Apparently a Pack n' Play is not what it used to be -- though that can probably be said for all baby things nowadays. At first we were thinking about getting a portable playard instead of a crib for the first few months, but a friend says that the mattresses aren't so comfortable for every night sleep. And we don't want to be responsible for a kid's bad back later in life. They are good, I've been told, for naptime and for travel, so it seems like a good idea to have one. If not for us at our home, at least to leave at Grandma and Grandpa's house so we don't have to shlep it with us each time we go (we don't have a car).
Features I want:
As with most baby things, I want versatility. I want to spend the least amount of money and get the most amount of stuff. Therefore, a regular playpen seems like a waste of money, because you also need to buy toys, music, a bassinet, a changing table, and storage space in order to get everything you need for travel. Get a playard with all those things included and we've got one compact, easy to store product with all the trimmings, all for one low price.
I've narrowed it down to the Baby Trend Playard. It comes well equipped with toys, music, a bassinet, a changing table, and some storage space for diapers. It has a vibrating options at a few different speeds. The thing which sets the Baby Trend apart from other playards is it ALSO has a place to plug in an MP3 player, which is cool because you can choose to use your own music. Less impressive, but still unique, is the voice recording feature (10 seconds of time to record your voice) and the voice activated nightlight. There's also a canopy which could be nice if you decide to bring the whole thing out to the porch. The one con: the mattress does not look so comfy. Does an infant really need a suede mattress? That doesn't seem like a good idea. But, I figure with a good mattress pad and some soft sheets, that problem can be rectified.
The best feature? The mobile has giraffes on it. My favorite safari animal!
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