We first used our Pack 'N Play at our family camp on Lake St. George. Since Tanner and Abigail were only a few months old we needed a safe and quiet place to put them down while we ate or swam. We set the Pack 'N Play up in our screen house to shield them from the sun and bugs. They laid there together and enjoyed (more like tolerated) some tummy time. It is so easy to set up and take down and the floor piece wraps around the collapsed unit so you can carry it virtually anywhere.
We take our Pack 'N Play with us when we travel to my parent's home in Caribou or to my Gram's place in Camden. It folds up so well it takes up very little space in the trunk of our car. My parents have their own Pack 'N Play in Caribou so Tanner and Abigail have their own bed to sleep in at Nanny and Papa's house. Tanner and Abigail have never experienced co-sleeping. They had their own isolettes in the NICU so we put them in separate bassinets when they came home from the hospital. Some twins co-sleep in the hospital and for many months when they come home. Co-sleeping like anything has many pros and cons...it is really up to the parents and twins to decide if co-sleeping is right for them.
In November, Tanner and Abigail became too big (can you believe it?) for their bassinets so we had to move them into their cribs in the nursery. At the time we only had one so we used our Pack 'N Play as a second crib until we were able to get another one. Tanner was a great night time sleeper so he slept in the crib. Abigail required more "finesse" to get to sleep so the Pack 'N Play with its nature sounds/music and vibrations was PERFECT for her night time needs.
Once we got a second crib, we set the Pack 'N Play up in our living room to use as a toy box. Every night before bed we threw all the toys into the Pack 'N Play so that we wouldn't trip over them in the middle of the night or early morning. It helped keep things tidy (yeah right!), contained, and easily accessible.
On nice days I set the Pack 'N Play up on our porch with a few toys and the Twinkies play there while I eat my lunch, hang laundry on the line, or water my plants. We don't have railings on our porch yet and I fear that they would get splinters if they crawled around on the pressure treated wood so the Pack 'N Play is perfect for getting them outside but keeping them and their toys contained.
Occasionally we use our Pack 'N Play as a "Sin Bin" or time out spot. Since Tanner and Abigail are able to crawl (and beginning to figure out walking) you can't just sit them in a chair for a time out when they've done something naughty. We put them in the Pack 'N Play without any toys for a few minutes hoping that they will figure out why they are there and what not to do in the future. When I am home alone I use it frequently to put one twin in while I change the other twin's diaper. That way I know they aren't going to dump a glass of water on my laptop or rub their little hands all over the black wood stove while I am out of the room.
A few months ago Tanner and Abigail went through a funky napping stage. They went from napping in their cribs to having to nap in their swings. In order to get them back into their cribs for naps, I borrowed a second Pack 'N Play from a friend and set it up in the room next to the nursery. This way I didn't have to keep moving our Pack 'N Play inside/outside or upstairs/downstairs, which was getting to be a major pain in the butt. Tanner naps in the Pack 'N Play and Abigail is in her crib. This way they don't keep each other awake with their pre-nap rituals and don't wake each other up in between sleep cycles. I hope to get Tanner back into his crib for naps very soon.
I never thought about registering for two Pack 'N Plays but I would recommend having two for all twin parents. Register or buy one yourself and find one you can borrow from a friend. It is great to have a second one packed up and ready to go whenever you need it or set up on the second floor of your home so you don't have to keep moving it throughout the day. If we weren't able to borrow a second one, I probably would have gone out and bought an inexpensive one (without all the bells and whistles of our original). Pack 'N Plays are a MUST have for ALL parents!
In November, Tanner and Abigail became too big (can you believe it?) for their bassinets so we had to move them into their cribs in the nursery. At the time we only had one so we used our Pack 'N Play as a second crib until we were able to get another one. Tanner was a great night time sleeper so he slept in the crib. Abigail required more "finesse" to get to sleep so the Pack 'N Play with its nature sounds/music and vibrations was PERFECT for her night time needs.
Once we got a second crib, we set the Pack 'N Play up in our living room to use as a toy box. Every night before bed we threw all the toys into the Pack 'N Play so that we wouldn't trip over them in the middle of the night or early morning. It helped keep things tidy (yeah right!), contained, and easily accessible.
On nice days I set the Pack 'N Play up on our porch with a few toys and the Twinkies play there while I eat my lunch, hang laundry on the line, or water my plants. We don't have railings on our porch yet and I fear that they would get splinters if they crawled around on the pressure treated wood so the Pack 'N Play is perfect for getting them outside but keeping them and their toys contained.
Occasionally we use our Pack 'N Play as a "Sin Bin" or time out spot. Since Tanner and Abigail are able to crawl (and beginning to figure out walking) you can't just sit them in a chair for a time out when they've done something naughty. We put them in the Pack 'N Play without any toys for a few minutes hoping that they will figure out why they are there and what not to do in the future. When I am home alone I use it frequently to put one twin in while I change the other twin's diaper. That way I know they aren't going to dump a glass of water on my laptop or rub their little hands all over the black wood stove while I am out of the room.
A few months ago Tanner and Abigail went through a funky napping stage. They went from napping in their cribs to having to nap in their swings. In order to get them back into their cribs for naps, I borrowed a second Pack 'N Play from a friend and set it up in the room next to the nursery. This way I didn't have to keep moving our Pack 'N Play inside/outside or upstairs/downstairs, which was getting to be a major pain in the butt. Tanner naps in the Pack 'N Play and Abigail is in her crib. This way they don't keep each other awake with their pre-nap rituals and don't wake each other up in between sleep cycles. I hope to get Tanner back into his crib for naps very soon.
I never thought about registering for two Pack 'N Plays but I would recommend having two for all twin parents. Register or buy one yourself and find one you can borrow from a friend. It is great to have a second one packed up and ready to go whenever you need it or set up on the second floor of your home so you don't have to keep moving it throughout the day. If we weren't able to borrow a second one, I probably would have gone out and bought an inexpensive one (without all the bells and whistles of our original). Pack 'N Plays are a MUST have for ALL parents!
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