a baby’s only spot that is all their own. When you buy a crib for your baby you not only buy the frame, but you must buy the mattress and crib bedding as well. This can become an expensive purchase.

Pack-N-Play’s and Play Pens
Some people choose to use a pack-n-play in place of a crib, or buy a pack-n-play or play pen for trips and to give their baby a safe place to play and be alone. It can easily be used as your baby’s main bed during the first few months of life while you want to keep the baby close to you in your room, before you move him to his own room down the hall. It may not be a necessity, but it is a great item to have when you bring your new baby home.

Car Seats
One of the only true “must haves” in a baby’s world is a car seat. There are many different types of car seats on the market including infant and convertibles, all of which have their pros and cons. It is against the law to not have your baby in a car seat when in a moving vehicle so do your research and pick the best car seat for your family.

Strollers
Whoever invented the stroller should be given a Nobel Prize. The invention of a stroller had to have saved many arms from being broken from carrying around heavy babies and toddlers. There are so many different types of strollers, from travel systems to umbrella strollers, in so many price ranges that just about everyone can afford a stroller.

Dresser/Changing Table
A dresser is definitely nice to have for your baby. Just like you need a spot for your clothes, your baby needs a spot for his. The dresser can grow with your baby, but a changing table will only last for a little while. As your baby gets older, even while still in diapers you may find that you don’t using the changing table as often to change him. A good way to get the essential but save money is to get either a dresser/changing table combo, or just get a changing pad to place on top of the dresser while it is needed.

Entertainers
There are several different types of entertainers on the market. Years ago it used to just be walkers but now there is variety to choose from. Walkers have gotten increasingly less popular by experts and pediatricians with there being some concern on the safety of your baby being able to walk around the house and get hurt. Because of this they have created exersaucers where the baby can sit in the middle of a bunch of toys and spin around. The latest entertainer is the Around We Go which has all the toys in the center and your baby on the outside about to walk his seat in a circle to get to the toys.

Swings
A swing is a great way to rock and calm your baby when your arms are feeling tired. Swings today come in all shapes and sizes including the newer take-a-long swings. There are so many designs now that they range from simple to complex with toys attached for your baby to enjoy. They even have swings that go side to side, instead of the traditional back and forth.

Highchairs
Once your baby starts eating cereal and other baby foods it is important that you get him his own chair to pull up to the table. Not only will your baby feel more like part of the family as he gets older but a highchair makes it much easier to feed your baby. There are many more options today for a highchair than there were 20 years ago. There is the old traditional chair that stands on its’ own legs, but there is also a seat that can be strapped onto one of your dining room chairs, or a chair that hooks onto the table that can be taken with you when you go out to restaurants.

Most pack-n-plays come with a bassinet option and several come with a changing table, making the pack-n-play a good multi-functional piece of baby gear to go in mom and dad’s room before a baby is moved to his crib in his room that might have a changing table in it. It is nice because at night diapers, wipes and a place to change baby is right there and at hand at 3am. However, the use of pack-n-plays for naps and bedtime doesn’t have to end with your baby outgrowing the bassinet or learning how to sit up.

Many people have chosen to skip over the whole idea of a crib, and use a pack-n-play as their child’s bed for the first year and beyond. This is an idea with many benefits included.

Firm/Small Sleep Area
Pack-n-play’s have a smaller sleeping area than a crib. For some babies who may be over stimulated easily, being more confined may actually be a comfort to them. The pad in a pack-n-play is also very firm and there are no “bumpers” to it that a baby could get pressed up against. There are also no bars that a baby can get their foot, arm or head through, possibly leading to injury like a crib has.

Pack Up and Go
Cribs can not be taken with you when you go to a friends’ for the afternoon or out of town for a weekend. Pack-n-plays however can be easily broken down and put back up, fitting into a small bag that can be put in the trunk or on a plane with no problem. This allows parents to literally take their baby’s bed with them if they are going to be gone for an extended amount of time. This is helpful for some babies who get used to “their space” and may have a hard time falling asleep in strange surroundings. If you have your baby’s bed with you, when he gets over stimulated, needs a nap, or it is bedtime, you can put him in his bed and let him feel safe and comfortable.

Doubles as a Play Pen
Many times while at home or on the road you need a safe place to put your baby for a few minutes while you have to do something that puts you in a position where you can not keep your eyes on him. The pack-n-play can easily double as a play pen for your baby or a time-out area for you. Your baby can’t get out and can easily be entertained for a while with a few of his favorite toys.

Cost
If you buy a crib new, including the mattress and bedding you are likely to spend $300-$400 or more on this place for your baby to sleep. You can buy a pack-n-play for as little as $59.00 or up to $170.00. You can find sheets for pack-n-plays for about $11.00 or three packs of sheets at an even better savings of $27.00.

Con: Will Out Grow Faster
One of the main cons in the debate of a pack-n-play vs. a crib is that because of the size of a pack-n-play your baby will probably outgrow the pack-n-play faster than he will his crib, or be able to crawl out of it faster. Some people will leave their babies in a crib till they are three years old, or can climb out of the crib on their own. Depending on the size of your baby and his curiosity you may only get a year or two of use from your pack-n-play when using it as a permanent sleep area for your baby. The plus side of this is when your baby does try to climb out of his crib, he has a shorter distance to fall and less chance to get hurt.

In a situation where there is no right or wrong choice regarding what your baby sleeps in, the choice is really a personal one that you need to make dependent upon what is best for your family. Look at the pros and cons, your budget and all your options before you make a decision that will be with you for the first few years of your new baby’s life.