The Product: Portable Crib / Playard

A Playard is a must have for traveling and is also great to keep downstairs as a bassinet for a new baby. I am not sure what parents did before these were invented. I can't imagine brining a portable crib everywhere that we travel.

Recommendation: Graco Pack n Play Review

The Graco Pack ‘n Play is a pretty ingenious invention designed for any child less than 35” tall and less than 30lbs in weight. The Pack’n Play’s are really easy to set up and take apart and comes with wheels that make it very easy to move around. When collapsed, it’s about 12 inches wide by 4ft high, and fits into the included travel bag which has a built in handle and is ready to be put in the car or checked in at the airport. However, in about 30 seconds, it easily expands into a sturdy lightweight crib perfect for napping, sleep or play.

The Graco Pack 'n Play is also a good option for grandma's house, especially if they don't have a crib or the house has not been "baby-proofed." It a nice thing to have for visits if they are willing to buy one, but many parents also find that it's easier to just keep a spare, basic model playard in the trunk of the car so it's available any time, even just for naps at a friends house.

Consider a model with a bassinet top and changing table if your baby’s room is upstairs and you plan to use it as a second sleeping/changing station around the house. Keep in mind that only the base crib folds up nicely into the bag like you see in the picture, so if you get a model with a ton of accessories, you will have to carry those around separately. Also, you will want to get a few sets of extra fitted sheets to keep handy.

Devil's Advocate:

Pack n’ Plays come in a variety of colors and options. Skip the deluxe models with all the bells and whistles unless you plan to use it more as a primary crib at grandma’s house. Otherwise, there is no point is spending 20 minutes setting up a “portable” crib. Rather than buying a model with all the bells and whistles, I would suggest buying one of the less expensive basic models and also purchasing the Graco Travel Lite Crib