Cribs Vs. Pack N Play

Your little bundle of joy comes with a lot of luggage: clothes, diapers, bottles, toys and, of course, new furniture. Deciding which furniture to buy is daunting. Will you go the traditional route and keep baby in a cradle or bassinet until she can sit up? Will she start out in a crib? Or, as many parents do, will you skip the specialized furniture entirely and let her sleep in a portable play yard, such as a Pack 'n Play? Cribs and play yards each have their advantages and disadvantages.

  1. Cribs

    • Cribs usually have a height adjustment for the mattress, so younger can babies sleep higher up (and are therefore more accessible) and older babies can't climb out. Constructed of sturdy materials, cribs are not portable. Cribs are ideal for designated nurseries, as they can coordinate with other furniture or transform a plain room into "baby's room". Because most cribs have slats that babies could get caught in, cribs shouldn't be used as play yards.

    Play Yards

    • Portable play yards, such as Graco's Pack 'n Play brand, have a collapsible metal frame with a padded insert for the bottom. When the play yard is collapsed and folded, it is wrapped in the padded insert and zipped in a tote bag. A Pack 'n Play can be a safe place for baby to play, sleep or just hang out. The sides are made of flexible mesh, so there's no need to worry about your baby becoming caught or tangled while playing.

    Budget

    • Your budget will play a large role in whether you purchase a crib, a play yard or both. Cribs can range in price from roughly $75 to more than $1,000. Play yards can also be expensive, running from about $50 to $400. If you're on a limited budget, buying just a Pack 'n Play can save you money now. If you want a crib, you can save money down the road by buying a "convertible crib," one that converts from a crib to a toddler bed, for when your child is too big for either a crib or a play yard.

    Space

    • The space you have to dedicate to baby also determines what furniture you buy. If you have an entire room to use as a nursery, you can buy a crib without worrying about cluttering your home. If space is limited, or the baby will be sharing a room, you may want to opt for a Pack 'n Play.

    Safety

    • Even though cribs shouldn't be used as play yards, they are more stable than portable play yards. It's rare, but there have been cases of play yards collapsing with a baby inside. Pack 'n Plays are also more likely to be tipped over by older children trying to climb out.

    Accessories

    • While cribs are excellent for creating an aesthetically pleasing, baby-only zone, Pack 'n Plays are extremely flexible items that let you combine many pieces of baby furniture into a single, portable play yard. Some play yards come with bassinet attachments (so you can easily pick up your newborn), changing stations and sun hoods.

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