Do I really need a pack & play?

casicatalana · August 2015

I'm a FTM and a minimalist. I'd like to avoid clutter and have already made my list of necessary baby items for my little one. That said, do I really need a pack & play? Has anyone survived without one? Or if you suggest it will certainly save my life as a FTM, can you suggest a stylish, modern brand that makes one?

ammnam14 · August 2015

We babysat all summer and did not use a pack n play. We survived but it would have been nice to have one. With other kids we have always had one and it was amazing. I think it's really up to you and your lifestyle. Will you be traveling a lot? If so it would be convenient to own one. Also if your home is a multi level home it will make life a little easier. I have never seen a modern/stylish one although I have never looked. I'm sure they're out there! We're going to get the pack n play that comes with a little bouncer, I think it's graco? Good luck!

april172010U · August 2015

Yes. If you ever plan to travel or put your child to 2.5 year old down to nap or sleep somewhere other than your house, I'd get one. I also liked mine when I'd shower if my kids were awake Just get a basic one, no need for all the bells and whistles. I'd say that is in the top 5 things I used coming in after a crib, car seat, bouncer and breast pump.

Mizuiro007 · August 2015

If you don't need it because of travel then you could probably get by without it but it can make things nice. We got a basic Graco with bassinet and changing station attachments. DS slept in it in our bedroom for the first few months. Now we have it in the living room for naps or to set him in to play when I have to step out of the room for a few minutes.

casicatalana · August 2015

Thanks ladies! Your advice is very helpful. I will reconsider my minimalist ways

Gingermom15 · August 2015

We are getting one because we know we will need a playpen eventually. Plus, with the changer and napper on top it is a space saver because we won't need a separate bouncer or cradle for the baby. I'm getting the Chicco because I have heard they're sturdier and wear better.

littleSkittle14 · August 2015

I think it's a good idea. There have been a few times where I don't know what I would have done if we didn't have it. Plus I plan to use it for "time outs" when DD gets a little older/more intentional about disobeying (she's 16 m now).

at least it folds up small so you can tuck it away someplace when you're not using it!

hardlyhannah · August 2015

The 4moms breeze is pretty slick looking! On the expensive side though

mrs14678 · August 2015

I was going to get a pack n play instead of a crib, but someone gave me a crib, so now I'll have both.

but yeah, definitely understand trying to do things minimally! Babies come with a lot of stuff!!!

mhg54 · August 2015

We will be getting the 4moms breeze. It's a simple one person set up and take down, so if you don't like clutter it's super easy to tuck away and take out by yourself when needed!

ketobaby · August 2015

I registered for one. Will be using it to take to family's houses.

celainev · August 2015

I can't find them on the U.S. Babies r us site but in Canada we have the "Nuna" which has good reviews and it's very modern and easy. Doesn't come with all the extra crap like the bassinet or change table which I think would just take up space. We'll be getting that.
My house has two stories and my husband's "man cave" is downstairs. He wants to be able to take care of baby down there but doesn't want baby to get tangled in all his electronic cords or play with his musical instruments. We thought a playard would come in handy here.

wlbmom2013 · August 2015

Absolutely! I do suggest getting one with a bassinet. The changer got removed from mine, it was just in the way. The bassinet is awesome for napping. My son slept in his bassinet (in the pack and play )until he was about 3 months. It really helps mom because you don't have to bend over far to put him to sleep. Mine has wheels, so I can move it about. I wouldn't purchase a bassinet separately though, they just take up space.

SunnyD2015 · August 2015

Agree with all the above. I have two actually. I have one that is the bassinet, chancing table, organizer one that all my babies have slept in the first few months. We have a two story house so when the other kids were at school, it was nice to have to be able to lay a sleeping baby down in while I cooked dinner or did some chores. We also take ours in our camper and to grandma's house.

The other one is a square one and bigger. We used this one once they were older and were mobile. It has a good space in it to put toys and such in it.

grkgdss00 · August 2015

I'm definitely getting one. For a) downstairs naps, changes, etc (I live in 2 story house). Travel to friends and family's house.

jjmace · August 2015

I had similar feelings about this. I don't have room in our place for both. I decided to get this very compact (can be taken as carry on luggage) crib as a pack n play substitute. It doesn't have the napper/changer etc. but it has the main thing I need compact and easily transportable. Now I can easily store this and have for travel/visits and keep the crib.

https://www.guavafamily.com/products/lotus-everywhere-travel-crib

This was a lucies list find

TomekiaB · August 2015

I am looking at the Guava Family Travel Crib that has a conversion kit for a bassinet. Both versions fold up small enough for a carry on per the reviews. I truly do intend to travel with the guava family. They take less than a minute to set up according to the videos, the conversion takes a couple minutes. I like the bassinet because it is breathable mesh all the way around which seems like the best safety wise with all the anti-crib bumpers etc I don't understand why so many basinets have solid fabric sides (especially when that is the highest SIDS risk age is during co-sleeper or bassinet age). I started looking at the 4 moms but it was a little bigger and heavier to pack, the baby bjorn travel crib is the most comparable but doesn't have the bassinet option.

I do not plan on getting another pack and play and I am majorly heistating on: swings, bouncers, jumpers etc for the minimalist reasons.

KRH6829 · August 2015

YES!!! Get a pack & play. You will not regret it.

BellaM110 · August 2015

I think pack n plays are extremely useful and convenient! Especially with traveling, to have baby napping in the same room as you, or a confined and safe place to play if you are cooking/doing laundry etc. I did register for one that comes with a basinette and changer and baby will sleep in that the first couple months in our bedroom. But it's obviously your decision. You could get a basic one with out all the accessories to avoid the clutter or just hold off on purchasing one now and if you feel like you may need one down the road you could always buy it then.

armywife8289 · August 2015

I personally got one! I used it for the bassinet feature. I had it next to our bed for the first few months until my son could sleep through the night with out nursing! My mom had my baby sisters crib so I used it, and will again!! It is still in great condition. I was able to use the pack n play after he left our room for when he was sick, and in the living room for controlled play time like when I was cooking and being in another toy was not an option. I used it outside, camping, and on trips to grandparents houses! It was useful for me!! It really depends on what you want out of it, and if its worth it for you!!

ColoradoHiker · August 2015

I'm getting one mostly because we travel a lot to see family. We live in an apartment and I've been told its worth it for the travelling, and it probably won't be set up otherwise until we have a house.

AlejandraN2 · August 2015

We got one but never used it for sleep. We used it for play from when my daughter was 3-4 months to 9-10. I would plop her in there with toys and she'd be entertained for a long time. She hated it for sleep though so we never actually took it anywhere. We have the Graco.

For style, the Nuna, Baby Bjorn, Lotus and Phil & Ted's make better-looking pack n'plays.

yankeebabeme · August 2015

I'm getting the nuna Sena https://www.nuna.eu/USA/sena - it's even easier set up/take down then 4moms. it was recently on a crazy deal on nordstrom.com so it's possible to find on a deal. I'm also getting the changer with it. I'm going to have that set up for downstairs changes. And I read that getting the waterproof sheets is highly rec for the sena

sbodman82 · August 2015

Im getting one and using it as the bassinet and crib until the child is old enough for a toddler bed

jenbstevens · August 2015

Besides being able to travel with it, I think it's important for baby to sleep outside of the silent, dark, familiar environment of their nursery. My niece and nephew took their daytime naps in a pack n play in the living room with the TV on (if we were watching) and with us all walking around and talking etc, and now they can sleep through anything! So many babies I know who never did this (including ones I've nannied for, ones in my family and babies of my friends) are very sensitive to noise and light when they are sleeping as they get older.

It's also great as a way to put them in with some toys to chill and know they'll be safe when they get to the rolling/crawling/cruising stage.

JulieK79 · August 2015

I have a 2 year old and we did him sleep in it for awhile when he was born but we have used it for many other reasons over the last two years.
*If friends come over with their baby/toddler, they nap or sleep in it often.
*Traveling on vacation or even bringing it with now when we visit my parents or in laws, my LO naps and sleeps in it.
*He hung out in there playing with toys until recently while I showered when it was just the two of us at home.

Birthinrox · August 2015

Nope, you don't NEED one. We are minimalist parents too and we survived without a pack n play. We coslept, so if we traveled we would just get a room with a king bed and put a chair on the side the baby was. We travel a lot too. Most hotels have pack n plays or travel cribs anyhow, even our airbnb had one. We borrowed one when we had a friend come in from out of town and her son slept in it. Then my mom found a cheap one at a thrift store...it's been in our attic since. Completely not necessary. Resist the pack n play!

Holdmomma · August 2015

Sounds like I'm unpopular with my opinion, but I will share my experience anyway. You absolutely do NOT need a pack n play. We didn't get one until DS was 8 months old and I went back to work. We chose an in-home child care and our sitter needed a place for him to nap. Even then, we borrowed from family and only ever used the basic crib space, with fitted sheet. Aside from our unique child care situation we have used it a handful of times when traveling, and mostly because we had it in our garage anyway and know DS was familiar with it, and slept well there. Most places will provide a mini-crib if you ask though. In nearly 3 years we have never set it up in our own house...just don't have a use for it.

redfallon · August 2015

casicatalana As all the responses point, it depends on your situation as to whether you need or could really use a pack n play or not.

kerrderr · August 2015

We had a mini pen for our daughter. Its half the size and used mainly as a bassinet. We used it as a bassinet for a few months and will use it for this baby too until baby is big enough we are comfortable cosleeping

Aside from that, we used it once when we moved and or daughter needed a nap. Shes two now. We barely even used the crib hah.

My dad has one at his house that we use for naps but its soooo annoying and she hates it. It was way easier to just let her nap on some blankets on the floor. But, she is acustomed to waking up and getting out of bed herself, she doesnt like to be confined.

For playtime.. we just put her on the floor! If I was cooking or showering and she wanted to be near me, id wear her or put her in the bouncer and sing to her.

We arent even going to get a swing for this LO or an excersaucer. For us, they just seem useless and unnatural and promote disengaging from your infant. And i already have a two year old! So if that doesnt say how useless these things are, im not sure what does!

I know some moms swear by these things but.. we truely believe in an attachment based style of parenting, and we personally dont need a million gadgets to set baby down if we need to. The floor or a bouncer seat works just fine for us.

asmith40 · August 2015

Like others have said it really depends on your situation. I don't think they're a must have item for most. My nieces and nephews used theirs for sleepovers at my moms. We have 2 because my brother is letting me use his and my husband found a brand new one at a yard sale. DH has a music studio and he wanted to keep one there. Which I think is a great idea! We'll probably use the other one for travel and get togethers in the back yard.

ellebaby4 · August 2015

I don't think it's a MUST have. It depends on the situation in your home. This is our 4th child. I think I used our pack play very little with the first child. For the others, we mostly used it for a safe haven. The more children we have, the less baby safe our home seems to be, lol. I don't feel that I can watch a baby constantly, especially as a SAHM with lots of chores. To me the question is, do you have a safe place nearby where you can put the baby while you cook/clean?

Taylovesbrad · August 2015

I too am just getting a super basic one that is a square. It doesn't come with all the bells and.whistles. I am getting because I have two dogs so if I need to leave the room briefly I will have a barrier up. That said I am also get a bassinet for when babe.is sleeping in our room so I don't need all the bells and.whistles that seem to come with pack n.plays

Want a personalized experience?

Do I really need a pack & play?

Re: Do I really need a pack & play?

Jamie

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

Do I really need a pack & play?

Re: Do I really need a pack &amp; play?

Jamie

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: Do I really need a pack & play?