Graco Travel Lite Crib

travel lite crib

I am looking for a small portable playard (or something else?) where I can keep two in my car at all times to give my kids a good place to sleep when we visit friends and family overnight and also to be prepared for emergencies. We lose our power not infrequently and cannot stay in the house for very long since our well pump is hardwired. We had to make an emergency evacuation to a hotel a few months ago when our area was hit with heavy storms and flooding and we lost power for three days--I want to be fully prepared should that ever happen again (it was NOT FUN!!!!!).

My kids are very small so I was thinking something small like this playard would work. But I would want something that is going to be useful for more than just a few months--maybe it would be better to just set up a superyard on top of a clean sheet?

We adhere strictly to the "Back to Sleep" protocol so the kids don't sleep in carseats (outside of the car) and I don't have them share a larger pnp unless I am supervising. Using a hotel playard also won't work for us since last time we evacuated, the hotel was full of families with infants, so we cannot be guaranteed that two PNPs will be available for us. And things like the Kidco Peapod make me nervous since there are no safety standards governing them. I need my kids to have a safe sleep environment so I can sleep and be well-rested so I can chase the little critters around all day!

 

To me that travel crib would barely last a couple more months. If you read the description it clearly states for infants that cannot push up on hands and knees and that are under 20lbs. Your children may not make it to 20 lbs anytime soon, but even my boys who are only 6 months adjusted are able to push up on their hands and knees. I know plenty of babies that are my boys adjusted age that can actually crawl so I do not think this would be a safe option in a couple more months and would be a huge waste of money.

I also realize that all of your posts are almost totally opposed to them ever sleeping together (unless supervised by you) so my only advice to try and save you money and make your life easier would be to buy two full size pnps, keep them loaded up at all times.

 

Yeah, I thought that too when I first read it and thought "darn!" but then I realized it was only for the bassinet , which we wouldn't use anyway. The main portion is appropriate "For children unable to climb out and under 35" tall." I have to admit I have not a clue when kids can climb out of a PNP. :FIFblush:

 

I can't imagine that a full-sized playard would be that much bigger when folded up than this smaller one, but I've never seen it in person so I may just be spouting off nonsense :lol: If that's correct, then I would either get the Superyard (which we have and use as a mounted gate) or get two playards. GL with your decision!

 

Have you seen the Kidco PeaPods?

We bought 2 for our upcoming vacation and couldn't be more thrilled with them. They are the perfect size to leave in the car. They open and close SO easily...easier than a PnP. They are plenty spacious. Our tall almost 5 year old fit in it. He is too big to sleep in it, but by I would easily say that a child up through 2.5 would fit in them easily. They have a carrying strap and would be great as a place to let your LO sleep outside as well. We bought ours at the local BRU with 2 20% off coupons and the twin discount, but they are also available at diapers.com.

 

Have you seen the Joovy playard? They seem a good deal bigger than standard PnPs. I wish I would have known about the Joovy's before adding 2 regular PnPs to my registry, because they were rarely used especially once the boys hit 15 lbs each! The first reviewer on that link posted a picture of her BIG (23 lb) twin girls sleeping comfortably in it.