Pack n’ plays are a parent’s best friend. They’re versatile, so depending on the model and the options it offers, it can be a playpen, a sleeping cot, and even a changing table!
Not only that, but some of them are also portable so you can take them with you on the road. With so many good options available, though, choosing one of the best ones can be challenging.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best pack n’ plays on the market and what makes each one stand out.
Let’s dive in!
Our List of Top Pack and Play Playards
There’re many brands known for their quality children’s products, here are our favorites.
Fisher Price On The Go Baby Dome
Summary
This Fisher Price On the Go Baby Dome is a portable playard that folds flat with handles for easy storage or to take along with traveling. This play yard measures 31.38” X 5.38” X 22.” This playpen is a perfect place for your baby to nap, spend tummy time or simply sit and play with toys.
The Go Baby Dome sits off the ground slightly making it a great play yard to take to the beach since sand is less likely to get into the playpen. It also has a built in shade to block the sun’s harmful rays, and side netting to help keep out bugs and let in fresh air. It also comes with 2 removable toys for your baby to play with.
Positives
- This baby play pen folds and unfolds easily
- This baby play area comes with 2 toys that can be removed and replaced with other toys
- The Go Baby Dome is nicely padded
Negatives
- Some parents have problems with the hood staying up
What age is this recommended for?
This Dome playpen is best suited for newborns through children who are 7 or 8 months old.
What makes this stand out?
The On the Go Baby Dome is a great portable playard for babies on the go, due to its ease of folding and unfolding, nice roomy size, and dome making it ideal to use outdoors as well as in.
Dream On Me Nest
Summary
This is a full size playard that measures 40” X 24” X 27 ½.” Made of a lightweight aluminum frame this playpen is easy to set up, take down and is durable. It also comes with its own storage/tote bag to make storing and traveling with the playard simpler and easier. The Dream on Me Nest also has mesh sides all around to provide your infant with airflow and a 360 degree view of what is going on around them.
This Nest is easy to clean simply by wiping with a damp cloth.
Positives
- Sturdy and durable
- Roomy
- Affordable
Negatives
- This playpen is not the best quality available
What age is this recommended for?
This playpen is suitable for newborns and children up to about 35 inches tall
What makes this stand out?
The really large size of this playpen makes it a room play area for babies.
Dream On Me Zodiac Playard
Summary
The Zodiac playard is a large play yard that measures 40” X 28.5” X 29.” It features a lightweight aluminum frame, locking casters and mesh sides. This playpen is easy to set up, easy to take down and comes with it’s own tote bag. It also comes in several finishes, has padded floors and arched corners for extra child safety. It wipes clean with just a damp cloth.
Positives
- This playpen sets up quickly and easily
- The mesh sides gives infants and young toddlers a view of what is going on around them
- The travel bag is handy for taking the travel bag when traveling or when needing to store it
Negatives
- The sides of some of these playpens do not lock well
What age is this recommended for?
This playard is recommended for children ages newborn to around 2 or until they are 36 inches tall and able to crawl up on the sides.
What makes this stand out?
The Zodiac Playard is highly affordable making it a good choice for those on a limited budget.
Albott Baby Fence Kid Playpen
Summary
For parents who like to build their own playard this baby fence is a good option. It comes with 16 panels, 1 game board with turnable flowers and BB sound buttons, an accessory kit and manual. Parents can make this playpen as large or small as they would like and when all panels are used this playard will hold 2 to 4 infants. It stands 25 inches high.
Positives
- This playpen can be used with or without a mat
- It is a nice large size so it can hold plenty of toys to keep your child occupied
- It’s great for both indoor and outdoor use
Negatives
- Some purchases found that this baby fence came with pieces missing
What age is this recommended for?
This baby fence is best suited for children ages 6 months to 3 or 4 years
What makes this stand out?
This playard can be formed into a square, rectangle or even octagon and parents can use as few or as many panels as they would like.
Portable baby playards give babies and young children a place to play wherever they are and gives parents peace of mind knowing their child is safely contained.
Baby Trend Trend-E Nursery Center
Summary
This nursery center is ideal to set up in your living room or at grandma’s house, with its foldable compact design.
It comes in 5 different colors and has a removable full-size bassinet and toy mobile, which is ideal for naps. The large wheels with brakes and one hand lock mechanism makes it easy to handle when one hand is busy.
A practical addition to this model is the parent organizer. You can use it to store diapers and other baby necessities. Also, it’s detachable, so you can easily remove it if you need to.
This sturdy pack n play isn’t recommended for trips, though, as it’s relatively heavy and not very easy to set up.
Pros
- Removable full-size bassinet
- Includes parent organizer for baby essentials
Cons
- Toy mobile is stationary and not sturdy, may fall
- Relatively heavy
What age is this recommended for?
Up to 15 lbs. and 25” tall
What makes this option stand out?
The removable parent-organizer makes your life easier, as you can store all the baby essentials. This provides easy access without having to go back and forth.
Lotus Travel Crib
Summary
This travel crib from Lotus is the traveling parent’s best friend. It’s lighter than almost all other playard options weighing only 13 lbs. It comes with a carrier with shoulder straps, so it’s the perfect travel playard. If you’re traveling by plane, you can even check it in at the airport gate!
Setting up the Lotus travel Crib takes 15 seconds, yes you read that right, thanks to its 3D folding technology. It also has a side zipper to allow you easy access to your child.
Safe and non-toxic, this is one of the few playards with Greenguard Gold certification.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Greenguard Gold Certification
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- The side zipper sometimes get stuck
What age is this recommended for?
Up to 2.5 years or 35” tall
What makes this option stand out?
The lotus travel crib is portable, compact, and very lightweight, making it the perfect travel companion.
Joovy New Room 2
Summary
As the name suggests, this playard from Joovy is a room. Or at least it feels like one for your child.
Almost 50% larger than other playards, this playard is spacious enough for one child to enjoy without feeling cooped in. It can even accommodate two kids, making it a perfect choice for twins!
This model is easy to assemble and comes in 2 colors, black and charcoal, not the most fun of colors. However, its size allows space for your kids’ colorful toys, so you can add a bit of color to it anyway.
This is a relatively heavy playard, though, so not your best option if you want a portable one.
Pros
- Spacious can take more than one child
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Not suitable for travelers
What age is this recommended for?
Infants and children up to 35” tall
What makes this option stand out?
Size is this model’s most significant advantage as it can accommodate up to 2 children at a time.
Regalo My Play Portable Playard
Summary
The Regalo playard is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Available in aqua color, this six-paneled model is designed differently than most traditional playards to give more space for your toddler to play.
Relatively lightweight, waterproof, and easy to clean, this is the playard for the outdoors. The nylon bottom protects your playard from rough surfaces. It also has a patented adjustable easy-fit system for effortless setup.
Moreover, it includes a safety lock, steel frame, and reinforced stitching, making it sturdy and safe for your little ones.
Pros
- Excellent for outdoor use
- Safety-lock feature
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Doesn’t have a mattress
What age is this recommended for?
6 to 12 months old
What makes this option stand out?
This playard is perfect for outdoor use as it’s sturdy and easy to clean.
Summer Pop ‘n Play Portable Playard
Summary
This is the playard for the summer of your dreams. Great for both gardens and beach, this model comes with a canopy to help protect your child from the hot summer sun rays.
What sets this playard apart is the fact that’s made of water-resistant material that helps keep your child dry.
This playard is lightweight, portable, and compact. However, when you pop it open, it’s a whopping 14 square foot. And yes, all you need to do is pop it. It takes just a few seconds to set up!
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Portable and compact
Cons
- Some reports of not being sturdy
What age is this recommended for?
From 6 months old up to 24 months olds, or when your child is 35” tall, whichever comes frost
What makes this option stand out?
Made of water-resistant material and comes with a removable canopy, it’s the perfect companion for your baby’s first beach visit.
Delta Children Play Yard
Summary
This one comes with a colorful animal design that’ll probably keep your kid mesmerized for hours.
Although it’s sturdy and easy to assemble, it’s not the best option for traveling given its heavyweight. It can also be used outdoors. The Delta play yard comes with a carry bag, which you can use for storing it.
This Delta playard is JPMA certified to meet or exceed all safety standards set by the CPSC & ASTM.
Pros
- Relatively affordable
- Colorful design
Cons
- Heavy, not very portable
What age is this recommended for?
Up to 30 lbs. or 35” tall
What makes this option stand out?
This model’s colorful and sturdy design makes it both fun and safe for your kids.
4moms breeze GO Portable Travel Playard
Summary
The 4moms travel playard comes in a simple yet stylish design and an easy to clean mattress. It’s easy to handle, as you can set it up and take it down with one handed.
Even though it comes with a travel bag and easy setup, this model isn’t the best for travel since it weighs 23 lbs., a fine option if you’re okay with that but we just wanted to point that out so you know what you’re getting.
If you’re after a more robust option from 4moms we suggest the Breeze Plus which comes with one hand setup, a changer and a detachable bassinet.
Pros
- Detachable bassinet
- One-handed set-up
Cons
- Relatively expensive
What age is this recommended for?
Up to 30 lbs.
What makes this option stand out?
This is a great quality playard with a minimalist design, so it would match most room decor.
Graco Pack and Play On The Go Playard
Product Currently Out Of Stock!
Summary
The Graco Pack and Play On the Go Playard measures 39 1/2” X 28 1/4” X29.” It comes with a removable and foldable full size bassinet. The bassinet has a toy bar with soft toys for the baby to bat at and grab. The playpen has automatic folding feet with wheels and a durable frame. There is a press button for folding This playpen also comes with a carrying bag for easy storage or travel.
Positives
- You get a bassinet and playpen all in one
- The bassinet comes with hanging toys on the bassinet
- This playard is sturdy
Negatives
- Many parents have difficulty with the mat laying flat
What age is this recommended for?
This bassinet and playpen is recommended for children newborn and up. However, the bassinet is only suitable for children under 15 pounds and the playpen itself is designed for children 25 pounds or less and 35 inches tall.
What makes this stand out?
The main selling point of this playpen is that it also comes with a bassinet that can be used for your infant’s naps during the day and the fact that this playpen easily folds and fits into the carry bag.
Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Best Pack n’ Play
Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions we set related to this playards.
How can I pick the best pack n’ play for my child?
Depending on your usage and child’s age, there are several factors to consider. For example, if your child is younger, then you may want to consider the availability of a bassinet and changing table. Built-in sound and motion are also a plus.
On the other hand, if you’re going on a summer vacation, then an outdoor-friendly pack n’ play would be your ideal option. It would also be a good idea to consider its weight and how easy it is to set up and take down if you’ll travel with it.
Is it safe to buy a used pack n’ play?
When you buy a used playard, you have no way of knowing how well it was maintained. So, since safety is key, it’s not recommended to do so unless it’s from a trusted and verified seller.
What is our top pick for a pack and play based on price and value?
After reviewing our favorite picks, the Joovy New Room 2 made it to the top of our list. It’s sturdy and spacious enough to accommodate your child (or children!) and their toys.
If you’re looking for a pack and play with a bassinet, though, the Graco Pack ‘n Play Simple Solutions Playard is an excellent alternative.
Final Thoughts
Playards are a nice addition to your baby’s gear. They provide a space for your child to nap or enjoy themselves while awake if you’re busy getting some things done. What more could a parent ask for than something that keeps their baby entertained (and safe) while they’ve got chore to tend to!
We hope that our list has helped you narrow down your choices and pick the right pack and play for your exact needs!
