Travel Crib vs Pack and Play for Babies and Toddlers
When preparing for a new baby or planning a trip with a toddler, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the products available.
Just choosing where to put your baby to sleep on a trip comes with several options. You hear a lot about travel cribs versus Pack ‘N Plays. Before I was a mom, I had no idea there was even a difference.
While these two items may seem similar, they serve different purposes and come with unique features. Today, we are breaking down the differences and help you choose the best option and right travel crib for your family.
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Travel Cribs vs Pack and Plays
Let’s cover what a travel crib is and what a pack and play is so that you feel comfortable deciding which you need.
Pack and Plays
Pack and Plays are actually a trademark of Graco. Graco pack and plays have become so essential in the baby gear market that the brand name is often used to refer to travel cribs in general, much like “Kleenex” is used for tissues.
Other companies sell “play yards” or similarly termed items that are just their version of Graco’s Pack and Play.
Play yards and pack and plays are multifunctional and can be used as a crib, play area, and sometimes even a changing station. They are not always as lightweight as travel cribs, but they offer versatility that can be valuable at home and on trips. They are also typically much more affordable than travel cribs.
A Pack ‘N Play, playard, and a travel crib will all fit relatively easily in smaller spaces like a hotel room. Ours even fit in an interior room on a cruise ship. I know a lot of families who bought a travel playard or Pack ‘N Play to keep in their living room when they were going through the newborn stage.
Key Features of Pack ‘N Plays and Playards
- Versatility: Serve as a crib, play area, and sometimes even come with additional features like bassinets, changing stations, and storage pockets.
- Portability: While they can be folded and transported, they are typically heavier and bulkier than travel cribs.
- Ease of Setup: Can be more complex to set up and take down compared to travel cribs but are designed for stability and safety.
- Durability: Often made with sturdy materials, suitable for long-term use.
- Infant Insert: Many come with an infant insert or bassinet attachment so that you don’t have to reach all the way down to pick up and lay down your infant.
Popular Brands and Models of Play Yards:
- Graco Pack ‘N Play On The Go Playard (we have a version of this one which I write about below)
- 4moms Breeze GO
- Dream on Me Portable Playard
Travel Cribs
Travel cribs have a lightweight design. They are portable and made to travel with. They are often used for trips, visits to grandparents, or any situation where you need a temporary sleeping solution for your baby or toddler.
Key Features of Travel Cribs:
- Portability: Travel cribs are designed to be a compact size and easy to carry. Most also come with a travel bag or carrying case to be able to carry easily.
- Ease of Setup: Quick and straightforward to set up and take down
- Weight: Lightweight, making them ideal for frequent travel.
Popular Brands and Models for the Best Travel Crib:
- Guava Lotus Travel Crib (This is the one we have, which I talk about below)
- BabyBjörn Travel Crib (this is one of the lightest travel cribs you can buy on the market right now!)
- Newton Travel Crib
Comparing Travel Cribs and Pack ‘N Plays
| Feature | Travel Crib | Pack ‘N Play |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Sleeping | Sleeping, Playing, Changing |
| Portability | Highly portable crib | Moderately portable crib |
| Weight | Lightweight | Heavier |
| Setup | Quick and easy | Takes more time, but not necessarily difficult |
| Versatility | Mainly for sleeping | Multipurpose |
| Price Range | Higher | More inexpensive options |
| Weight Limit | Generally a higher weight limit or no weight limit due to the mattress sitting on the floor | Generally a 25-35 pound weight limit |
| Bassinet Feature | Typically doesn’t come with any sort of newborn insert | Can typically buy a model that comes with a removable bassinet for infants |
I also wanted to add a note about comfort. I didn’t include comfortability on the chart because I feel like all travel cribs are generally the same in regards to comfort. None of them come with a comfortable mattress in my opinion. My understanding that the mattresses come they way that they do for safety purposes.
Our Experience
We personally have the Graco Graco Pack ‘n Play® Portable Playard and the Guava Lotus.
We have the most basic Pack ‘n Play that you can get. It is not fancy and doesn’t have the bassinet or changing table with it.
We registered for the Pack ‘n Play when we were expecting our first baby because we weren’t sure how much travel we would do with kids. We didn’t want to splurge on a travel crib in case we didn’t end up traveling when they were little. This is the most basic play yard you can get.
Our first few trips were road trips and for that, it worked great. This a great option if you want to save money, don’t need a lot of frills, and are staying somewhere within driving distance. We would not fly with this. In fact, we purchased a second one to keep at my mom’s house before we upgraded to a travel crib because we knew we wouldn’t travel with it. I wish we would have just bought the travel crib from the start. If you know you’ll be traveling with your baby a lot, I’d recommend getting the travel crib from the start.
Factors in choosing a Pack ‘n Play vs Travel Crib
Here are some things you might want to ask yourself when trying to choose between a travel crib and a Pack ‘N Play:
- Travel Frequency: If you frequently travel or move around, a travel crib is more than likely worth the investment. If not, you can save yourself quite a bit of money by just getting a general play yard.
- Budget: As mentioned, travel cribs tend to be more expensive. Your budget may be a factor in deciding which to purchase.
- Home Use: A Pack ‘N Play or playard can double as a playpen
- Space: If you have limited space or need a crib that’s easy to move from room to room, a travel crib is convenient. If space is not an issue, a Pack ‘N Play offers more features and functionality.
Final Thoughts
Travel cribs are a top choice for families who travel a lot. They are a convenient option but generally come at a higher cost. If you are new parents, you might want to wait and see how much you’ll actually want to travel with young children before making an investment in a travel crib. If you think you might only travel a little while your kids are young, Pack ‘N Plays or a playard might be a more affordable option.
Pack ‘N Plays or playards on the other hand, are heavier and a bit more difficult to carry. They are still a great choice for home and occasional travel, but not as convenient if you’ll be flying.
When deciding which to buy for your family, you’ll want to consider your lifestyle and travel habits. Our local mom’s group is always passing around travel cribs and this can be a good option for saving money and testing out your preferences.
Finally, most accommodations do have some sort of travel crib available for use. We prefer to bring our own when we can, but we have used them in hotels before. If we use the hotel’s travel crib, we just make sure to bring our own travel crib sheet. If you plan on going this route, it’s a good idea to call ahead of time to make sure there will be one available.
