Pack and Play

Millie1984

We are researching pack and plays, and are hoping to be able to use it when we travel.  I am seeing the units with the infant sleeper, bassinet, and changing table which look like they are appropriate through infancy (I am basing that on the weight limitations).  Then they play yard at the bottom of the unit is said to be for toddlers.  What I am trying to figure out is can the play yard be used as a sleeper for toddlers?  We are trying to figure out, if we invest in the pack and play, how long we can use it for.  

WildRumpus

Yes, it can be used for toddlers, until they figure out how to launch themselves over the sides.

11dematosk

I think you can use it for play until they figure out how to climb out. At that point it is a safety hazard.

Millie1984

Jill9288 said:

Yes, it can be used for toddlers, until they figure out how to launch themselves over the sides.

Ok great, thank you.  I think I was confused because it was being referred to as a "play yard" for toddlers, so I wasn't sure if that also meant they could sleep in it.

WildRumpus

Millie1984 said:

Jill9288 said:

Yes, it can be used for toddlers, until they figure out how to launch themselves over the sides.

Ok great, thank you.  I think I was confused because it was being referred to as a "play yard" for toddlers, so I wasn't sure if that also meant they could sleep in it.

Yeah, they have a mattress/pad at the bottom. We used them as overflow beds at work when we ran out of cribs (I worked for a crisis nursery)

Millie1984

11dematosk said:

I think you can use it for play until they figure out how to climb out. At that point it is a safety hazard.

I assumed I could use it for play, since it was referred to as a play yard. My question was more that I am wondering if a toddler can sleep in a pack and play safely.

Millie1984

Jill9288 said:

Jill9288 said:

Yes, it can be used for toddlers, until they figure out how to launch themselves over the sides.

Ok great, thank you.  I think I was confused because it was being referred to as a "play yard" for toddlers, so I wasn't sure if that also meant they could sleep in it.

Yeah, they have a mattress/pad at the bottom. We used them as overflow beds at work when we ran out of cribs (I worked for a crisis nursery)

Perfect!  Thank you!

Critter015

Yes, the bottom part of the pack n play is a sleeper for the baby. DD is still using her's when we go on vacation at 18 months and I think we'll continue to have her use it until we have transitioned her to a regular bed at home, probably around the age of 2, although I could see using it longer. It would probably depend on the size of your child, if they are on the larger side they might start to feel cramped in there as they get older.

As far as the other features of the pack n play, I would recommend getting one with the bassinet, we loved ours and DD slept in there at night until 3 months old. We never used the changer on ours as it sat at a weird angle and baby would roll to one side on it. We didn't have the infant sleeper, but didn't see much use in one as the bassinet was just fine from day 1.

cbreef

"There is no problem using the Pack ‘N Play as the primary sleeping surface for your baby until the upper weight limit of 35 pounds is reached or until he or she can climb out. - See more at: Cribsforkids.org"

We plan on using our Graco Pack n Play for baby to sleep in our room for the first couple months.

JBear02

Jill9288 said:

Yes, it can be used for toddlers, until they figure out how to launch themselves over the sides.

I just had an image in my head of a toddler somehow rigging a slingshot to the PNP and literally "launching" himself out of it. Made me LOL.

BelhurstBride

Yes. A toddler can safely sleep in a PnP. DD used hers until she was about 2 and a half, at that point she was too long to comfortably sleep in it. 

Does anyone actually use the thing for playing? That's a pretty tiny place space. DD would have never had any part of that!

11dematosk

@Millie1984 I don't see why not. Sorry I didn't understand your question. They can sleep in it as long as they can't climb out, but even then you could always surround the pack and play with pillows if you're traveling and there is no where else for them to sleep.

Lovehavinggirls

My dd is 2 and we travel pretty frequently and she still sleeps in it. We will continue to use it until she is able to climb out.

beckyanddon

My son is 3 1/2 and this was the first summer he didn't sleep in it. He does still sleep in it at daycare.

Millie1984

11dematosk said:

@Millie1984 I don't see why not. Sorry I didn't understand your question. They can sleep in it as long as they can't climb out, but even then you could always surround the pack and play with pillows if you're traveling and there is no where else for them to sleep.

Thats a great idea, thank you!  I hope my reply didn't sound annoyed, I appreciated the response!  

Millie1984

Thanks ladies!  Babies r us was just not clear about the uses for the play yard part of the pack and play, and so I could not figure it out!  

julie279

JBear02 said:

Jill9288 said:

Yes, it can be used for toddlers, until they figure out how to launch themselves over the sides.

I just had an image in my head of a toddler somehow rigging a slingshot to the PNP and literally "launching" himself out of it. Made me LOL.


Ha! Kind of like Angry Birds, or maybe I should say Angry Toddlers?

WildRumpus

Exactly. They make quite the "thud" when it happens...not that I would know or anything :-\"

LokiLahve

FTM here so I can't speak from personal experience but have been told by friends not to bother with the p&p's that have all the attachments. They didn't use them and said they were a pain to attach and detach. I did just buy a p&p from BRU on clearance. It has the infant side sleeper which we plan to use in our room for the first few weeks, but doesn't have the changing station, diaper stacker, etc. it was only $90 so I felt like it was worth it! Eta: the side sleeper is different than the bassinet attachment on most p&p's. it's larger and can be put within arms reach of your bed.

Millie1984

Stephw32 said:

FTM here so I can't speak from personal experience but have been told by friends not to bother with the p&p's that have all the attachments. They didn't use them and said they were a pain to attach and detach. I did just buy a p&p from BRU on clearance. It has the infant side sleeper which we plan to use in our room for the first few weeks, but doesn't have the changing station, diaper stacker, etc. it was only $90 so I felt like it was worth it! Eta: the side sleeper is different than the bassinet attachment on most p&p's. it's larger and can be put within arms reach of your bed.

My SIL just said the same thing after I was talking with her about this. Thanks for the response.

Creedon778

DS slept in a PnP for the first 3-4 months, then we used it for travel. We still use it today and he's almost 22 months. We will start using it again for DS2 to sleep in next to our bed after he is born.

I never used the changer or napper but did use the bassinet.