What exactly is your fundal height, why is it important and how does your doctor or midwife measure it? Many first time moms hear this phrase and wonder what it means, if it is normal, and if their baby is ok.

The fundal height is the measurement from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your fundus. Your doctor or midwife will normally start measuring this during your second trimester, possibly around the 20 week mark, or when you start showing if it is later in pregnancy.

The fundal height is used to assess your baby’s health while in the womb. Your fundal height should be equal to the number of weeks you have preogresses in your pregnancy. So if you are 30 weeks pregnant, your fundal height should measure around 30 centimeters. A couple of centimeters in either direction normally isn’t much of a worry. However, if you are measuring quite a bit different it could be a sign of a problem.

If you are measuring bigger than normal, it could be a sign of a baby that is also bigger than normal, or a sign that you are having twins if it was not previously discovered. If you are measuring smaller than normal, it could be a sign that your baby is not growing properly, or has perhaps stopped growing. If either of these is the case your doctor or midwife will most likely order an ultrasound to further check the health and development of your unborn baby.

As you reach the end of your pregnancy, the fundal height can become less accurate. As your baby grows and fills out your uterus, his position can change and the measurement of your fundal height can change as well. If your doctor or midwife shows no concern over your fundal height, it isn’t something that should concern you either.

Constipation throughout the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy is a common complaint from pregnant women. Some women, however, do not know that you do NOT have to suffer through it, and that there are things that can be done to prevent it.

Early in pregnancy, constipation is caused by a change in your hormones which can make your digestive system sluggish and often uncooperative. Later in pregnancy, the constipation can be aided by the increased size of your uterus and the baby pushing down on the intestines and inner organs, not allowing as much room for food to pass.

What You Can Do
There are several things you can do to help ease or prevent the occurrence of constipation.

• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated has been proven to help keep your system regulated, both while pregnant and not pregnant. Doctors recommend that both pregnant and unpregnant women drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

   

• Get more fiber. Fiber in your diet will help your bowel movements remain loose and regular. You can get fiber in fruits and vegetables, as well as grains. If you don’t feel like you are getting enough fiber, ask your doctor about taking a fiber supplement.

   

• Watch the calcium. Too much calcium while pregnant can cause your bowels to harden and lead to constipation. Try to avoid eating more than the recommended amount of dairy foods.

   

• Keep active. Exercise can help keep your system regulated. Keep up a walking routine, swim if you can, or lift some light weights if your doctor says it is safe.

If you are trying all this and the constipation still is not letting up, ask your doctor or midwife about the possibility of taking extra supplements or laxatives. There may be additional remedies that your provider can recommend to help bring you relief.

When a woman believes she might be pregnant, the quickest way to find out is via a urine test, either at the doctor’s office or by purchasing an over-the-counter pregnancy test from a drug store. Once a woman confirms she is pregnant she should make an appointment with her doctor or midwife for a pelvic exam and pap smear.

Once a woman is about six weeks pregnant, or four weeks after conception, a doctor can tell if she is pregnant by doing a pelvic exam. In the pelvic exam, the doctor will check for the size of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus, and can tell by the size how far the pregnancy has developed. During the pelvic exam, the doctor will also check the cervix for a hint of blue coloring which appears when a woman is pregnant.

At one of the first appointments during the first trimester a woman will also be given the option of having a pap smear done. Pap smears are recommended once every 12 months for women, but are not generally done after the first trimester, and then not again until about six weeks after your baby is born. A pap smear is done by a doctor taking a sample of the cells around the outer edge of the cervix to test for precancerous cells. If caught early enough cervical cancer can often be avoided.

Some women who have recently had a pap smear done or have a history of miscarriages or problems during pregnancy will turn down a pap smear, which can irritate the cervix. If you are unsure about whether or not you should have a pap smear, tell your doctor about your history and ask his or her opinion on the subject.

by Edward Abramson, PhD

If you observe carefully, you’re likely to find that you eat more than you need. There are several steps you can take to reduce the size of your portions without being hungry or feeling deprived. Dr Edward Abramson, author of Body Intelligence: Lose Weight, Keep It Off, and Feel Great Without Dieting, has some advice for you!

First, and most obvious, is to emphatically say “no” when asked, “Supersize that?” If you just can’t pass up a “bargain,” bring along a friend, order the larger size, and split it between the two of you. Otherwise, remind yourself that the regular portion will satisfy your physical hunger. Several studies have demonstrated that when you eat a food until you’re no longer hungry, it stops tasting good. The extra food in the jumbo size wouldn’t have provided any additional enjoyment; it would have just left you feeling bloated and angry with yourself, so you shouldn’t feel deprived when declining jumbo portions.

Second, recognize that controlling portion size requires that you read the labels carefully to avoid being misled. For example, a snack package of Grandma’s Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies has 200 calories, nine grams of fat, and twenty-eight grams of carbohydrates per serving, but if you read the label carefully, you’ll find that a serving is only one of the two cookies in the package. More than likely you’ll eat both cookies, so you’ll consume twice as many calories, grams of fat, and grams of carbohydrates.

Sam, a forty-six-year-old engineer who had lost twenty pounds, learned that the price of continuing weight loss was eternal vigilance. Having avoided desserts for most of the week, he decided to stop at a convenience market after dinner to indulge his love of ice cream. He was doing everything right: he had eaten sensibly so he could allow himself a treat, he had finished dinner so he wasn’t hungry, he wasn’t using the ice cream to soothe any emotional turmoil, and he was planning on giving the ice cream the attention it deserved to get the maximum enjoyment from it. He spent a few minutes in front of the freezer case examining its contents before choosing an ice cream sandwich made with two cookies. He did some mental calculations and decided that he could afford the 295 calories listed on the label. When he got home he noticed that the serving size was “1?2 sandwich.” The sandwich was perfectly round; there were no notches, dotted lines on the wrapping, or anything else to suggest that it should be cut in half. Sam struggled for a minute before deciding that he couldn’t afford 590 calories, cut it in half, and put one half in his freezer before enjoying the other half.

Check the label on a package of pasta. The caloric values are for a two-ounce serving yet most recipes call for at least four ounces and restaurants may serve seven or eight ounces. You have to read the nutrition labels very carefully.

Third, slow the pace of eating. One study found that eating slowly was associated with greater weight loss for women in a weight-control program. When you’re eating take smaller bites, put the knife and fork down frequently, talk more (remember, it’s not polite to talk with your mouth full!), and stop eating for a minute in the middle of the meal, while there is still food on your plate. Don’t distract yourself by reading or watching TV while you’re eating. Pay attention to what you’re eating. Notice the texture and temperature of the food and see if you can identify any spices that were used. If you focus on your eating, it’s likely that you will be satisfied with smaller quantities of food.

Finally, review your Eating Records paying particular attention to the “Excess” column. While overeating is a general tendency that occurs in many situations, see if there are any particular “Times,” “Foods,” or “Location/People/Circumstances” associated with the checks in the “Excess” column. If you find any circumstances that make overeating more likely, you can plan to substitute low-density (high-fiber, high-water content) foods when you are in that situation.

About the Author
Edward Abramson, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized expert on eating and weight disorders who lectures to professional and lay audiences around the world. He is a professor of psychology at California State University and a former director of the Eating Disorders Center at Chico Community Hospital. Dr. Abramson has appeared on “Hard Copy,” “20/20,” PBS, “Good Day LA,” “Joan Rivers,” and other TV and radio programs, and his work has been written about in Reader’s Digest, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Self, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and other major publications. For more information, visit www.dredabramson.com.

by Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Kid Cooperation and Perfect Parenting

Question:
My child wants to eat only her two favorite foods: cereal and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She eats tiny amounts of any other food and complains about what’s put in front of her. What can I do about this?

Think about it:
As long as your child is healthy, and is of normal height and weight, relax your attitude about food. The more you worry and scold, the bigger battleground food will become. In addition, if you also have specific rules about food, and enforce them with a calm demeanor, you’ll have fewer battles.

Offer healthy choices:
Limit the high-fat and high-sugar foods that are available to your child. Offer healthy choices and don’t worry so much about the occasional food jags. Evaluate your child’s diet on a weekly, not daily, basis. Most kids, when given nutritious options, will eat a balanced diet when viewed over a weekly time period.

Schedule:
Have a specific schedule for meal time and snack time, and don’t allow snacking on unhealthy food at other times. (A piece of fruit or a veggie at any time is fine!) If your child is hungry when a meal is served she’ll more likely eat what’s put in front of her. Modify meal times, if possible, to take advantage of your child’s hungry parts of the day. As an example, most kids are truly hungry when they walk in the door after school. Take advantage of this by serving dinner at that time and a light snack later. This way, the kids will eat a healthy meal instead of filling up on snacks while they wait for dinner.

Serve smaller portions:
Your child’s stomach is about the size of her clenched fist, smaller than you thought! If you serve meals on smaller plates and include just a small amount of each food, the meal won’t appear so intimidating to your child.

Give in – a little:
Serve your child’s favorite food as a small side dish to meals. A half peanut butter and jelly sandwich makes a fine side dish to roasted chicken!

Create rules:
Do you remember eating the dinner your mother set in front of you without a fuss? Most of us do. The reason is that our mothers did not feel the ambivalence about serving meals that we do. Try to modify your way of thinking to one simple thought, “This is dinner. If you’re hungry eat, if not, you’re excused from the table.” Save a plate of dinner for your child, and if she’s hungry an hour later offer the dinner, and nothing else. Be consistent with this rule, and your child will begin to eat what’s served, just like you did when you were a kid.

One night off:
Allow your child the option to have toast or cereal for dinner one night a week, passing on a meal he doesn’t like. When he knows he can skip one meal he’ll make a decision to eat things that aren’t favorites, and save his “cereal day” for the day you’re having the food he likes least.

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the Author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

Oh, there are so many choices. Disposable or Cloth. Pampers, Luvs or Huggies. Size one or size two. Swaddlers, cruisers, regular or supreme….How does a mom choose what is best!

Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are very “vintage” and definitely making a come back. Every year more and more new moms fall for this relatively cheap way to diaper their baby. After the initial expense of the diapers and the wraps, the cost of cloth diapers is equal to the soap, water and the cost of the electricity or gas used for the dryer. Sure it takes time to wash those diapers, but most new moms will find themselves washing baby clothes on a near daily basis, and able to just throw the diapers in with their loads. For mom’s that don’t have time there are diaper services that will pick up the diapers and drop off clean ones for a nominal fee.

The downside of cloth diapers is having to wash them out when your baby has pooped and you have to carry plastic bags with you at all times to put the diapers in when you are out and you have to change your baby. This can be very inconvenient and smelly.

Disposable Diapers
While definitely less time consuming and in many peoples’ eyes more convenient, disposable diapers are much harder on the pocket book. At club stores like Sam’s and Costco you can buy a big box of diapers, approximately 250 size ones and 200 size threes for about $40. This is the cheapest you can find it. In a regular store like Wal-Mart, Target or a grocery store, you get a much lower number of diapers for a higher cost.

However you do not have to deal with the rinsing, washing, wraps, pins, etc with disposable diapers. You can take it off and throw it away whether you are at home or out shopping.

Brands of Diapers
With all the different brands of disposable diapers, how do you know which is best for your baby? There are three main brands Pampers, Luvs Huggies, and numerous other store brands available. Some moms will swear that one brand is best over another or that one brand never worked on their baby. In many ways this is true. Body shapes are as different for babies as they are for adults and each brand of diaper is made differently. You may even have two babies that can use one brand where your third baby can’t and you have to buy a different brand for him. If your baby seems to be having a lot of leaks from one brand, experiment by trying another brand to see if it works better. The brand of diaper may also change as your baby goes up in sizes.

Some parents will choose diapers based on choice, or based on the coupons that they have and can use. Collecting coupons and waiting for a sale on your favorite diaper can often save a lot of money.

The Little Details…
The disposable diaper companies all have different details to their brands of diapers. Pampers has Swaddlers and Cruisers, focusing on different ages and stages of your babies life. Huggies has their normal diaper, and their supreme diapers which seem to fit a little snugger. This again is an issue of trial and error. Which diaper works best and fits your baby’s body the best?

Sizes
Diapers come in six main sizes, only five of which most babies will go through. They come in preemie, newborn, size one, two, three, four and five. Most babies will be able to start off in newborn, although they may be able to fit in size one as well. Most toddlers will be into a size five before they are potty trained. Each size has a minimum and maximum weight listed on the packaging, but many times this is subjective based on your baby’s body type. If you feel like a diaper is fitting too snug, even if your baby has not reached the high end of the pounds listed, you can still move him up to the next size in order to see if your baby is more comfortable.

There are SO many different types of strollers on the market that it is hard to decide which one is best for your new baby. What is the best deal for the money, how many different strollers do you need, and is there a more affordable way of doing it?

Car Seat Carrier
Not exactly a “stroller”, but performing the same function, a car seat carrier is one of the most inexpensive ways that parents who have a new baby in an infant car seat can push them around. In some cases it is the most convenient as well. The car seat carrier is just a simple frame that sells for around $50 that an infant car seat can fit in. This is good if you borrow a car seat from a friend or relative, but do not have a stroller, or if you have a small car where a stroller would be a hard fit.

Just the Stroller
You can buy just a plain, boring stroller. One that seems sturdy, has a place for baby, cup holders, etc, but no car seat to go along with it. These come in many different sizes and patterns. These are good for parents who choose to get a convertible car seat for their baby from the beginning, and need somewhere to lay their baby down and push him around. They can also be good as a matching brand to a borrowed infant car seat. These can start at around $60 and go up into the $100’s.

Travel System
The travel system is an all in one unit consisting of the full size stroller and infant car seat that match and fit together perfectly. It is a convenient way for parents to purchase both the car seat and stroller that their baby will need. The downside to it however is that once the baby outgrows the car seat the parents just have a stroller. It can turn it into quite a pricy stroller for what it is. These normally start at around $200 and go up from there.

Jogging Stroller
A jogging stroller is a three wheel stroller built for rougher terrain and surfaces. It is great for moms who like to walk, jog or run, and want to be able to take their baby with them. Some of the jogging strollers on the market will have actual rubber wheels on it like the tires of your car. Others will be plastic like regular strollers. They also come with and without swivel front wheels. These are great if you plan on exercising with your baby in tow, but in some cases can be bothersome if just out and about. They normal start at around $130. On a side note, you can also get the jogging stroller in a travel system set up with an infant car seat that attaches.

Double Stroller
There are also double strollers, double travel systems, double jogging strollers and double umbrellas strollers on the market. These are not only necessary and popular for parents who have twins, but also for parents who have kids close in age, where the older one may not be ready to be out of the stroller when the baby is born. These are close to the same price as the regular counterparts.

Umbrella Stroller
An umbrella stroller is a light weight, small stroller that can easily be thrown in the trunk of the car. It is also the cheapest with versions starting at $10. However, it isn’t always the best choice or the most convenient choice, especially not as your family’s ONLY stroller. An umbrella stroller is intended for bigger babies who can sit up on their own already. It doesn’t have the support that a newborn needs. On the other end of things as your toddler gets heavier, it will drag and be extremely hard to push, plus the wheels are within foot range of your child which leads to your child putting his foot on the wheels and slowing you down.

How Many Do You Need?
Depending on the age of your baby and your interests, you may only need one stroller, or you may need three. If you aren’t real active and don’t see yourself taking up walking/running with your baby then you would be able to get along just fine with a regular stroller, or the stroller that comes as part of the travel system. If you have twins, then the double would be fine for you. If you do see yourself jogging, then you may choose to have a regular stroller for times when you are going to the mall or a doctor appointment. If your baby is older you may choose to go ahead and buy an umbrella stroller for the quick jaunts in stores, so that you don’t’ have to drag out your bigger stroller. Or you may decide just to retire your big stroller completely and keep the umbrella stroller for your use.

The strollers you need and use will change throughout your child’s journey from newborn to toddler. It is best for you to keep an open mind and be flexible, willing to adjust to your baby’s and your families needs.

by Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Perfect Parenting and Kid Cooperation

Question
I’m pregnant and trying to do everything I can now to get ready for my baby. Can you tell me what I need to know about diaper bags? What should I buy, and what should I put in it?

Learn about it
I’ve gone through about ten diaper bags in the last fifteen years. One thing I noticed is that with each baby my diaper bag has gotten smaller! With my first baby I was ready for anything; I put everything imaginable into my diaper bag and lugged it all from place to place. I also continued to carry a purse, so by the time I added coats and a baby, I needed a U-Haul just to get from the house to the car! By now, I’ve reached baby number four and my diaper bag is ten inches by nine inches – and it even contains my wallet and cell phone! So, to save you a few years, and an aching back, I’ll share what I’ve learned about this ever-present baby necessity.

What kind of diaper bag should I buy?
Diaper bags have come a long way over the years. Many today are stylish carry-everything bags with compartments for all your belongings. While there are an endless assortment of choices, but there are similarities between bags, so here are the basic styles:

• Hand held or over-the-shoulder tote bag
• Many manufacturers have designed specialty diaper bags like large tote bags. These have two handles and/or a shoulder strap.
• Backpack
• A backpack-style diaper bag functions like any backpack. These have more length than width and tend to have a smaller opening than a tote bag. The advantage to these is that you will be able to have two hands free to tend to your baby or other children, stroller and anything else. Look for a backpack that is also easy to carry as a tote, since you won’t always want to sling it on your back.
• Other styles
• In addition to the standard diaper bag styles, you can also find diaper bags made as waist packs, stroller attachments, satchels, duffel bags, and more. Don’t rush to make a decision, because there are an abundance of styles to choose from.
• The not-a-diaper-bag diaper bag
• There’s no rules that says you must buy a diaper bag to use as a diaper bag. A large purse, beach tote or backpack of any kind can work beautifully. So as you shop, look around at all your options.

All of these bags also come with different inside features. Some have one large open space, and others have lots of compartments and built-ins. The advantage to the compartments is that your bag may tend to be more organized and it’ll be easier to find things. The disadvantage is that the size and shape of the compartments don’t always match up to your individual needs.

What size diaper bag?
Diaper bags also come in various sizes. You may find that the best choice is to purchase two bags. This way you can have a small bag for everyday errands and short tips, and a big bag for all day excursions.

How to decide which bag?
A key to choosing the right bag is to take a look at the purse you’ve been using, and to pick a diaper bag that has similarities. For example, if you enjoy a purse with lots of compartments, choose a similar style for your diaper bag, versus if your purse is one open space, lean towards the same type of diaper bag. If your purse is a backpack version, try the same for a diaper bag. Another way to gauge your needs is to examine the luggage, computer cases, and makeup bags that you’ve enjoyed using and figure out which features most appeal to you about these carriers and duplicate them in your diaper bag choice.

When shopping for a bag, take along a list of the things you’ll expect to carry in your bag. As you look through various bags envision the items on your list. In which compartments will you carry which items? Will your things fit in the designed sections, for example, will your wallet fit in the space provided for it?

What to look for in a diaper bag
Once you’ve thought about what kind of bag to purchase, keep this list handy for your shopping trip. Since your bag will get nearly every day use, it can be frustrating to be stuck with the wrong choice. Here are a few tips:

• Fabric Is it sturdy and durable? Will it hold up to daily use?
• Washability Can it be wiped clean or is it machine washable?
• Quality Are zippers, snaps and Velcro openings smooth and well-constructed?
• Straps Are the straps adjustable to your size, and to your partner’s size also? Are they comfortable and easy to adjust?
• Weight Is it lightweight? (A bag that starts out heavy is a burden when filled.)
• Design Will everything you plan to carry fit inside, without a lot of extra, wasted space? Will it still zip or fasten shut when it’s filled with your belongings? If the top is shut with a draw string will it shut tight when full?
• Size Will it fit in the bottom of your stroller?
• Compartments Do the number and size of compartments match your needs? Are they logically organized?
• Changing pad Is a changing pad included? Is it big enough for your growing baby without being bulky and hard to fold? Does it take up too much space inside the bag? (Changing pads that are attached to the bag aren’t at all practical.)
• Accessories Does it have the extras that you need? Are there extras that you’re paying for but will never use?
• Style If both Mommy and Daddy will be carrying the bag, does it have an appealing unisex design? Most men (and many women!) prefer not to carry a bag covered with pictures of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends!

Practical use
As you use your bag you’ll figure out what works best for you. Keep these thoughts in mind:

• Keep your small diaper bag where you normally keep your purse and coat. Stash your big bag in the car so it’s ready to go when you are.
• When you return home from a trip, unpack, restock and put the bag back in the car, or the small bag on your counter, so that it’s ready for your next event. Clean out dirty diapers, used bottles and old food as soon as you get home to avoid spills and smells.
• If your diaper bag is not baby-proofed, because it contains plastic bags, and small choking hazards, then always keep it out of Baby’s reach.
• Store your wallet and keys inside the bag, not in an easily accessible outside pouch, where they could fall out or be stolen.
• If you keep valuables in your diaper bag treat it with the same care you treat your wallet and purse – thieves know that diaper bags often contain money and credit cards.
• Put your name and phone number on your diaper bag in case it gets left behind on one of your outings.

Copyright Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

About the author:
Elizabeth Pantley is the author of several books, including Gentle Baby Care : No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry — Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, Kid Cooperation (with an introduction by William Sears, MD), Perfect Parenting, as well as her latest The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers and is also president of Better Beginnings, Inc. She is a popular speaker on family issues, and her newsletter, Parent Tips, is seen in schools nationwide. She appears as a regular radio show guest, and has been quoted in Parents, Parenting, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, American Baby, Working Mother, and Woman’s Day magazines. Visit Elizabeth’s web site http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

Pack-n-play’s, also often called travel yards, are becoming very popular with new parents as an option for their baby when it comes to bedtime. This is not only true for newborns, but also as your baby gets older. How do pack-n-plays measure up for long term use and would it be a good idea for your family?

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.