Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinet - Natural
by Arm's Reach
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List Price: Our Price: $134.48 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $131.99 (click here) Category: Baby Product See more product details |
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Baby Products Reviews of Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinet - Natural
Customer Review: Indispensable for those first few months
Summary: 4 Stars
We borrowed our friend's Arm's Reach Mini- Co-Sleeper for our first born and used it for the first three months or so after his birth. It was SO convenient to have him sleeping literally right next to me in bed but without having to sleep "in bed" with me so I didn't worry about rolling over on him. I could check that he was breathing and if he got fussy, I could roll over and pat him back to sleep without having to get out of bed. When it came time for the middle of the night feedings, it couldn't have been easier to just sit up in my bed and lift him out of the co-sleeper and feed him and then, if he fell asleep during a feeding (which happened often), I could just gently place him back into the co-sleeper -- all without having to leave the comfort of my own bed!
The co-sleeper gave us incredible peace of mind to be able to have him so close to us during those first few months. The convenience is unsurpassed. The reason I didn't give it five stars is for the assembly/disassembly. It was a rather difficult task and even after looking up the instructions online, it still took Hubby a few tries to get it to collapse all the way to fit back into the carrying case. Also, from what I understand, the sheets for the co-sleeper are fairly expensive and I don't think you can use any standard crib or pack-and-play sheets, so you are forced to pay the premium for their sheets. And with infants, there are always accidents, so it's always good to have at least pair of sheets.
The storage underneath the co-sleeper was useful. We kept extra sheets and a few change of clothes down there for those middle of the night changes that are inevitably after an accident or a spit-up. We used the height extensions but because our four-poster bed is fairly high off the ground, the co-sleeper wasn't exactly level with our mattress, but it still worked really well side by side.
Customer Review: Terrible!
Summary: 1 Stars
I have a six month old baby and have limited free time, but found myself compelled to review this product. I was so excited to get it, then was quickly disappointed when I realized how poor the mattress was, creased and uneven(where it folds for portability) and only a thin inch or so of foam. It was also a pain to set up because you have to lift your mattress to get the straps underneath to secure it. Anyway I decided to keep it, a light baby wouldn't mind, I thought... big mistake. It didn't help after c-section because it was difficult to bend down to get baby out, and messed up my wrist and caused me pain in my incision area. I would have been better off just getting out of bed, which I might add is made exceedingly difficult with this in the way! My baby was 9 lbs, not overly large but he HATED this from day one. Out of desperation, I took to the dangerous practice of letting him sleep in the bed because he wouldn't sleep for more than an hour or so in it. Anyway, I quickly came to my senses and ordered the First Years Safe and Secure Sleeper and he loved it! Finally I got some rest. He grew out of the safe and secure sleeper and once again I tried to use the co-sleeper bassinet... with no better luck. So I bought a wonderful natural rubber non toxic mattress from Lifekind, inc. and set up his crib in my room, now he is close by and, FINALLY, sleeping like a baby!
This product, while better than having baby away in another room all alone is really only useful for travel, a sort of small pack and play, of questionable sturdiness. I strongly warn against relying on it for anything else! In my case since I didn't travel with him, it was nothing but frustration and a total waste of good money! Maybe the regular size one is better I don't know but don't get the mini!
Customer Review: The Worst 'Mattress' Ever
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this co-sleeper partially because I thought it was a great idea, but more because it was the only marketed "co-sleeper" available.
In some of the reviews, parents expressed dislike regarding the mattress portion. I have to say, I found this readily confirmed!
I have been using this for my daughter since day 1. She's now 17 lbs, and I can't use the co-sleeper anymore. The mattress portion has actually bowed in the middle since about 12 lbs, and we weren't prepared to buy anything else so we've been forced to use it. It was rather uncomfortable for my baby and extremely inconvenient for me.
Now we just use a Chicco Lullaby LX - Adventure (Green/ Beige) instead, though the height isn't as ideal for reaching over for her, our bed is high so it works pretty well for now...and she finds it A LOT more comfortable. ( Chicco Lullaby LX - Adventure (Green/ Beige) has a really nice quilted, padded mat. It's sectioned too, and built in such a way that it doesn't bow. Arm's Reach should take some notes!)
I'm really disappointed that the only co-sleeper that I could find is so poorly made. It discourages co-sleeping by being the only readily available, yet so inferior quality product. The only reason I gave it two stars was the height adjustment option, the wheels, and the option to pull down the one side. That was great, but unfortunately does not outweigh the disadvantages of the co-sleeper.
I will not use or buy ever again.
Customer Review: So far so good
Summary: 5 Stars
I just got the co-sleeper after a lot of deliberation and I'm really happy I did. My reasons for hesitating were because of the standard complaints in reader reviews--if you have read the negative reviews then you know what they are. But I wanted a bassinet that could accommodate a larger/older baby and this was the only product I could find that did so decided to take my chances.
But it appears that Arm's Reach has made some improvements to this product, which is great.
First of all, the mattress is waterproof, not cloth. The store model was cloth but the model I have will be easy to clean. Also, the mattress doesn't seem to be any better or worse than popular playards.
Second, it did not come with a sheet, which disappointed me till I realized the standard sheets I bought for my playard fit it perfectly.
And, I really had no trouble setting it up at 8.5 months pregnant. It took me a second or two, but no longer than it took me to figure out my second-hand playard. It seems really portable and I don't think folding it up for travel will be hard at all.
One thing I really like about this product is that the mattress seems to sit really firmly in place with no sagging. When I set up the bassinet in my playard it sagged so badly in the middle that there was no way I was putting the baby in that.
My only wish is that more of the height extenders were included with the product since I have a tall bed, but I guess that would be wasteful. So I won't be able to use it attached to the bed till I order them, but at least I have a usable bassinet in the meantime.
All in all I am very happy with this product.
Customer Review: Love It!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
All I can say is I should have purchased the co-sleeper three kids ago. This item wasn't available when I had my first 16 years ago, so we used a bassinet. With my second baby 7 years ago, we assumed the bassinet would work fine, so that is what we used. Well, he only slept 30-90 minutes at a time until 20 months of age, and let me tell you, we spent many restless nights getting up out of bed to get him from his bassinet or being kicked by his little feet! Our third didn't sleep any better, and she ended up in our bed until age three - not a problem for mommy, but daddy is a light sleeper and was also missing his wife:) Finally, when our fourth was born in December of '07, we used a bassinet for about 3 days; I fell asleep one night with her in my arms out of sheer exhaustion and woke up horrified to find her under our heavy down comforter and immediately rushed downstairs to order this co-sleeper. I like all my friends are terrified of SIDS and since new research indicates infants in bed with mom and dad are actually at a higher risk, we couldn't in good concience, let her sleep in our bed like we did with our third. She sleeps so soundly in her little co-sleeper nest. It is just the right size, and she can suck her paci and look at mommy until she drifts off. It is so much better than a bassinet becasue I don't even have to sit up to tuck her paci back in her mouth or pat her to sooth her. She is a bigger baby at 75% for height and weight, and she is showing no signs of outgrowing her co-sleeper. I only wish I had had this with the last two, it would have made my nights much more pleasant!