The 6 Best Pack and Plays and Playards, Tested by Infants and Toddlers

The most useful playards don’t just offer a safe space for your child, they provide the entertainment too. The Baby Einstein Kick & Snooze 3-in-1 Playard comes with an impressive (and removable) activity gym that includes a toy bar and a musical keyboard. Combine this with a good-sized play area for babies and toddlers and a rave review from our tester, it’s no surprise it’sI this year’s Best of The Bump winner for overall best pack and play: The Baby Einstein Kick & Snooze 3-in-1 Playard. (See all of this year’s Best of The Bump winners.) The clever design functions as a standalone play space, a play gym and an infant bassinet for those early days with baby. And there’s plenty of fun features to keep baby entertained and busy as they grow into toddlerhood, thanks to the removable toy bar as well as an interactive piano toy with more than 25 minutes of music and lights and phrases in four languages. “My baby LOVES to play in this playard,” says Shannon, who tested it with her 3-month-old, adding that her son liked the interactive elements. “He loves the music and as parents we don’t find them agitating or annoying /[as] they are classical tunes.” Our product tester appreciated the addition of a toy bar, but noted that her little one couldn’t quite reach the dangling toys when it was set up in bassinet mode. Despite this niggle, Shannon was still a big fan, awarding it a perfect 10 for effectiveness and noting that “this playard keeps him content for a long time, allowing us to make meals, fold laundry, etc.”

In terms of portability, this playard did not disappoint. It took Shannon approximately 5 minutes to set it up and once playtime was over it was “incredibly easy” to fold up and store away. “I’ve never seen a playard that folds up like this one does. It’s like folding a blanket!” gushes Shannon. It also comes with a carry bag that has a shoulder strap, and Shannon noted that “the carry bag has a drawstring opening, so it’s able to stretch open large enough to easily fit the folded playard.” At just over 22 pounds, it’s also one of the lightest playards on our list, making it easy to move from room to room or fold up and sling over your shoulder as you travel from point A to B.

Of course, this playard also functions as a safe sleep zone. “It’s a very secure and sturdy sleep space,” says Shannon. She told us that her son would play until he started to fall asleep and noted that “picking up the baby from the bassinet was easy, even when navigating around the toy arches.”

The fact that it offers a slightly larger play area compared to most playards was another plus point for our product tester. In her own words she said: “The size is great, not too bulky or taking up too much space, but not too little that it will be outgrown much.” Overall, Shannon absolutely loved this playard and concluded her review saying: “I wish I had known about this product with my first baby 5 years ago!”

Dimensions (open): 46.1" (L) x 34.2" (W) x 25.5" (H) | Dimensions (folded):N/A | Product weight: 22.2 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity (playard): N/A | Weight capacity (bassinet): 20 lbs.

Playards can be expensive, but the Graco Pack 'n Play On The Go Playard shows that you don’t have to sacrifice fun or quality to stick to your budget. “I felt safe and secure with the durability of the playard and how happy she was to play and do tummy time,” says product tester Karina B., who used it with her 3-month-old daughter. In fact, Karina was such a fan of the playard that she awarded it top scores for ease of use, portability, effectiveness as a safe play space and value for money. Best of all, it's priced at under $70—a fraction of our other Best of The Bump winners—making it a clear winner for our best budget-friendly pack and play. “One of my favorite things about this Graco Pack n Play is how easy it is for a busy mom,” shares Karina, noting that the directions were simple and assembly took no more than 5 minutes. She added that the transition from a play space to a sleeping zone was seamless, saying “there was no struggle.”

This playard is a nice size for tummy time or solo play. “There’s enough room for her and her toys, but not another baby or her siblings,” explains Karina, who liked the play-friendly features. It also comes with a built-in toy arch overhead, which doubled as a soothing mobile at nap time. “After her belly was full and I could tell she was starting to get sleepy, so I laid her under the hanging stars and she fell asleep and stayed asleep,” shares Karina, who noted that her daughter “slept like an angel” in this playard.

This pack and play also comes with a convenient carrying bag, making it easy to transport or store away when not in use. Karina found the bag to be spacious enough to fit the playard and all its accessories comfortably. “I absolutely love the portability of this Graco Pack n’ Play. It has been the smoothest playard to break down and fold back into the transport bag,” she said. Karina concluded her glowing review by saying she “loved this playard for the ease, durability and style!”

Dimensions (open): 39.5" (L) x 28.3" (W) x 29" (H) | Dimensions (folded):25.3" (L) x 9" (W) x 8.5 (H) | Product weight: 21.4 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity (bassinet): 15 lbs.

In those early days with a newborn, you’re thankful when everything you need is within easy grasp. The 4Moms Breeze Plus Playard provides a deep suspended bassinet and innovative changing station, alongside a safe, portable play and sleep space. We tested the 4Moms Breeze Plus with a newborn and a 5-month-old—and while it performed well for both families, it was the standout features for parents of very young babies that earned it a Best of The Bump award for top newborn pack and play.

Unlike other playards with changing facilities, the changing table on the Breeze Plus doesn't have to be removed when not in use, it can simply be flipped over the side of the playard—which is a massive plus for sleep-deprived new parents. “I think it's a wonderful additional feature,” says Pascale, who tested the playard and built-in changing pad with her 5-week-old daughter. “No matter the type and size of the location where you will set up this [playard], you are guaranteed a space for diaper changes that isn't the floor,” she continues.

Both of our product testers appreciated the bassinet insert, particularly Pascale who used it in the newborn stage. Although she noted that the mat was a little firmer than her baby’s regular crib, she liked that the sides were made entirely of mesh, so she had a clear view of her child even when she sat nearby in a reclined position. “I really appreciated how wide the opening of the bassinet is, it made putting her down and picking her up very easy,” adds Pascale, who notes that the side walls were the perfect height for her petite 5 ft 3 inch frame. Plus, this newborn bassinet offers plenty of growing room too. “The bassinet is much larger than the one we have at home, which she's basically already too long for, and I think she will happily be able to sleep in it until she reaches the max weight of 18 lbs or when she starts to being able to lift herself up,” Pascale says.

The Breeze Plus playard features a one-handed setup and close, which both of our product testers described—appropriately enough—as a “breeze.” As any parent of a newborn can tell you, having two hands free is a rare occasion! According to Pascale, “[it] has the easiest, most streamlined setup: it's literally two steps!” Pascale also loved how easy it was to transport the playard. “What sold me completely on this [playard] is how sleekly it fits in its carry bag,” explains Pascale.

Of course, the real test of a playard is whether it provides a safe and stable place for baby to play. “You can see baby so well through [the mesh sides], yet it’s sturdy and high quality. It’s also strong and not flimsy when you shake or move it,” said Karly, who tested it with her 5-month-old. That durability becomes especially important as your baby transitions from gentle playtime to active toddler play. For newborns and infants, however, Pascale found the playard to be an ideal, safe space for playtime. “My baby was super happy to just hang out in the bottom of the crib while I dangled toys for her to look at or begin grasping onto,” she said.

Exclusive offer from The Bump: Get 20 percent off orders over $199 on 4moms with code BUMP20.

Dimensions (open): 43" (L) x 30" (W) x 28.5" (H) | Dimensions (folded):13.3" (L) x 12" (W) x 30" (H) | Product weight: 28.5 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity (playard): 30 lbs. | Weight capacity (bassinet): 18 lbs. | Weight capacity (changing table): 25 lbs.

Our community say:

The Joovy Room2 provides nearly 10 square feet of space, offering a roomy and comfortable play area perfect for multiple children, as well as solo babies and toddlers. Our product tester Evelyn, a mom of 17-month-old twins, raves about the playard, stating, “My twins are in the 104th percentile for height for their age and it was big enough for them for sure!” And her twins took to this playard instantly. “I was actually quite shocked how much they liked it,” she says, awarding it 10 out of 10 scores for effectiveness and features and design.

“The sides and base absolutely felt robust enough to cope with lively toddlers. The baby playard was sturdy and didn’t at all feel like it would tip over or break down while my twins were playing with balls inside,” says Evelyn. And despite its large size and robust design, she found the Room2 to be very portable. “Moving this playard when it was set up was incredibly easy. I moved it around several times without any issue at all. The size and shape makes it easy to pick up and slide wherever you need it,” she explains. When not in use, it folds up into a travel bag with carry straps that you can wear like a backpack, which Evelyn notes made transporting it very easy.

For those with newborn twins, the Twin Nursery Center (sold separately), which includes a changing table, twin bassinet and a bassinet divider, can transform this playard into a safe sleep space for your infants. With its spacious and robust design, perfect for accommodating more than one little one, it's no surprise this playard earned our Best of The Bump title for best large pack and play.

Dimensions (open): 39.8" (L) x 39.8" (W) x 31" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 10" (L) x 9.5" (W) x 37" (H) | Product weight: 29.6 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity: N/A

If you find yourself constantly moving around your home while looking after little ones, you may need a safe play space that can easily come with you. When Christine C. tested the Delta Children babyGap Deluxe Play Yard with her 2-month-old she found it to be the perfect solution for getting tasks done in different parts of her home while keeping her baby safe. With its smooth push wheels, an easy-fold mechanism and a 10 out of 10 score for portability, this playard is our Best of The Bump winner for best pack and play for moving around the house

“The bottom of the playard has wheels on one side making it super easy to move from one side of the room to another,” says Christine. “This is so important as when I'm working in my kitchen I can easily push the playard closer and into my vantage point while I'm cooking,” she continues. Aside from having wheels that glide over wooden or tiled floors, our tester found the easy-to-fold frame to be very portable. “I was genuinely surprised at how simple to move around this playard was in comparison to another pack and play that I have,” explains Christine. “It also easily broke down and slid back into the carrying case,” she adds, making it easy to store when it isn’t in use. While Christine was a fan of the portable playard, she does note a quality issue: “The only thing that I didn't love was the stitching on the carrying case handles—I felt like they could be reinforced much better, so that they wouldn't rip from the weight of the playard.”

Christine loved the built-in mobile and gave the playard a 10 out of 10 score for its effectiveness as a play area. “My infant absolutely loved the mobile of the three black bears and stared at this for about 25 minutes,” says Christine. “It kept my baby engaged for longer than any other toy at this stage and I love this feature,” she continues. Christine also put the main play space through its paces with her eldest son. “The bottom playard was secure and easily fit my 3-year-old toddler and my infant,” she reports, adding that the side walls were a good height.

Despite being one of our least expensive options in our lineup, the babyGap Deluxe Play Yard comes with all the features needed from day one, including a bassinet, changing table and three storage pockets for diapers, wipes and other items you might need to close by for diaper changes. Christine appreciated that it used standard playard sheets, making it easy to order your preferred options. Reflecting on its affordability, she told us that “this playard is an incredible value at $159.99.” Sounds like an all-around excellent choice for anyone seeking a versatile, portable playard to use around the house.

Dimensions (open): 37.4" (L) x 27.8" (W) x 40.2" (H) | Dimensions (folded): 12" (L) x 9.5” (W) x 30.1” (H) | Product weight: 28.6 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity (playard): 30 lbs. | Weight capacity (bassinet): 15 lbs. | Weight capacity (changing table): 25 lbs.

If you could only buy one piece of furniture for your baby, one versatile item that truly does it all, this would have to be it. The Graco Pack ‘n Play Sit ‘n Grow has four separate modes: a playard, a full-sized bassinet, a removable changing table and—the one that really impressed our product tester Aliez—a portable infant floor seat to help baby learn how to sit independently. “The chair was amazing and my favorite part of the whole set,” explains Aliez, giving the Sit ‘n Grow 10 out of 10 scores for features and design, effectiveness and value for money. “This item is a must. I’ll be taking it everywhere I go since my baby loves to sit now.”

Of course, the chair isn’t the only thing Aliez appreciates about this Best of The Bump-winning 4-in-1 pack and play. The playard proved to be “the perfect size” for tummy time. “I place toys next to her so she can look at them, and she loves it,” she says. “It was super easy to place and pick up my baby from the playard even though it’s low. The corners are not extremely high; they’re the perfect height.” Aliez also found her 3-month-old baby slept well in the bassinet, “She loves to be cuddled and have support around her when she sleeps, which this bassinet gives her.”

But the Sit ‘n Grow wasn’t done impressing Aliez with four standout modes; the attachment features really made it shine in her eyes. “[This set offers] different items that cost more if you put them together separately,” she says, adding, “the playard offered a side organizer that I'm in love with! I placed all the diaper-changing items there and some toys. I use it every day, since my playard stays open all day.” Not only are these accessories amazing to use around the house, but if you brought the whole set with you on a trip, you’d have everything you’d need. The Sit ‘n Grow is a high-end item with a price tag to match, but to Aliez, “the price is actually cheap in my opinion—the quality exceeded my expectations.”

Dimensions (open): 38" (L) x 29.5" (W) x 38.3" (H) | Dimensions (folded):N/A | Product weight: 32.5 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity (bassinet): 15 lbs. | Weight capacity (changing table): 25 lbs.