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A pack ‘n play is on most baby registries, but do you have any idea which one you need? First, think about what you want out of your pack ‘n play. Do you want it to include a newborn bassinet and changing station? Should it be travel-friendly? Will it primarily used for play?
We’ve chosen the best pack ‘n plays based on your needs.
Best Pack ‘N Plays
Before we get into our reviews, we’d like to remind you to use safe sleep practices with your child. This typically includes children sleeping on a firm, flat surface. And for children less than 1-year-old, don’t place any blankets, stuffed animals, pillows, etc., in the crib (or playard or pack ‘n play) with the child to reduce the risk of suffocation.
For the most up-to-date information on safe sleep practices, check with the American Academy of Pediatrics, or speak with your child’s pediatrician.
Now, on to our reviews, where we’ve chosen the best pack ‘n plays based on your needs.
Budget-Friendly | New Parents | Easiest Setup | Playing | Traveling
Budget-Friendly: Graco Pack ‘n Play Portable Playard Review
If all you need is a simple pack ‘n play to use for overnight stays, this Graco Playard is an excellent option. It is easy to set up and has wheels to make it easy to maneuver around the room.
You can use it for children less than 35″ tall and 30 pounds. We recommend Graco to those of you looking for a cheap but quality pack ‘n play.
Author’s Experience
I gave birth to my son in August 2018. The first night he came home with us, he slept next to our bed in a Graco Pack ‘n Play we borrowed from my sister. We set it up in the bassinet position, so we didn’t have to bend down as far to get him since he was a newborn and unable to roll around or stand at that stage. It worked for the first couple of months perfectly while we all adjusted to our new life together.
When we have overnight stays, we use it for his naps and bedtime without the bassinet setup. He sleeps well in it.
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Price & Tech Specs
- Check Amazon for availability
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Dimensions: 40″ x 28.5″ x 29″
Honorable Mention Budget-Friendly: Cosco Funsport Playard Review
Cosco is another popular brand for a basic playard. It’s inexpensive and is very similar to the Graco one above. The only downside is that this one is slightly more difficult to break down, but it’s still a great option.
If you want a budget-friendly pack ‘n play, we recommend comparing Graco and Cosco to see which has the lowest price when you’re ready to buy.
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Price & Tech Specs
- $69.99
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Assembled Dimensions: 28.5″ x 30.5″ x 41″
- Folded Dimensions: 29″ x 9″ x 9″
Best For New Parents: Chicco Lullaby Playard Review
If you want a playard that’s multi-purpose, this could be a great fit for you. We give this model the “best for new parents” award because it acts as a newborn napper, bassinet, playard, and changing station. It can grow with your baby into the toddler years, and it even plays nature sounds and lullabies. This playard can do it all.
This Chicco playard also includes changer storage and a soothing mobile. It’s easy to unzip the cover and throw it in your washing machine. It’s more expensive than others, but it may cut out expenses elsewhere if you opt to use this over purchasing several other baby items.
We wouldn’t recommend it for travel since it weighs 40 pounds with all of its bells and whistles attached, but if you need something in your living room or nursery during the newborn stage, this is an excellent option.
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Price & Tech Specs
- $219.99
- Weight: 40 pounds
- Assembled Dimensions: 45″ x 31″ x 46″
- Folded Dimensions: 11.5″ x 30″ x 19″
Easiest Setup: 4moms Breeze Go Review
This setup couldn’t be more simple. The 4moms Breeze Go, and Breeze Plus playards have one-push open and one-pull close setup and tear-down. The easy close option could be convenient for a single parent or if you do a lot of traveling by yourself with your baby. You can use this travel playard until your child reaches 30 pounds.
If you the basic playard, the Breeze Go will be your best bet. But if you want a bassinet and changer built-in, we’d recommend the Breeze Plus.
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Price & Tech Specs
- Breeze Go: $199.99
- Breeze Plus: Check Amazon for availability
- Weight: 23 pounds
- Assembled Dimensions: 43″ x 30″ x 29″
See The Setup
The video below shows how simple the setup is for the 4moms Breeze Go.
Best For Playing: Summer Infant Pop ‘N Play Portable Playard Review
If you want a playard primarily for your child to play in, Summer Infant’s playard is excellent. It provides 14 square-feet of playroom and is 48-inches wide. This pop ‘n play is an excellent option for those of you who need something for your child to play in while you’re at your older child’s soccer game or on vacation at the beach.
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Price & Tech Specs
- Playard:
$77.27
- Weight: 12 pounds
- Assembled Dimensions: 14 sq ft, 48″ wide, 26″ tall
- Full Coverage Canopy: Check Amazon for availability
Best Travel Crib: Lotus Travel Crib Review
The Lotus Travel Crib is a great option for families who, you guessed it, travel often. This travel crib is lightweight and compact. It packs up into a backpack to free up your hands to hold your child or other bags while traveling.
The mattress sits right on the floor, which means you can lie next to the crib with your little one. The zipper door is perfect for cuddling or nursing your little one to sleep and then allowing you to step away and zip up the mesh door without being too noisy.
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Price & Tech Specs
- $229.95
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Assembled Dimensions: 46″ x 31″ x 25.5″
- Backpack Dimensions: 24″ x 8″ x 12″
Honorable Mention Travel Crib: BABYBJORN Travel Crib Light Review
This BABYBJORN Travel Crib is extremely similar to the Lotus model we reviewed above, but it’s slightly more expensive. This travel crib also doesn’t include a zipper door (like the Lotus does).
It’s still a high-quality travel crib — just at a higher price point. You can use this until your child is three years old.
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Price & Tech Specs
- $279.99
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Assembled Dimensions: 32″ x 44″ x 24″
- Folded Dimensions: 19″ x 23.5″ x 5.5″
Baby Registry Checklist
Once you’ve chosen your pack ‘n play, head over to our baby registry checklist to see if there are other items you should consider for your parenting adventure. For example, one commonly forgotten item is the humidifier. A humidifier can help keep your baby’s skin moisturized as well as purify the air and help keep your baby healthy.
