Rockabye Baby: This was at the top of my Baby Registry - Review of the Rock N Play Sleeper for Babies

There are a few products that I used for Cocoa Puff that I did not have around when Froot Loop was a baby. One of these products is the Rock n Play Sleeper by Fisher Price. 

We had a rough start with Cocoa Puff. Well, actually the problem was me. I was very sick after he was born due to severe sleep deprivation (I got maybe 10 hours of sleep total in his first week and I was having panic attacks, anxiety, and severe insomnia issues. I was a mess). I needed my newborn to sleep and I needed to try to get as much sleep as possible too so I could recover. 

The Rock and Play Sleeper allowed Cocoa Puff to nap somewhere other than his Pack n Play which is next to our bed. I could put him in the Rock and Play and leave him to nap with Daddy or Gramma watching him so I could try to nap between feedings. 

It’s a rough adjustment for babies to learn how to sleep by themselves. Some babies NEED to be held to sleep and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s how they’re made! This product sort of imitates being held since they’re sort of in a bowl. They are in an inclined position with soft, breathable walls around them. The vibrating also mimics the womb so it’s more comfortable to sleep! It also mimics the feeling of someone rocking/patting/etc. 

The Rock and Play has a vibrating feature that always helped Cocoa Puff to relax faster and sleep longer. It was easy to put together and also so easy to fold and take along with us when we traveled, either for an overnight trip or a longer trip. The seat is very deep and inclined so it could help with congested, colicky, or spitty babies. The sides are made from a light, breathable fabric. The fabric inset is easily removeable for washing too. Our model even came with a toy. There is a three point harness so I felt safe enough leaving him alone for a few minutes, whether he was awake or asleep. Hey, I’ve got to use the bathroom SOMETIME! And dinner does not cook itself! And while I’m a fan of babywearing, I don’t necessarily want to wear him ALL THE TIME. Sometimes, he needs to be put down. This is a good, safe place.

This was so great for naptime because it was easy to rock with one hand or even a foot. It is not recommended for sleeping, but there were a few nights we were desperate and let him sleep in it since he woke up every few hours to nurse anyway. It is not recommended for regular sleeping since there is a plastic insert and it can cause flat head syndrome. Be smart. Also, I feel obligated to remind you that the safest place to put infants to sleep is on their back in a flat surface without any pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals. Again, just be smart about it. 

As he got older and learned to sit up, he would rock himself and laugh and laugh about it! We used the Rock and play until Cocoa Puff was 7 months old. We even crammed it in our stuffed car when we visited family at Christmas since he prefered to nap in it. I actually put him in it right at about 12 months old a few times when he was really miserable due to teething and I just really needed him to nap. 

The Rock and Play runs on a D battery. It got pretty good life out of a single battery too. The manufacturer says it gets 60 hours on a battery and it was at least that. Just don't be like us and forget to turn it off all the time. 

An older version of this product was involved in a massive recall in 2013 due to mold growth problems, but Fisher Price addressed and fixed the problem and there are no more mold problems, especially if you wash the insert if it gets dirty. It’s very easy to remove, so there’s really no reason not to...

Why I like it: The weight limit of 25 pounds goes well into baby’s first year of life, or just beyond. It is great for naps and keeping baby at an incline for tummy or sickness reasons. I was actually able to get a few things done while Cocoa Puff napped or chilled out in the Rock and Play. I could easily pump with him in it since I could rock him with a foot. The vibrations gently soothed Cocoa Puff and relaxed him. It folds up pretty small and is easy to transport. 

Where it can improve: I wish there was an option for auto shutoff for the vibrate function since in our sleep deprived state, we accidentally left the vibrate on unnecessarily. I also wish there were an option for a toy arch or something for when baby is in play mode. We just bought some of those plush flowers with the wire in the stems and wrapped them around the frame. I also still have mixed feelings on whether or not an older baby would still benefit from it… 

Price: $44, but some models are more expensive if they play music or have an auto rock feature. 

The tl;dr:  This is a lifesaver. A LIFESAVER. This should be on every mother’s baby registry. Buy a second for Grandma’s house. Seriously, just get one, maybe two. This could replace a bassinet, bouncer, and rocker. I almost wish Cocoa Puff could still fit in it, but then again, maybe it’s better than he can nap in his pack and play since he will actually nap in it now! 

Even though my baby has outgrown it, I am hanging onto it because a couple of my friends either recently had or will soon have babies, and I'd like to keep it for them to use, or maybe I'll hang onto it for my sister or my sister-in-law. It's just that awesome.

Where did your babies sleep most often?