Pack N Play

Baby products have really come a long way in the past few decades and there are now more products than ever before. Many of these "newer" products offer conveniences that were unheard of in the old days and they make child rearing a little less stressful. One of the many child care areas where improvements have been made is playpens/play yards and I own/use a few of them. One that gets frequent usage in my house is the Graco Pack 'N Play with Bassinet, a portable play and rest area for youngsters.

Facts About This Product:

Graco Pack 'N Play with Bassinet is a portable play pen that folds up and fits into a carrying bag for convenience. Unfolded and completely set up, this Bassinet measures about 40 inches in length, 28 inches in width, and 33 inches in height measured from the ground to the top of the side rails. The floor of the play area is elevated about 6 inches off the ground, which means the inside of the play area measures 27 inches (33 minus 6) in height.

Included with this pack and play is a flat piece of padding that folds into four parts (so that it can fit inside the carry bag). The pad is placed on the floor of the play area for comfort. And, of course, there is a bassinet with this Graco product. The bassinet is attached by using four metal bars which slide into the vinyl/polyester sides of the lightweight bassinet. The bassinet is then placed on the inside of the play pen by attaching the rods at the top rail.

Graco Pack and Play with Bassinet features a screen/mesh material on the sides (mesh also on the bassinet) that is soft and allows babies to see what is going on outside without getting hurt. The base of the play area touches the ground with four legs in the corners- two with wheels (that lock) and two without. The middle of the play area is anchored to the ground by a criss- crossing set of metal bars that, when opened, create another leg in the middle and two more on the sides, to keep the unit sturdy. The entire package weighs about 23 pounds.

Customer Service/Product Information:

To learn more about Graco products, the place to go is the web site, gracobaby.com. The site gives you plenty of information to digest about this and other Graco products. The pack and play section is very well stocked with facts and general information so it is unlikely you would need to contact customer service directly. But if you do, the number to call is 800- 345-4109.

Final Thoughts:

Graco Pack 'N Play with Bassinet was one of the first such products I had the pleasure to use when I had my first little girl last year. I didn't buy this item and I didn't get it as a gift- it was a product brought and left at my house by another person who used my wife's day care service. I got to know this product very well and I used it many times for my little girl's play and sleep.

This Pack 'N Play offers many reasons to give it a recommendation. The setup is very fast and once you get the hang of it, the setup can be completed in about one minute. My first few tries took a little longer because I had trouble getting the side rails to snap into place and the bottom to snap down. The sides and bottom kept falling/sagging and I quickly learned it was because I was being too aggressive with my effort. By using only a medium amount of force, I found that the rails and the bottom snapped into place with ease.

The addition of a bassinet is another asset and it comes in handy, especially when traveling. I have used it as a means for my little one to sleep while spending the night at hotels and not only did it do the trick, it saved us a little money because we didn't have to rent a crib. The bassinet isn't as flat and solid as a regular one. It basically hangs on the inside of the play area. But most little ones won't notice and won't care. Once they drift off to sleep, everything is ok. Besides hotel use, it also offers an alternative sleeping area for inside the home. If your little one isn't resting well away from mom and dad, you can open up Graco Pack 'N Play, place the bassinet in place, and let your child rest close to you. And you can feel safe knowing your baby won't get injured because the only metal parts with this product are the metal bars, which are all out of reach. The only parts that a baby can touch are the mesh netting and the plastic in the corners. The plastic is hard, but it isn't hard enough to cause any serious injury.

The pad that rests on the floor of Graco Pack 'N Play is easily foldable and features a polyester padding on the top and a thick cardboard- like material on the bottom. The cardboard is enclosed inside a liner so that it cannot get damaged. I have found this pad to be adequate for play but it isn't the best when it comes to sleeping. This is where you need to accessorize with your child's favorite sleeping aids, favorite blanket, etc. It is a little too firm for some youngsters but if they see their favorite toys and blankets, it won't matter and they will have no trouble falling asleep.

Graco Pack 'N Play with Bassinet is designed to be used by babies under 35 inches (89 cm) in height and under 30 pounds (14 kilos) in weight. My 17 month- old girl is still small enough to safely use this product but in a short time, it will no longer be safe. The reason, of course, is because once a child reaches a certain height, he/she will be able to flip over the side and escape from the confines of the play area. At this point, unless you have another young child on the way, it will be time to add your Graco Pack 'N Play to your next garage sale. It is unsafe for larger kids and should not be used.

Graco offers many different additions for this and other Pack 'N Play products. There is netting attachment that can be purchased to place over the top, enclosing the play area completely, similar to a cage. Graco also sells sheets, pad covers, a music box, diaper organizers, and canopies. Anything that is going to make your experience better, Graco is right there with an additional product to buy.

Overall, Graco Pack 'N Play with Bassinet is a very good product from the popular manufacturer. It comes in a few different colors/designs (like a plaid pattern as well as solid colors with dots) and it is offered at a low price for this type of product- about $65 at most retailers. It is easy to setup once you have completed the process a few times and it folds away easily and compactly into its carry case with handle. It is pretty basic and it doesn't include anything for your baby's entertainment but it is a very good product for the money and it makes a good gift for a family with a newborn or toddler.