What are the Best Pack N Plays?

As any parent knows, babies require a lot of equipment. Friends, media, and retailers encourage expectant parents to purchase all of it. While some items prove to be superfluous after baby arrives, one piece of equipment that most parents are grateful to have is the playard or Pack 'n Play.

  1. Description and Purpose

    • Though Graco makes all playards with the name of Pack 'n Play, several companies make products that basically work the same way. A Pack 'n Play is part portable crib, part play pen, part bassinet, and sometimes a changing table, toy center, or outdoor play space. A Pack 'n Play has a mattress for babies and young toddlers to sleep or play. It folds to fit in a bag, making it perfect for traveling. Bassinets and changing table attachments to Pack 'n Plays are designed for newborns. As babies get older, parents remove the attachments to make the Pack 'n Play a sleeping and playing station. A downstairs playard can save steps for parents in multi-level houses. Once a baby becomes mobile, a playard is a place to put the baby while a parent showers or takes care of chores.

    Options

    • Playard options may be overwhelming for parents. Some come with mobiles and attached toys. Some vibrate to put baby to sleep. Others are made for specific purposes. Baby product expert Heather Corely likes the Graco Pack 'n Play Sport. This rugged version of the playard has SPF protection and "the sturdy tarp bottom allows the Pack 'n Play Sport to go anywhere, even the beach, without staining the bottom or getting it wet." With so many features, families can find a Pack 'n Play to fit any lifestyle. Graco's website offers models in categories for entertainment, bassinets, on-the-go, and even twins.

    Brands and Prices

    • While Graco makes a variety of Pack 'n Plays, other brands produce playards too. On Babble, Nicole Feliciano recommends the Eddie Bauer Complete Care Play Yard. She cites this model as great for travel because the bag has wheels. Other brands making widely available playards include Chicco, Evenfloe, and LA Baby. Prices range from under $100 to almost $300.

    The Right Pack N Play

    • Finding the right playard requires parents to prioritize their needs and budget. The March of Dimes, with help from Consumer Reports, offers advice and a shopping guide on their website.

    Tips and Reminders

    • As with any baby product, checking for recalled playards before shopping is important. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission provides updated lists of all recalled products. Bobby's Best recommends Graco Pack 'n Plays, but suggests skipping the "bells and whistles." Bassinets and changing tables are useful with a newborn, but babies quickly outgrow these features. The basic playard is what parents will use into the toddler stage.

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