This week's review :
Graco Pack 'N Play
As a home daycare operator, I've used many, many portable cribs and playpens. Each new baby or toddler that I care for brings his or her own space to nap, so I've had the chance to use playards by all of the major manufacturers, and some of the not-so-major manufacturers as well. The Graco Pack 'N Play is the only one that I can recommend.
The first problem with most play yards is how difficult they are to set up. I've pinched my fingers many times, and I sent home one memorable travel crib because I was never sure if the sides were locked into place or not. The Pack 'N Play, though, is much easier to set up. Push the bottom down, and then pull up the sides. When the side buttons pop out, the sides are locked. The newer Pack 'N Play models are even easier to set up than the older ones. If you had problems with the models from five or ten years ago, then know that the newer models are simpler.
Take down is also a breeze with the Graco Pack 'N Play. It takes a time or two to get the motion right (you have to pull up slightly on the side as you're depressing the button), but once you get it, you can go from set up to put away within 60 seconds. That's a very useful feature if you've got an active toddler!
If space is limited in your house, then you'll appreciate the way the way the Pack 'N Play folds up into a neat little box. The mattress folds around the actual playard, and there's a nylon bag that holds the whole assembly. Folded up, the Pack 'N Play is smaller and lighter than other brands.
The bassinet is another feature that parents love. It stretches over the entire crib, and is a wonderful place for a newborn to nap or for parents to change diapers. It's safe up to 20 pounds, and will save tired new parents from having to bend down to put the baby in the bottom of the playard or to have to carry a sleeping newborn upstairs to the "real" crib.
The Pack 'N Play also has two wheels, which make it easy to move from room to room, a comfortable mattress that lies flat and isn't lumpy, a handle to make it easier to tote around, and mesh windows so that parent and baby can see each other. The only complaint I've heard is that the sheet that comes with the Pack 'N Play isn't high-quality, but that's easy enough to change. If you're looking for a travel crib or a playpen, the Graco Pack 'N Play won't disappoint you.
Baby Product Weekly
