Is the Graco Pack-n-Play a Good Value? Where Can You Get a Great Deal on Portable Playard with Bassinet?

The Graco pack-n-play doubles as a portable crib and a play pen for babies and growing toddlers. It folds down into a convenient carry case which makes it perfect for travel, yet most parents will find a million uses for it around the home as well. The big benefit to the pack-n-play is that it can be used for the smallest newborns as well as growing toddlers. This isn't just for babies big enough to lay in an open space alone, because of its design.

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You can always find a pack-n-play that suits your baby because there are three different design options:

Kensly; Lively Dots; On the Run

All designs are suitable for boys as well as girls thanks to neutral color and design selections. Kensly offers a darker brown with blue accent while the other two designs offer soft brown hues with green and other subtle accent colors.

There are a variety of sheets designed by Graco just for the pack-n-play. There are regular sheets in white and blue as well as quilted cream color sheets that will provide some extra cushioning for your baby while sleeping. These sheets are essential because they will protect the mattress in the pack-n-play so you have a much easier time keeping it clean. They will also comfort your baby, of course.

The nicest feature of the pack-n-play is the built-in bassinet. It is positioned along the top of the unit so the lower portion is blocked during the younger years of your baby's life. Once they are ready to stand up and move around more you can remove the bassinet to reveal the roomier area below. You can also remove the bassinet for use around your home without moving the entire pack-n-play. This is clearly one of the most functional and well designed portable cribs on the market today, since many others do not have the bassinet feature.

The bottom of the pack-n-play features a soft surface for comfort and there is a toy bar for entertainment. If you need to move the entire unit around there are built-in wheels that fold down to flat feet for stability once put in place. When it comes time to fold up and head home or away from home, you simply push buttons to get everything condensed into a convenient carry case.

The pack-n-play is suitable for infants and toddlers up to 30 pounds.

While the Graco pack-n-play is extremely convenient and well designed, there are some things to be aware of before making a purchase. Many parents and grandparents don't realize how low to the ground this unit is prior to purchasing. It is less than 30 inches tall with the mattress bottom sitting very close to the ground. This means you may have to bend over quite a bit to lay down a sleeping baby. Those with bad backs may not appreciate the journey down there and back up.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the mattress doesn't fit very snug along the bottom, so it can be a bit loose in the middle. This isn't a problem for most parents, but some don't like that it isn't a flat, tight fit to the bottom and sides.

Despite those issues, this is a very sturdy, convenient product that can serve not only as a bed for your little one while traveling but a safe place to play in the home as well.

See Lowest Price on Graco Pack-n-Play | Read Customer Reviews