The 4 Best Pack and Plays and Playards, Tested by Infants and Toddlers

The Bump takeaway: With its soothing technology toy bar, easy zipper side access and zip-in bassinet, the Evenflo Eris One-Hand Playard is the Best of The Bump winner for overall best playard, showing high performance as a safe and entertaining play space.

The Evenflo Eris stood out in testing as being a roomy, secure and durable play space with several features designed to delight littles and adults alike. The fold is one-handed and compact, the tech-powered toy bar helps soothe and entertain, the newborn bassinet offers a safe sleep solution right from birth and the zippered side door lets kiddos independently crawl in and out during supervised play (not to mention save strain on parents’ backs).

“The one-hand fold feature, sturdy construction, smart technology and ability to transition from newborn use into toddler stages make it feel like a product designed to last through multiple phases,” our product tester Christina, who used the Eris with her 2-month-old baby and 21-month-old toddler, tells us. “I could realistically see using this playard well into the toddler stage, especially for travel, quiet playtime, naps or creating a safe contained space during busy parts of the day.”

Play value
The immediate standout feature of the Eris is the SensorySoothe technology bar, which offers lights, music, sounds (all of which can be controlled by an app on your phone) and a toy to keep baby entertained. “The smart features on the Evenflo Eris were honestly one of the more interesting parts of the playard for me,” explains Christina. “The toy on the technology bar caught my baby’s attention, especially during awake time. It added a little visual stimulation without feeling overwhelming and my baby would look up at the toy and lights and stay entertained for short stretches of time,” she adds.

Its larger-than-average size means the Eris can comfortably fit an active little one and their toys without the playard dominating the room around it. The mom of two found her toddler could turn around, play and settle comfortably inside it, while still being safely contained.

Side-door access
The Evenflo Eris was the only playard that made our list with a zippered side door, a feature beloved by both parents and experts. “Side openings help the playard feel like a play space rather than a container, reducing frustration and supporting smoother transitions as children grow,” explains research psychologist and child development expert Dr. Gummer.

For our product tester Christina, that one feature changed the feel of the whole playard. “My toddler enjoyed the independence of climbing in and out through the side opening,” she tells us. “It actually encouraged them to see it as a comfortable little play space instead of somewhere they were being confined.”

Christina’s toddler seemed more willing to use the playard when they could enter and exit more independently. “There were also times when I left it open intentionally so they could freely climb in and out during supervised playtime, and that worked really well,” she tells us. “It definitely made the playard feel more interactive and less restrictive.” And you don’t have to worry about a determined toddler figuring out the zipper themselves—Christina found it reassuringly tricky for little hands to fully operate.

What she does flag is the potential learning curve for your toddler. The playard sits a little off the floor, so it may take a few tries for your toddler to figure out how to get in and out.

As great as a side door is for little ones, it’s also wildly helpful for adults. You don’t fully appreciate a side door on a playard until you’ve lifted a determined toddler over the rail for what feels like the 400th time before lunch. It can also be particularly helpful for shorter caregivers. “My mother and I are both petite women (I’m 5’3” and she’s 4’11”). Having side-door access on our playard meant we didn’t have to get up on our tiptoes to reach over the rail—we could simply unzip the side and get baby from below,” says Ashlee Neuman, mom of two and content director at The Bump.

Bassinet and sleep use
The bassinet was another practical win for the Eris. Even layered behind the playard’s mesh paneling, the bassinet “helped visibility a lot and made the space feel breathable and open rather than closed off.” Like many parents, Christina loved being able to check on baby without awkwardly leaning over or circling the playard.

As a sleep space, the bassinet worked well for her baby’s usual routine. Christina said her child settled into it fairly quickly and that the setup felt secure during naps and nighttime wind-downs. And this is where the smart features came into play in an unexpected way. “My baby seemed most engaged by the calming soundscapes and softer music options,” says Christina. So much so that she found herself “using the white noise and gentle lullaby-style sounds the most because they seemed the most soothing during naps and bedtime.”

Setup and portability
“The first setup definitely had a small learning curve, especially understanding how the sides lock before pushing the bottom down,” Christina tells us, but it was still far less overwhelming than she expected considering the smart tech it comes with. “By the second or third setup, I felt much more confident folding and unfolding it without needing to think too hard about it.”

Once folded, Christina says the shape is more compact than she expected and the carry bag felt durable, although she did wish the bassinet could store together with the playard in one bag. “Overall, I found the playard very practical for everyday use,” she tells us. “It folds and unfolds fairly easily once you learn the process, and it stores nicely without taking up too much room.”

Dimensions (open): 43" x 40.5" x 30" | Dimensions (folded): 32.0" (H) x 11.25" (W) x 11.25" (D) | Product weight: 28.62 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity (bassinet): 15 lbs.

The Bump takeaway: A simple play-safe setup, sturdy design, easy portability and even a toy bar for under $80 makes the Graco Pack ’n Play On The Go the Best of The Bump winner for best budget-friendly playard.

Playards can get expensive quickly. It’s not an easy choice to skimp on a safe play space intended to keep your little one out of harm's way—but luckily, Graco impresses with a low-cost Pack 'n Play that doesn’t sacrifice on quality or fun.

“I felt safe and secure with the durability of the playard, and [my daughter] was happy to play and do tummy time,” says product tester Karina, who used it with her 3-month-old daughter. It keeps things simple in the best way: It’s easy to assemble, smooth to pack away and sturdy enough for everyday use. Best of all, it's just under $80—a fraction of the price of the other choices on our list.

Play value
Roughly the size of a compact coffee table, the Graco On The Go boasts just enough space 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. And while there’s no side zipper, the mom of one tells us the height was perfect for picking her daughter up and settling her down. “There’s lots of room for her to grow,” Karina adds.

Bassinet and sleep use
What the Pack ‘n Play does come with is a removable bassinet and an overhead toy arch, which, for our tester, moonlighted as a soothing mobile at nap time. “After her belly was full and I could tell she was starting to get sleepy, I laid her under the hanging stars and she fell asleep and stayed asleep,” shares Karina, who notes that her daughter “slept like an angel” in this playard.

Ease of use
“One of my favorite things about this Graco On The Go is how easy it is for a busy mom,” Karina says, noting that the directions were simple, assembly took no more than five minutes and breakdown is simple thanks toGraco’s signature push-button fold. Many affordable playards have a hidden cost in the labor it takes to set up and break down, but not this Graco.

The transition from a play space to a sleeping zone was seamless, too, with Karina telling us “there was no struggle.” As for spit-up, the Graco takes it in its stride. “I was so grateful that it was a quick and easy clean,” says Karina, and with no staining in sight.

Portability and storage
Our budget-friendly champion may not come with a changing table like Graco’s other offering on this list, but our tester found the storage pouch quite helpful for keeping diapers and wipes within easy grabbing distance.

Plus, it comes with a convenient carry bag, making the playard easy to lift or store away when not in use. “I absolutely love the portability of this Graco Pack n’ Play,” she says. “It has been the smoothest playard to break down and fold back into the transport bag.” The removable full-size bassinet also folds in with the Pack n Play, making this cost-effective playard a space-saver too.

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.

The Bump takeaway: The Graco Pack ’n Play Travel Dome LX Playard earns a Best of The Bump award for best full-size playard for newborns thanks to its portable bassinet, full-size infant bassinet and changing station that help create a practical baby-care hub where you need it.

Some playards just keep baby safely entertained while you get a few things done nearby. And then there are playards designed to be your newborn command center. With a removable bassinet, changing station and everyday playard all within arm’s reach, the Graco Pack ’n Play Travel Dome LX Playard does both—and does them well.

One standout feature is the portable Travel Dome bassinet, which can be used on or off the playard. At home, it creates a raised, easy-to-view lounging, play or sleep space. Out of the house, it becomes a portable bassinet with a canopy and its own carry bag. “The ability to use it in different ways throughout the day and in different environments made it much more valuable for our family,” tester Julia tells us, who, along with her 9-week-old, used the Travel Dome LX for everything from naps at home to time outside at a sibling’s sports practice.

Play value
The play value starts from day one thanks to the hanging toys in the Travel Dome bassinet. Julia found her newborn enjoyed looking at the suspended star and moon, which gave the bassinet a little extra engagement without turning it into a full play gym. While the Graco Travel Dome LX offers a lot for newborns, it doesn’t stop there—the main play space can transition well into toddlerhood. “The playard itself felt very secure and sturdy during use, and I never felt concerned about stability or safety while she was inside,” explains Julia.

Visibility was another plus. Julia found the mesh sides easy to see through, which made it simple to check on baby without constantly walking around or leaning over the playard.

Size-wise, the height felt manageable for the 5'1" mom even without a side zipper. “I did have to lean down a little farther when placing her inside, especially onto the lower mattress base,” explains Julia. “However, even though I had to reach a bit, it never felt uncomfortable or difficult to safely lay her down.”

Bassinet and Play Dome attachment
For Julia’s family, the Travel Dome bassinet was the real MVP. This playard has two bassinets; a full-size one that goes with the main playard, and a lightweight, lift-out one with a UV 50 canopy. The removable bassinet/play dome earned its place in the daily household rhythm quickly. “Since my older children are multi-sport athletes, we spend long days at practices and games, so having a portable and reliable sleep space made a huge difference for us,” explains Julia. “It gave us flexibility while still keeping my baby comfortable throughout busy days away from home.” And with her newborn happily drifting off for 30-minute naps, the Dome clearly delivered on comfort too.

When attached to the playard, the bassinet sits at eye level, making check-ins easier. For Julia, that raised position was one of the most helpful parts of the design, especially with sides that are part mesh. “It made it very easy to notice when she started moving around so I could quickly tell whether she was simply stirring or actually waking up fully,” she tells us.

The canopy was another everyday win: Julia kept it up “about 95 percent of the time” because it helped keep sun out of baby’s face during outdoor use.

Newborn care setup
The main bassinet area proved just as comfy as the nifty lift-out version. “[My daughter] fell asleep fairly quickly while using it,” affirms Julia. “We mainly kept the full-size bassinet in the living room, so it became our go-to space for daytime naps and resting throughout the day.” Like the main playard, the mesh makes visibility effortless and the spacious interior has Julia confident it will last until her little one hits the pushing-up milestone.

And while the removable Travel Dome quickly became a favorite for the busy family, the changing station stood out as the missing piece they never knew they needed. “Day to day, the diaper changer ended up being one of the most useful parts for us,” Julia tells us. “The height actually felt perfect for me. We used it much more often than I originally expected, and the size felt ideal for diaper changes without feeling cramped.”

If she could change anything, it would be to make the changing table sit that little bit higher so you can swivel it out of the way rather than removing it from the playard—a small tweak that does little to dampen how well this pack and play performed. “I have even recommended it to pregnant friends because of how functional and convenient it has been for our family,” Julia says.

Portability and setup
For a full-size playard with this many parts, the Graco Travel Dome LX is not surprisingly the heaviest pack and play on our list. At 33 pounds, it‘s far from lightweight, but built-in wheels make it easier to push and the duffel-style carry bag helps with transporting.

For Julia, its sheer functionality made it a weight worth working with when it came to car trips and family visits. “There honestly are not any places or situations where I would avoid bringing this playard because it felt easy to use and versatile overall,” Julia explains.

When you’re breaking down and setting up, there are some trade-offs to keep in mind. A feature-rich design naturally means more pieces to attach, remove and store. The changing table and the lift-out Dome need to be removed entirely, but the zip-in, full-size bassinet and the playard fold together easily into a compact rectangular shape. Notably, once packed up into the trunk of their car, Julia was still able to fit their stroller and sports gear bags without feeling cramped.

For the most part, though, Julia used this playard so often that she rarely found cause to fold it down and pack it away. And on occasion when she did, “setup process was extremely easy and quick,” even down to attaching the changer and storage organizer (“everything clicked directly into place without much effort”). The only feature in need of a little “wiggling” when lifting up is the portable bassinet but it serves its purpose so well that the inconvenience barely registered for Julia.

“Overall, it has been one of the most practical and useful baby items in our home because of how versatile and functional it is for everyday life,” concludes Julia. “I love that it grows through different stages with baby instead of only being useful for a short period of time.”

Dimensions (open): 27" (W) x 37" (H) x 28.5" (D) | Dimensions (folded): 10” (H) x 10” (W) x 25.75” (D) | Product weight: 33 lbs. | Height limit (playard): 35" | Weight capacity (bassinet): 15 lbs.

The Bump takeaway: With its smooth-running wheels and easy-fold mechanism, the babyGap Deluxe Play Yard is the Best of The Bump winner for best playard for moving around the house.

There’s travel-portable, and there’s “I need to move baby from the living room to the kitchen so I can prep dinner” portable. When Christine tested the 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 baby safe.

“The bottom of the playard has wheels on one side, making it super easy to move from one side of the room to another,” she says. “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.”

Play value
Christine found the babyGap Deluxe Play Yard held its own as a safe and engaging play space. “My infant absolutely loved the mobile of the three bears and stared at this for about 25 minutes,” she says. “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.

Bassinet
Christine had particular praise for the bassinet insert, which she found firm and secure. “The bassinet portion of this play yard is of excellent quality. I especially love the mesh sides on the bassinet insert so that I could easily keep an eye on my baby while he played,” she enthused. Christine also liked how easy it was to keep clean. “The foldable insert wipes down very well—my baby immediately spit up and it wiped clean with a baby wipe.”

Portability and setup
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.

She also found it easy to break down and slide back into the carrying case, making it easy to store when it's not in use. “The only thing that I didn't love was the stitching on the carrying case handles,” notes Christine. “I felt like they could be reinforced much better, so that they wouldn't rip from the weight of the playard."

At 28.6 pounds, the babyGap playard is not lightweight by travel crib standards—but it’s all the more impressive that you can move the playard in a pinch while still reaping the benefits of a sturdy, play-proof frame.

Other features:
While the babyGap Deluxe folds easily, with added features like a bassinet, changing table and storage pockets for diapers and wipes, you may want to keep it unfolded. Good thing the aesthetics keep it from being an eyesore in your living space.

“I love the grey color of the play yard,” enthuses Christine. “It fits in beautifully with my decor and feels very appropriate for my two little boys.”

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.