Pack and Play? Hmm, Should You Buy One?

Today’s baby thing in the ever popular pack and play. I have had a hard time trying to decide if I should recommend this item or not. I will share my experience with it, and they you can decide if you think you would really use this baby thing.

We received a pack and play with both a bassinet attachment and a changing table attachment as a shower gift when we were expecting our first. We kept it set up in our living room which is where we spent most of our time. Yes, I used the changing table attachment quite frequently for the first few months. It was very rare that I used it to put the baby down for naps. Once he began to be a bit more active I stopped using the changing table as it was too difficult and I found the floor to be easier and safer. So, we went for a couple of months when we did not use it at all. Then when my son got a little bit older I would put him in it only for a short time if I had to go into another room to do something and did not want him unattended on the floor.

Baby number 2 came and all we used it for was storage of toys. Never once did we use it for the baby.

Baby number 3 came and we had moved to a bigger house. We set it up in the living room, but we rarely spent time in there as all of the kids toys were in the family room. I did put my daughter down for a couple of naps in it and I did use the changing table at times for her.

All in all, we probably did not use it enough to spend the money on a new one. This an item I would see if you could get used from a friend or something. A pack and play can be useful depending on how your living space is set up, but it is probably not needed. One more thing, if you do travel the pack and play can come in handy as a portable crib. We did bring it with us a few times when we would visit my sister in law and the babies would sleep in it.

Stay tuned for more baby thing items.