Is It Possible To Safely Make A Pack N Play More Comfortable
Yes, but mostly no.
Even if the Pack N Play mattress feels hard Even if it seems thin Even if your baby wont sleep on it
No padding should be added to a Pack N Play to make it more comfortable.
No supplemental mattresses, no mattress toppers, and no layers of blankets.
Any sort of baby hack that you may come up with at home to make a Pack N Play more comfortable has either
- failed safety testing
- has not been tested at all
- or is already known to increase the risk of sleep-related infant death
The only safe way to make a Pack N Play more comfortable for sleeping is to add a cozy sheet like this one. .
There are also plenty of SAFE tricks you can try to help your baby sleep. Well cover those in a moment.
Some Good News: There Are Safe Ways To Help Your Baby Sleep In A Pack N Play
The only reason you want the Pack N Play to be more comfortable is because you think it will help your baby sleep, right?
So lets talk about that.
If youre pulling your hair out because you cant get your baby to sleep in their Pack N Play, or anywhere but your arms for that matter, you are FAR from alone. This is not only common, but normal.
Here are some safe tips you can try:
What Is A Crib
A crib is a popular sleeping option for older babies who are too big for a bassinet but not quite ready for their own bed. Cribs are enclosed with high, slatted sides and are fitted with a firm mattress. They can be made of various materials but are often constructed with sturdy hardwood that makes them very durable.
Cribs come in a few different sizes. Standard cribs, also known as full-size cribs, are typically 28 inches wide by 52 inches long, which allows your baby to grow into the bed as they get older. Mini cribs, or non-full-size cribs, are much smaller, measuring roughly 24 inches wide by 38 inches long.
In terms of price, a crib ranges anywhere from affordable to very expensive, depending on the brand, construction and features. For example, luxury brands or cribs made with special types of wood can cost more than $1,000. In general, however, you should expect to spend between $150 and $500 on a high-quality crib to keep your baby safe.
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Top Picks For Play Yards
- Best Seller on Amazon
Graco Pack n Play
The Graco Pack n Play is undoubtedly the most popular and well-known play yard out there and therefore deserves a special mention. I personally used it, and it is what many other parents I know had or have in their homes. The Graco Pack n Play was a lifesaver for me because I lived far away from family when my kids were babies, so we did a lot of traveling and took our pack n play to grandmas house, hotels, and everywhere in between, and our baby slept in it every night.
The Graco Pack n Play was durable enough to last through two kids and was the perfect playpen for my baby to nap or play. Your baby can sleep in a playpen every night as long as it is used, just like a crib with no blankets, sheets, or other bedding, and your baby is placed on their back to sleep.
What Is Your Childs Age
Planning a travel sleep solution for a newborn is very different than one you might use for an older toddler. Different safety factors are obviously in play, but also very different practical challenges. A young baby might fall asleep easily even when there are some distractions, but an alert toddler might not be able to sleep with other things happening in a small hotel room. Be prepared for your sleep strategy to change with each passing trip as your child gets older.
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Can You Buy Just The Bassinet For Pack And Play
A bassinet is specially designed to provide all the features under the mothers arms reach. And also have a lot of features like vibration, music, rocking, soothing, nightlight all these things work together to put your infant back to sleep.
But you cant buy just a bassinet for pack n play that you can place over it.
Because all the bassinet has stood, & their size maybe not match your pack n play Or not fix in it.
So, If you really need it, go with Pack n Play which has an inbuild bassinet.
There are no doubts that pack n play offers many features and a much better look than a bassinet.
Still, in terms of safety and suitable health development, the bassinet plays an essential role. Read our guide: Is a bassinet necessary for newborns.
Here is a list of the Top Rated Pack and Play 2021 if you want to explore some options. Now, what next?
Here are a few essential articles that help you to take care of your newborn baby.
Can The Use Of A Pacifier Reduce The Risk Of A Sleep
As strange as it may sound, the answer to this question is a resounding YES! The evidence is overwhelming. Pacifier use is one of the single most effective strategies to reduce the risk of a sleep-related infant death by anywhere from 50-90%! This is true even for infants who slept on their sides or stomach, bedshared or slept on soft bedding. WOW! Why arent we talking about this more? That I cant answer, but I do want to share this information even though I have never specifically been asked a question about pacifier use.
What is this protective effect all about? Although we dont know for certain, it is thought that the act of sucking on a pacifier, particularly at the onset of sleep, makes a sleeping infant more arousable or more easily awakened from sleep. Sucking may enhance some of the normal autonomic controls that are present in the brain stem, making the infant more responsive to both internal and external stimuli. As many researchers believe that an infants ability to arouse during sleep is an important factor in reducing the risk of a sleep-related death, pacifiers may enhance this vital brainstem function.
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What Should You Do
Most parents first buy a bassinet, and then buy the crib. They buy the pack and play just for napping and travel.
But if your situation arises that way that you have to go for only one: bassinet or pack and play, then I would recommend a pack and play with the bassinet support. But dont prefer a pack and play over a crib.
A pack and play does not have a good spine support for the baby. For the older kid like 1 or 2 years, pack and play may become dangerous because of the weight of the kid. If you dont have the space for the crib, thats a different case. But replacing a crib with a pack and play is not a good idea.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, both bassinet and pack and play are good and safe for the baby. It completely depends on you. Your budget, space of the room, and your personal habit of traveling will decide what you should do. But if you have enough space to make a separate nursery room, then you must have a crib. A pack and play cant do the job of a crib.
Getting Your Moneys Worth
Some parents are put off by the weight limits, but all products geared for children come with this age and size restrictions. In fact, even playgrounds and amusement parks use them. They provide a wealth of information for parents and help keep children safe
Typically, children reach thirty pounds sometimes between one and a half to three years. That means that generally speaking, Pack and Play provides a few years of helpful use for parents. The children will have time to adjust to using it, and come to love it.
They cannot express these feelings, but growing bodies usually appreciate the extra room and visuals. Check out Graco for other dependable, safe furniture pieces that growing children of all ages love. Graco has what children love and need!
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All Pack N Plays Sold In The Us Must:
- Surpasses stability test to prevent the Pack N Play from tipping over.
- There must be latch and lock mechanisms that keep it from folding in on a child when in use.
- Their attachments must have a design that prevents the babys head from trap while the accessory is attached to a Playard.
- All Pack N Plays must have stronger corner brackets to prevent sharp-edged cracks and side rail collapse.
- New rules enquire enhanced floor strength to ensure structural integrity and prevent entrapment.
- Mattress must firmly attach to the Playards floor to prevent entrapment.
- Playards must comply with the prescribed minimum height.
- Their side rails must not form a sharp V when folded. This prevents head or neck entrapments.
Ahead: Everything You Need To Know About Pack N Play Mattresses To Keep Your Baby Safe
Pack N Play mattress pads are notoriously thin.
In fact, theyre less than one inch thick.
If youre wondering whether its safe to swap out a playard mattress with a thicker oneor add a supplemental mattress on topyoure in the right place.
This guide will answer common questions about whether its possible to make a playard mattress more comfortable.
And unlike the vast majority of others on the subject, this guide is based on scientific evidence, not personal anecdotes or opinions.
Below, youll see what the CPSC, the AAP, and Graco themselves have to say.
Lets dive in!
There may be affiliate links in this post. Read this disclosure policy to learn more.
PIN FOR LATER
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Should I Add Extra Bedding
Worried about keeping your little one cozy and warm? According to the APA, there should never be any blankets, pillows, or toys where your baby sleeps. All of these items can be hazardous for babies and increase the risk of SIDS.
Playards also dont need any extra mattresses beyond what comes included. Adding a mattress could leave space for your infant to become entrapped in. Babies should always sleep on firm surfaces, such as a crib, playard, or bassinet.
If youre worried about your little one becoming cold, you can consider using a safety-approved swaddle blanket or maybe a sleep sack. These wearable blankets can be worn over your babys onesie or pajamas to add an extra layer of warmth for cooler temperatures. Keep in mind that the ideal room temperature for baby is between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent overheating.
Stop Swaddling Before Baby Rolls
Make sure to use the right swaddling technique and always put your swaddled baby to sleep on her back, though keep in mind that there’s no evidence swaddling lowers the risk of SIDS.
You should stop by the time your baby is rolling over , which usually starts around 3 or 4 months. Swaddling can create a strangulation or suffocation hazard for older babies who are mobile enough to potentially wriggle their way out.
Want to play it extra safe? Stop at 2 months, before your baby begins to get her roll on.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
- What to Expect the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
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The Weight Limit Of Pack And Play
First, it is important that parents never try to extend their use of this product by adding or removing parts to adjust for weight considerations. This will not only affect the integrity of the products, but it will do nothing to account for extra weight. More importantly, it could result in serious harm or even death to the child.
There are two weight considerations to keep in mind with this product.
- First, stop using the bassinet when a child reaches fifteen pounds , can roll over, or push up on his or her hands and knees. A bassinet is designed for quiet use, and children with these abilities have passed the bassinet stage.
- Second, cease using the whole piece once the child reaches thirty pounds , reaches thirty-five inches, or can climb out. Permitting a child that has reached these milestones to continue use of the Pack and Play put the child in extreme danger.
Read more useful things about Pack n Play Height Limit.
How We Tested Pack And Plays
To determine which pack and plays on the market were the very best, we tested 13 different models in the Verywell Testing Lab to evaluate their size/compactness, special features, ease of assembly, the potential for travel, and durability. First, we timed how long it took to set up and take down each model and considered how intuitive the process is. We also took each pack and play out of its carrying bag and packed it back up to help us determine ease of use.
To determine portability, we pulled each playard across a linoleum floor and a shag rug. We also carried each product from one end of our testing space to the other to determine how easy they were to lift and move from room to room while set up. Finally, we purposely spilled applesauce on each product and wiped it away with a baby wipe to determine how stain-resistant the material was. After each test, we gave the product a rating, which we then used to come up with an average star rating based on all of the tested factors.
Verywell Family / Leticia Almeida
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Dont Let Your Baby Overheat
How should you dress baby for sleep? Simple is safest. Put your baby in a base layer like a one-piece sleeper, and skip the socks, hats or other accessories. Instead of a blanket, use a sleep sack or swaddle. Shell be warm enough but not too warm. Never use weighted swaddles, sleep sacks or blankets for your baby.
A room temperature of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit is best. To tell whether your baby is too warm, feel the nape of her neck. If she’s sweating, shes too hot.
Why Pack And Play
- It can be used longer than the bassinet. If your pack and play has a built-in bassinet, you can take the benefit of the bassinet for the first few months. Then you can use the middle of the pack and play and lastly the lowest part of the pack and play. So yes, you can use the pack and play for a longer period of time.
- The built-in bassinet is not much different than an independent bassinet. Thats why some parents prefer the pack and play.
- If you are living in a very small space where there is not enough room to set up a crib, a pack and play is preferable over the bassinet.
- Some pack and play comes with the changing table option as well. This is huge considering you would have to pay a lot to buy the changing table separately.
- If you travel a lot, pack and play is second to none. Some people even call the pack and play as the travel crib. Your baby is having the same sleeping environment wherever you go!
- Playard mattresses are widely available. A lot of parents use the pack and play just like the crib.
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Tips About How To Use
Some parents find the Pack n Plays with changing stations to very useful to use as an extra changing table in the living room or another room in the house.
The fold is THE major challenge of the Pack n Play. Each arm has a button that has to be pushed before you start to collapse the base. The buttons can also get sticky, and you arent sure when its been pushed. When setting it up, each arm has to be locked in place before you can flatten the base.
How To Clean Your Pack N Play
There are several ways to clean the toddler pack n play. The play yards get very dirty because babies spend a lot of their time in the pack n play and spill various food items on it.
If it is not very dirty, then one can prefer to use a detergent and scrub it gently and wipe it off.
Furthermore, if the pack n play is heavily dirty and cannot be cleaned by just scrubbing it lightly, then submerge the pack n play in the soapy water in the bathtub or a tiny pool.
If you opt for washing it with detergent, then keep the play yard in a place where you don’t mind to spill the dirty water.
Take out the mattress and wash it separately and wash the cover of the mattress in the washing machine.
Scrub the pack n play with a brush or a utensil scrubber or preferably a sponge would work best. Then rinse it thoroughly.
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