Pack and Play/playpen recommendations?

[KrnB]

I'm trying to put together our baby registry for our twin boys, and the item I'm struggling with the most is the pack and play. The reviews on Babies 'R Us site are so mixed for most of the items that I'm not sure what's worth the money and what isn't, and everything looks pretty much the same when I see them in stores.

Do you have any recommendations for me? Is there a particular brand I should choose or one that I should avoid? Are the music and vibration options useful or a waste of money?

For those who have twins - do we need to have two of them or will just one work?

TIA for your help!

 

[justhat]

Congrats!! I just had 1 baby so I can't say about 1 or 2 pack n plays, but here's my thoughts on the other stuff. We had a Graco pack n play with a bassinet (full size), changing tray, night light, music, vibration. I really liked it and for us the vibration and music were lifesavers so I would definitely recommend them. Of course, my daughter was very fussy during the day as a newborn and was only happy if we held her. However, if we put her in the pack n play and turned on the vibration feature she'd stay asleep in there for awhile. That and our swing (the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders swing-great, great swing!) were the only moments of respite I had during the day. The only thing I think I'd change if I were going to buy a new pack n play would be to get a smaller bassinet. The full size I thought would be great since it was so big so I figured it would be more useful, but it turned out to be too big for my daughter. I think if it were a 3/4 or 1/2 bassinet she would have felt cozier in there and stayed in it longer (judging by how she did in the cosleeper we had in the bedroom). Of course with 2 babies, maybe you could just put them both in the same full size bassinet and then it would be really useful.

Oh yeah, ours also had a canopy with toys hanging from it. That I would say was a waste cause we never took it outside so we never needed the canopy and the toys were boring. My mom's pack n play (also a Graco, but just had a changing tray and bassinet, no extras) also came with a toy bar (no canopy) but that was better cause then I could attach other toys that interested my daughter to the bar (specifically the musical/light-up star from the Baby Einstein play gym).

 

[becka]

We just have one of the basic Graco pack n' plays and I can't complain. I really like it for when I use it but I don't use it enough to justify all the fancy extras.

 

[mom2grace]

We had the Baby Trend, avoid it at all costs! It was a total pain to put up and down, the Graco is much better.

 

[FSUGrad97]

Ours is a Graco, with the bassinet top, changing tray, and the canopy with toys. I love it, and it is really easy to set up and take down.

 

[staci]

Ours is a graco with the bassinet top.

Before you buy all the bells and whistles, consider your use. Will you be NEEDING the pack and play frequently?

We used ours for the 1st month home in the living room as a changing table/bassinet, and since then have used it twice. Needless to say, i dont think we got our money's worth

I would probably buy ONE now, the only specific recommendation would be to make sure that it has a bassinet, as it is a LONG way down to put an infant in one without it. The babies could share it as infants, and then you can just get a cheap second one for travel later on.

 

[2sweetangels]

I got a Graco with a bassinet last year when I had my first DD and Im using it this year for my new DD, its still in great shape, I even use it when I babysit my cousin

 

[TerryKitten]

Another vote for the Graco brand. We bought one with a bassinet, but DS was a little big for that, but we use the playpen in our computer room so he can sleep while we work on the computer. We also use it as our "bed" when we travel in the car. Beats using some unknown (possibly unclean) crib at a hotel and its a little home brought w/ us.

 

[golfgal]

We have a Graco but it is a "double" size one. It is larger then the standard one and it worked great for the twins.

http://www.nextag.com/Graco-Pack-n-Play--zz56795599z0z0z1zbaby_playardszB9az2--COMPARE-PRICES-html

Ours is similar to this. I wouldn't get two. Most hotels, etc. don't really have room to set up two pack and plays. The bigger one has plenty of room. Our twins used it together until they were 2.