Playards, formerly known as playpens, are incredibly useful for ensuring your baby has a safe, comfortable, and entertaining space to engage their active minds and bodies. These allow babies to roll around, lay down, or sit upright, far healthier and more constructive than many other alternatives.
Although different playards offer many features, the convenience, portability, functionality, and safety aspects must be considered according to your specific needs. Whether you are looking for a playard with great nifty features or need a playard on a budget, here are the best playards today.
Our Top Picks
- Is considered the best overall option for babies in a wide age range.
- Topped with water-resistant canvas floors.
- Lightweight construction and design
- The design is relatively simple and minimalist, but the functionality is efficient and supportive.
- Is considered the best overall option for babies in a wide age range.
- Topped with water-resistant canvas floors.
- Lightweight construction and design
- The design is relatively simple and minimalist, but the functionality is efficient and supportive.
*All product links in this article will take you to the latest prices on Amazon.com, scroll down for our in-depth reviews below.
Best Playard Overall: Summer Pop ’n Play Portable Playard
The Summer Pop ’n Play Portable Playard is considered the best overall option for babies in a wide age range. The design is relatively simple and minimalist, but the functionality is efficient and supportive of all potential baby activity while it’s in use. It’s large enough for multiple babies to use it, and caregivers can occupy the playard with their beloved babies when needed. This playard comes with a carrying case for care and organization.
It features a lightweight construction and design, weighing around 12lbs for ease of transport and handling. This playard can be used indoor or outdoor with the nifty addition of a canopy that provides UPF50 protection, which is sold separately. The shape of this playard allows babies to engage in plenty of fun or relaxing activities, topped with water-resistant canvas floors and mesh sides for optimal visibility and supervision.
The only aspects that caregivers should be mindful of when investing in this playard are the lack of a mattress and the metal bar framing. These aspects can cause discomfort for occupants but are easily remediable. Caregivers can use the pen on softer areas or add a plush interior and use pool noodles to cover the metal bars.
Best Playard for Convenience: BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light
The BabyBjörn Travel Crib Light is pricier when compared to many other alternatives but offers plenty of features that make it well worth the investment. It boasts an incredibly lightweight design and is portable for ease of use and convenience. It’s an excellent option for families who travel often or enjoy occupying various spaces around the home.
This playard is machine washable and doesn’t require high hands-on maintenance concerning cleanliness, making it highly convenient to keep neat and tidy. Some parents have claimed that they can set up this playard in around 15 seconds, making it a fantastic choice for busy caregivers and playful babies.
These features are topped with a sleek and modern design that is compatible with various room spaces, and the construction is durable for extended longevity. However, it should be noted that this playard does have some considerations concerning the mattress since the included mattress is not a standard size.
Best Playard for Outdoors: Evenflo Play-Away Portable Playard Deluxe
While the Evenflo Play-Away Portable Playard Deluxe can be used traditionally or indoors, plenty of caregivers love using this playard for its versatility and functionality outdoors. It’s an excellent option for families who love to explore and experience the outdoor world, equipped with a full canopy enabling the playard to be transformed into a full-dome when needed.
This playard is excellent for parents and caregivers taking their babies for beach days and picnics, or even for playdates since there is plenty of room inside the playard for babies and their friends. Some caregivers have stated that the attached tablet sleeve is another nifty addition since it allows them to play music and entertainment for their beloved child.
Best Convertible Playard: Graco Pack and Play On the Go Playard
The Graco Pack and Play On the Go Playard is an excellent choice for caregivers needing a playard that is fully equipped and multifunctional. This playard boasts an intelligent design for a reasonable price, made of wipe-clean fabric and a durable frame, topped with integrated storage pockets for toys, trinkets, accessories, and supplies.
It comes with a removable full-size bassinet, can be converted from a changer to a newborn seat, and the toy bar is equipped with plush toys to keep your baby entertained and at ease. The mattress measures 40 inches in length and 28 inches in width and offers two heights since it can be used as a higher bassinet for early infants and at a lower level for older infants. It’s perfect for caregivers wanting a playard that will last from their newborn’s early years until toddlerhood.
The signature Graco push-button fold and various convenience features make this playard multifunctional and advantageous for parents and caregivers in any situation. This is enhanced by wheels and automatic folding feet for a compact fold and easy storage. Its innovative design and multi-faceted usage can make this playard more complex to set up and use, but it is relatively quick and straightforward once caregivers have gotten the hang of it.
Best Playard for Budget: Delta Children Safari Fun Playard
The Delta Children Safari Fun Playard is an excellent option for caregivers needing a cost-effective and high-quality playard with all of the essential features. It has been designed modestly but still boasts a playful aesthetic with friendly animals and cute patterns adorning the exterior. It is reasonably lightweight, weighing around 28lbs, making it straightforward to relocate.
This playard is not hard to move around the house and set up, but it is heavy compared to many other variants and may not be the best choice for families on the move often. However, the medium weight does mean this budget-friendly playard option is durable, sturdy, and usable in various settings, whether indoor or outdoor. This playard comes with a carrying case for convenience and storage.
While it doesn’t flaunt many additional features such as convenience or multifunctional features, it does allow caregivers to use it in multiple ways. This is thanks to an intelligent design that allows the mattress to be folded down, making it an excellent investment for primary usage and a fair amount of versatility.
Although plenty of more luxurious playards are fully equipped with various additional amenities and features, many of these playards may be too pricy or excessive for your purposes. There are plenty of reasonably priced playards that are high-quality, user-friendly, and, more importantly, create a delightful space for your bouncing baby to play and lounge.
