7 Playards to Make Parents' Lives Just a Little Easier

Playards — colloquially referred to as pack ‘n plays — are typically high on a parent's list of must-haves for a new baby. They’re often multi-functional spaces ripe for sleeping (especially for those who need a travel crib), keeping baby safe and secure while you cook or clean, and containing baby during play time.

What differentiates a playard from a crib is its construction: Instead of a heavier, more fixed structure, a pack and play is generally made of more lightweight materials like plastic, fabric, and mesh. Perhaps their most distinguishing feature, though, is that many fold and unfold with the click of just a few buttons for easy storage or transport.

With so many options on the market — with prices that swing wildly — how do you choose the right pack and play for your family? The Good Housekeeping Institute Little Lab vets hundreds of baby products each year, including playards. When evaluating these enclosures for baby, we place a high importance on functionality and safety, looking at everything from ease of initial assembly and ease of opening and closing to structural integrity and construction quality. We also evaluate the structures for conveniences, like ease of cleaning and added features (Does it have a carry bag? Does it include accessories like a bassinet or a changing table?). Through many rounds of testing, we've determined that these playards stand above the rest:

• Best Overall Playard: Delta Children Safari Fun Play Yard
• Best Value Playard: Summer Infant Pop ‘n Play Portable Playard
• Most Innovative Playard: Skip Hop Play to Night Expanding Playard and Travel Crib
• Best Indoor/Outdoor Playard: Born Free NISA Playard
• Best Convertible Playard: Graco Pack 'N Play On The Go Playard
• Best Playard for Travel: Babybjörn Travel Crib Light
• Best Luxury Playard: Nuna SENA Aire Playard

Do you actually need a playard?

Though playards aren’t the only option for keeping baby contained at home — gates, jumpers, and other seats work well, too — pack and plays have two distinct advantages:

• They’re multifunctional. Playards can be used for sleep or for play, plus some even come with additional accessories, like bassinets for infants and attachable changing stations.
• They’re highly portable Even if you don’t plan to travel much, you’ll appreciate the ability to fold the playard up and out of the way when necessary. It’s also a great option for bringing to a friend or relative’s house, particularly if the space isn’t babyproofed.