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Best Pack N Plays: Playards, Bassinets & More
Small & Large Pack N Plays For Home & Travel
BY: HANNAH MARTIN
Introduction
If you’re looking for a new pack n play, you aren’t exactly short for choice! It seems like every baby brand out there has at least one pack n play with a huge number of features, so it’s more difficult than ever to find one that will work best for you.
But don’t despair! We’ve narrowed it down to our top 10 so you don’t have to spend hours comparing different products.
Top 10 Pack n Plays
Graco Pack-n-Play On the Go Playard
Price: $89.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
The Graco Pack-n-Play is one of the ultimate choices if you’re looking for multi-functionality for your new baby.
Benefits
This Playard features a full-sized, removable bassinet, providing the perfect spot for your baby to nap. It also has automatic folding feet and wheels, so you can easily travel with it.
Downsides
Several customers have complained about the assembly of this playard. Plus, if you already have a bassinet, you may be paying for extra features you don’t need.
Why we love it
It’s safe, comfortable and cleans easily. It also comes with a toy bar for educational entertainment and sensory exploration.
02
Joovy New Room2 Portable Playard
Price: $139.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
This portable playard is the perfect safe space to leave your little one or play with them with the safety of the mesh sides.
Benefits
This spacious Portable Playard will keep your baby safe while letting her spread out. Its padded mattress supports your little one as she sleeps.
Downsides
While this playard offers plenty of space, it’s also bulky, weighing almost 30lbs.
Why we love it
This playard is nearly 50% bigger than most playards at a similar price point, offering over 10 square feet of space. It also comes with a storage bag so you can stow it away or pop it in the trunk when visiting family.
03
Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib
Price: $209.00 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
This is the perfect travel crib and playard – it packs up easily so you can fly with it, pack it into compact spaces for family vacations, and more.
Benefits
The biggest selling point of this Travel Crib is that you can pack it and bring it anywhere you go. It has an aluminum frame and overbuilt hinges, making it sturdy and resilient. It also features an insulated, waterproof mattress for protection and comfort.
Downsides
While it converts into a backpack and is 50% lighter than a traditional portable crib, it’s still cumbersome to carry around. It’s fantastic in theory; it may be difficult to carry when you’ve also potentially got your stroller, baby, and luggage.
Why we love it
It’s well-made and features mesh walls so you can keep an eye on your baby. It’s also free of PVC, arsenic, lead, mercury and any flame retardants, so your baby can play and sleep safely. It’s also incredibly well-reviewed, so you can rest assured that it meets all of its promises.
04
BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light
Price: $299.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
With a similar design to the Guava Travel Crib, this crib is perfect for babies and toddlers, which makes finding places for little ones to sleep while away traveling much less of a hassle.
Benefits
This Travel Crib is lauded as one of the easiest to assemble. You don’t have to worry about taking it apart and reassembling it each time you travel. Open up the frame, lock it into place and lay the mattress in the bottom. That’s it!
Downsides
Its price point is high at $360.
Why we love it
It’s JMPA certified so that you can rely on its safety. It’s also easy to clean with washable mesh fabrics. In all, it ticks the assembly, safety and cleaning boxes!
05
4Moms Breeze Plus Playard
Price: $249.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
The 4Moms Breeze Plus offers a huge amount of functionality – from a changing table and bassinet to a playard.
Benefits
Contrary to the branding, this Playard can be used by any parent or guardian! Its main selling point is how easy it is to open and pack away. It offers comfort and features separate changing units.
Downsides
Some parents may take issue with spending $250 on something their baby will grow out of in under 16 months. But if you’re planning on having other children or can resell it, it’s worth the money. It’s also bulky compared to some of the other options on this list.
Why we love it
The mesh sides offer full visibility of your baby, so it’s nice and safe. You can also buy extra sheets for this playmat if one gets soiled.
06
Nuna Sena
Price: $379.95 MSRP | Check Price on Pottery Barn
With a sturdy and no-nonsense design, the Nuna Sena is a good choice for parents looking for something robust.
Benefits
This Travel Cot provides robust support as your little one plays or sleeps. It’s easy to set up, folding back down quickly for easy storage.
Downsides
Despite the website claiming that it’s easy to fold up and store, some parents have complained that this is not the case and that they needed help to do so.
Why we love it
Doubling as a playpen, this cot is sleek, multi-functional and sturdy, enabling safe, comfortable playing and napping.
07
Chicco Lullaby Primo Organic Playard
Price: $299.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
With a little leaf mobile and an appealing heather-gray styling, this playard perfectly combines functionality with design.
Benefits
This All-in-One Portable Playard features an electronic toy bar that plays nature sounds to keep your baby engaged.
Downsides
This playard would likely be wasted on a baby older than three months old, especially at $299. But as an all-in-one product from day one, it’s ideal.
Why we love it
It includes a removable, washable diaper changing pad and a big storage organizer. The mattress cover is made with soft, lightweight organic material for extra coziness.
08
Summer Infant Pop-N-Play Ultimate Portable Playard
Price: $67.60 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
This is the first pack n play on this list that can be used by babies and toddlers alike to play with friends or siblings and can be taken easily outside so they can get some Vitamin D!
Benefits
This Playpen is ideal for bringing to the beach or into the garden. It pops up, providing somewhere safe for your little one to play.
Downsides
This playard is lightweight and portable, but it doesn’t feature any padding, so isn’t an ideal choice if you want your playard to double as a crib.
Why we love it
Its criss-cross metal bar frame makes it light and easy to assemble and disassemble in under a minute.
09
Delta Square Playard
Price: $111.79 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
This playard looks like it’s actually been made with kids in mind, not just adults! With colorful zoo animal prints, translucent mesh sides and a soft base, it’s a great budget-friendly choice.
Benefits
This spacious Playard made it into Yahoo! Life’s top seven playards. It’s JPMA certified, and Delta Children’s website mentions that they go above and beyond to keep your baby safe. It also includes a mattress and a storage bag.
Downsides
Some parents have noted that the mattress is a little thin for their liking.
Why we love it
This playard is safe, comfy and easy to clean. It’s also reasonably priced at around $79.99.
10
Baby Jogger City Suite Multi-Level Playard
Price: $199.99 MSRP | Check Price on Amazon
Another simple and high-quality choice, this multi-level playard is stylish and functional.
Benefits
If you want your baby to feel like they have their own condo, this Multi-Level Playard is the one for you. It’s sleek, simply-built and weighs just 13.5 pounds, so it’s easy to transport.
Downsides
Given that it doesn’t feature storage options or a changing table, $199.99 is pretty expensive.
Why we love it
All the fabric is wipe-clean and stain-resistant. It collapses easily for traveling and also has bassinet capabilities, so your little one can hit the hay after some serious playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pack-n-play?
Overall, the most versatile pack-n-play is number two, the Joovy New Room2 Portable Playard. It’s the best value for money and will likely meet the needs of most parents.
Is a pack-n-play safe for sleeping?
Yes- pack-n-plays are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and there are new safety rules concerning pack-n-plays.
To be sure you’re using a safe play yard, avoid buying one that’s over three years old and check if it has been recalled. You should also be cautious leaving little ones to sleep in a pack-n-play with toys, the same as you would your crib.
How long can a baby sleep in a pack-n-play?
Your baby can sleep in a pack-n-play from a newborn up to about three years old, depending on the product. However, it’s worth checking that your chosen pack-n-play is fitted with a firm mattress, sturdy walls and a tight-fitting sheet. It should also meet all relevant safety requirements.
Can a baby sleep in a pack-n-play without a sheet?
Ideally, your pack-n-play should have a fitted sheet designed for that specific model. An oversized sheet may be dangerous as your baby may become wrapped up in the extra material, so be sure to use the right size sheet.
Are pack-n-plays worth it?
Whether or not a pack-n-play is worth it depends on what you already have. If you own a separate bassinet and have plenty of room in your home, a pack-n-play may not be worth it. However, if you travel a lot and don’t have a cot yet, a good pack-n-play is worth the money.
What is the weight limit for pack-n-play?
The average weight limit on a standard pack-n-play is between 15 to 20 lbs.
Should I buy a crib or a pack-n-play?
As with most baby furniture, your requirements will depend on the available space. If you want something permanent, a crib is a better choice. Pack-n-plays are generally portable and smaller than cribs, featuring less sleeping space.
Your choice between a crib or a pack-n-play also comes down to aesthetics. Many cribs are highly decorative, and some parents match their baby’s crib with their interior design. Pack-n-plays are more functional and comfortable, and they tend to cost a lot less.
Can a baby sleep in a playpen overnight?
Playpens are not designed for sleeping, and they aren’t held up to the same safety standards as pack-n-plays, bassinets and cribs. All it takes is a quick search to learn that many parents are concerned with their infants’ safety when putting them in playpens overnight. In short, playpens likely aren’t as safe as products that are designed for sleeping.
Can a baby sleep in a playpen overnight?
Playpens are not designed for sleeping, and they aren’t held up to the same safety standards as pack-n-plays, bassinets and cribs. All it takes is a quick search to learn that many parents are concerned with their infants’ safety when putting them in playpens overnight. In short, playpens likely aren’t as safe as products that are designed for sleeping.
Closing thoughts: Is a Pack n Play worth it?
With so many products and so many questions about each, choosing the right pack-n-play can be tricky. When looking for playards, you’re also factoring in safety, portability, comfort, easy cleaning and value for money. Keep these factors in mind, and you should have an easier time selecting the right one for your baby!
