Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard Review
We like
Relatively simple to assembly and disassembly
Sturdy construction for safe use but lightweight for transport
Sold for an affordable price
Provides safe space for the child to play and even take a nap
Convenient for home and travel use
Great durability
We don’t like
Mattress pads not always comfortable and many additional accessories are sold separately
How it works
As every parent knows the moment your child starts crawling around this very moment you will have to supervise the child constantly because the crawling babies are famous for getting themselves into mischief. Pack and plays or usually called playards are a much better option than having to “baby-proof” a room, plus they are a great solution if you travel too.
If we take into consideration three factors we think are relevant when deciding to purchase a playard: affordability, safety, and portability we cannot but notice that Graco Pack and Play comes out among the first on the list of popularity among playards. The Graco Pack and Play is Graco’s brand of cozy, functional and comfortable playards, which make a safe space for babies and toddlers to play and sleep in.
This particular one is an affordable place that is designed to provide a spacious room for play and rest. Graco Pack N Play is a durable product that grows with your child and it is a great solution for families who like traveling without compromising the comfort of play and rest. This is an affordable option for families who do not have or do not use much a travel crib so they can use this Pack and Play Aspery product.
This Graco Pack and Play can be used as a sleeper too although the primary function is playard, place where your baby can play safely at home. When parents choose a playard they want to choose something that is not so heavy in order to be able to carry it around and at the same time with robust construction in order to keep the child safe enough.
Materials
Airy mesh sides provide breathability and allow flow of air. This feature also allows great visibility for your toddler to look around what is happening and in this way while the child is playing in a safe environment, he or she will feel included in the activities that are happening around the room. On one of the sides, there is an included storage bag also made of mesh fabric which although is very small in size still can be useful because you can keep some small things like wipes or any other supplies that you might need for the child when he/she is playing inside.
The fabric is durable and it is easy to clean. The playard cannot be machine –washed but wipe-cleaned or cleaned with warm water and household soap. Graco Pack N Play can be easily folded and put in a carrying bag which is machine washable, which is very convenient because the pack and play playard is transported and stored in this bag. Graco’s materials that are used in the playard are claimed to be phthalate-free materials.
The fabric is durable and it is easy to clean. The playard cannot be machine –washed but wipe-cleaned or cleaned with warm water and household soap. Graco Pack N Play can be easily folded and put in a carrying bag which is machine washable, which is very convenient because the pack and play playard is transported and stored in this bag. Graco’s materials that are used in the playard are claimed to be phthalate-free materials.
Portability
This top product at a bargain price is ideal playard especially for families who travel a lot and it is extremely functional because it features folding feet and handy wheels that help for the play yard to be folded down easily in a compact way and make it easy to store and transport. For additional convenience, the product includes a carrying bag so after you fold the Graco Pack N Play you can put it in this carrying bag that requires limited space meaning that you can easily put the bag into the car for transport.
The carrying bag can be machine washed. Because of the portability, this Graco Pack N Play can be used as a travel crib where you can put the toddler for sleep while you are staying away for example on a holiday.
The carrying bag can be machine washed. Because of the portability, this Graco Pack N Play can be used as a travel crib where you can put the toddler for sleep while you are staying away for example on a holiday.
Comfort
The Graco Pack ‘n Play playard is a product that was designed for the comfort and relaxation of your child – regardless of the place where the child is since this play yard can be folded and put in a convenient carrying bag so you can carry the comfort that your child enjoys at home, to whatever place you go to. This Graco Pack N Play offers your child a cozy place for play and a comfy place to rest, although compared to other playards it looks quite simple. The interior is quite spacious and thus the product can grow with your child.
The roomy area inside the playard offers a great area for play but if your child decides to take a nap while playing this area gives this opportunity to the child, too. The padding that comes with this playard is actually pretty thin but that is normal because the playard is intended for playing and not for sleeping. Included in the product details and this package is a toy bar where you can put some soft toys that would be perfect for your child’s entertainment.
It is a nice additional feature that especially in infancy helps for visual stimulation and play. Children love to play inside the play area and at the same time are interested in trying to reach the toy bar with the soft toys so this is ideal for the period when the child is learning how to stand up by himself/herself as well as for the period when the child makes his/her first steps so he is using the frame of the playard as a support or something to hold on while making the first steps. In this context, we can say that this product really grows with your child.
The roomy area inside the playard offers a great area for play but if your child decides to take a nap while playing this area gives this opportunity to the child, too. The padding that comes with this playard is actually pretty thin but that is normal because the playard is intended for playing and not for sleeping. Included in the product details and this package is a toy bar where you can put some soft toys that would be perfect for your child’s entertainment.
It is a nice additional feature that especially in infancy helps for visual stimulation and play. Children love to play inside the play area and at the same time are interested in trying to reach the toy bar with the soft toys so this is ideal for the period when the child is learning how to stand up by himself/herself as well as for the period when the child makes his/her first steps so he is using the frame of the playard as a support or something to hold on while making the first steps. In this context, we can say that this product really grows with your child.
Ease of use
The Graco Pack N Play is claimed to be a little difficult to be assembled. The product comes with a set of instructions, although many of the customers say that they could be clearer. There is a signature Graco push-button that needs to be pulled up in order to set up the playard. If you press down the same button it breaks down the play yard and with a simple push and no hassle you can fold down the Pack N Play very quickly and easily. This push-button fold can be found in all Graco Pack and Play products.
The ease of use is enhanced with the automatic folding feet and wheels too that help this product to be folded into a single, small and compact package. By pulling up on a tag which is placed in the center of the playard bottom, the feet, and the wheels pull in and the whole unit collapses so it can be easily managed if we want to store it or put it in the carrying bag. The mattress pad can be wrapped around the playard and then the compact unit can be put in the carrying bag. However, one should manually lock or unlock the rails and support joints for corresponding assembly and disassembly, which on the other hand ensures that the playard is safe and sturdy when it is being used. In terms of cleaning and maintenance, it's recommended that you get specially designed Pack 'N' Play sheets so you won't have to spot clean the mattress.
The ease of use is enhanced with the automatic folding feet and wheels too that help this product to be folded into a single, small and compact package. By pulling up on a tag which is placed in the center of the playard bottom, the feet, and the wheels pull in and the whole unit collapses so it can be easily managed if we want to store it or put it in the carrying bag. The mattress pad can be wrapped around the playard and then the compact unit can be put in the carrying bag. However, one should manually lock or unlock the rails and support joints for corresponding assembly and disassembly, which on the other hand ensures that the playard is safe and sturdy when it is being used. In terms of cleaning and maintenance, it's recommended that you get specially designed Pack 'N' Play sheets so you won't have to spot clean the mattress.
Size and dimensions
When we are choosing playards one of the features that we are looking at is definitely the size, especially if you are limited in space. The Graco Pack N Play is smaller in size (39.5" (W) x 28.2" (L) x 29 " (H)) compared to similar products and weighs around 18 lbs. Customers complain that this playard is pretty heavy and because of this, it is not convenient for moving it or carrying it too often.
However, we must also be aware that the playard must be in a way heavy because it has a solid and sturdy construction which on the other hand adds to the safety feature. There is no strict limitation regarding the weight of the child but approximately the weight of the child for the playard is 30 lbs. The size of the playard is also perfect for hotel rooms when you go on family vacations.
However, we must also be aware that the playard must be in a way heavy because it has a solid and sturdy construction which on the other hand adds to the safety feature. There is no strict limitation regarding the weight of the child but approximately the weight of the child for the playard is 30 lbs. The size of the playard is also perfect for hotel rooms when you go on family vacations.
Durability
The frame of the play yard is durable. The material is airy mesh on all four sides and the construction is sturdy and metal that makes this product a winner in the category of longevity. Since there is no strict limit about the weight within the playard, Graco Pack N Play is a product that can be used for a few years that is from infant until your child reaches 35 inches of height. So, this adds to the potential this product to be used for a few years.
Appropriate Age
The Graco Pack N Play has a restriction for the height of the children because of safety reasons. This play yard is for children less than 35 inches tall who cannot climb out so taking into account these specifications we can say this product is intended for a period from infancy to toddlerhood. Thus, Graco Pack N Play provides plenty of room for the growth of your baby. The durable frame and mesh fabric make this product last for a few years.
Price and Affordability
The price of this product is what is appealing to many customers. For a reasonable and affordable price, you get a great Pack N Play Playard that is easy to store and transport. This is a great Graco product from the line of Pack N Play and Graco has been known among parents as a brand that is trusted in producing safe and quality baby products. This particular product serves a useful function and for many years it has been a popular product among customers especially because of the unbeatable price and its usefulness.
Safety
The playard has a robust and sturdy construction with metal frames. On all four sides, there are mesh openings so when your child is inside the airy mesh sides provide enough ventilation and you as a parent can keep an eye on what your child is doing in the playard. The metal construction is strong enough not to be toppled over when the child moves a lot inside. The playard has a durable frame that adds to the longevity of the product.
Although this product possesses all required safety features for a playard, Graco, unlike many other companies that subject themselves to testing and certifying for the fabrics used, provides no certification for the safety of the fabrics. When we talk about safety once again we have to mention the height limit of 35 inches or until kids are capable of climbing on their own.
The height limit is a requirement or better said safety precaution measure in all other Pack and Play products regardless of the brand. Of course, before you put the child inside the play area make sure that playard is completely set up. The manufacturer has clearly stated in the Instructions that the customers should not add any thicker or a different sized mattress because this may represent a danger for the child.
Although this product possesses all required safety features for a playard, Graco, unlike many other companies that subject themselves to testing and certifying for the fabrics used, provides no certification for the safety of the fabrics. When we talk about safety once again we have to mention the height limit of 35 inches or until kids are capable of climbing on their own.
The height limit is a requirement or better said safety precaution measure in all other Pack and Play products regardless of the brand. Of course, before you put the child inside the play area make sure that playard is completely set up. The manufacturer has clearly stated in the Instructions that the customers should not add any thicker or a different sized mattress because this may represent a danger for the child.
The Bottom Line
Graco Pack 'n Play Playard is designed to provide your child with a comfy, safe and portable area where the children enjoy to play or take a nap. This product is one of the most used from the Pack N Play lines even compared to the other brands. Graco is the brand well known for quality baby products and this playard is no exception. Graco Pack 'n Play Playard is a great option for infants in the period when they start getting up and trying to touch, get or open everything in the nearby surrounding.
The wheels on the playard make it easy to move the playard to another room or to the room where you have some things to do and without having to worry about the safety, you can put the child inside the play area together with his favorite toys or put some soft toys on the frame of the playard to keep the child entertained. A playard is definitely a handy product when you need a safe sport for the child to play while you are trying to get some things done.
The wheels on the playard make it easy to move the playard to another room or to the room where you have some things to do and without having to worry about the safety, you can put the child inside the play area together with his favorite toys or put some soft toys on the frame of the playard to keep the child entertained. A playard is definitely a handy product when you need a safe sport for the child to play while you are trying to get some things done.
