10 best pack and plays and travel cribs of 2023, per experts

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Aside from your trusty crib or newborn bassinet, a pack and play is a type of portable, travel-friendly crib that comes in handy for nap-time and stationed-off playtime to ease the minds of parents and caregivers everywhere.

Specifically, these popular baby registry items — similar to playpens — can be stationed in your living room area (to keep an eye on your little one while cooking up a storm in the kitchen) and, due to their easy-pack nature, can be stored away when guests are over — assuming you have a top-rated baby gate installed when your baby is on the run.

“Many travel cribs and play yards will look similar, but there is definitional overlap in some cases,” Lisa Trofe, CAE, executive director of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), who oversees the JPMA Certification Program, which certifies more than 2,500 juvenile products in 29 categories — including baby and youth furniture — each year, told the New York Post. “They could be smaller-sized products with folding or other convenience mechanisms in place for transport or moving around the home.”

Interestingly, the household name ‘Pack ‘N Play’ is a trademark of popular baby brand Graco — as Trofe explains — while “play yard'”is the more generic term for this type of portable baby centers.

Ahead, Trofe gives us the 411 on travel cribs, while New York Post hand-picked the 10 best options to buy in 2023 below. Plus, we created an easy-to-read table comparing our top brands.

As its name suggests, travel cribs or play yards are meant to be portable and convenient for use in various spaces in the home and/or for travel.

“Generally speaking, a full-size crib is assembled once and remains in the same room for the duration of its use,” Trofe notes. “Both usually have mattresses and mattress supports that can be used higher or lower, depending on the child’s age, height, weight and developmental milestones.”

It’s important to always follow the age, weight and developmental milestone guidance from the manufacturer of the product. “Each could be different, and it is important to ensure parents are using the right product for the correct age and stage of the child,” Trofe notes.

Additionally, some babies love them while others, not so much. From personal experience, we find those from the newborn age to two-years-old tend to enjoy travel cribs and play yards well.

Ahead, Trofe highlights fundamental tips to keep in mind before assembling and using your new model:

If we had to award a winner to a play yard on the market, it would be given to Chicco Lullaby Zip All-in-One Portable Play Yard (with much applause). Namely, it’s said to hold up for years, has a convenient zip-and-go design with a full-size infant bassinet that’s perfect for growing with your baby, a detachable changer and an extra-large space for your growing toddler to play in.

More, its snap-on changer includes a zip and wash cover (that’s machine washable, BTW), a deluxe side organizer to stash away baby wipes and baby lotion to keep at arm’s reach and even a built-in mobile — with detachable soft toys — that play soothing melodies and nature sounds.

With large rubberized wheels, easy-push button for folding and a trusty carry bag, it’s an all-around top model that’s less than $300.

With more than 42,000 rave reviews — and counting — the Graco Pack ‘N Play Portable Play Yard is one of the most popular, much ado to (1) the brand being a leader in the space — after all, it did coin the term ‘pack ‘n play’ and (2) its affordability for parents and caregivers who simply want a model that’ll do the job.

This Amazon best-seller features automatically folding feet that make it easy to store and transport, along with a push-button that makes the unit at large seamless for stowing away. With a trusty design and airy mesh on all sides for maximum ventilation and breathability, it’s worth the budget-friendly pick-me-up.

With a name like Nuna, you know it’s going to be good (read: best car seats we reviewed). While it’s the most expensive play yard we rounded up, it’s a leader in the space for including a bassinet, organic cotton sheet, travel bag and “advanced design that allows airflow from every angle,” per the brand’s description.

Its ventilated, quilted mattress is best-in-class, thanks to its ability to pull heat and humidity away from your baby’s skin. This mattress is multi-purpose in that it can be placed inside the included bassinet in your baby’s earlier years, too. The bassinet also unzips for quick removal.

With its one-hand, fold-up design, skid-proof feet and padded edges (that make the entire system ultra-quiet), it’s not only convenient but luxe-leaning, too.

The 4moms Breeze Go Play Yard is a top-of-the-line pick, thanks to its one-push-open, one-pull-close design — that you can do with one hand. It includes a detachable flip changer and removable bassinet that truly makes it an all-in-one care station that’s suitable for use from newborn to toddler stages.

More, its airy design allows you to have a 360-degree view of your little one and, keeping convenience in check, comes with a travel bag. Above all, we love how its changer is affixed to the left-hand side at the top, making it easy-as-could-be to lie your baby atop its comfortable base for quick changing.

We love the look and portability of the Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib and, while all of our picks are portable, none does it better for airplane travel than this brand. Notably, its more-than-2,000 applauding reviews nod to its 3D Z-fold Technology that allows it to fold compactly to carry through airports as a lightweight backpack (yes, you read that correctly) — with a look similar to a travel backpack when ready to take on the go.

Additionally, its lockable side door allows the play yard to remain partially open if you’d like to soothe your baby to sleep — allowing you to foster more of a connection during nap time. Even better, Guava Family designed this model with high-quality aluminum, non-slip rubberized feet and a fully mesh design for better visibility and airflow.

Just shy of $250, you’ll also appreciate that its portable unit is complete with a thick insulated mattress and that compact, airplane-friendly travel case you can wear on your back.

If you’re a parent or caregiver, you know that the UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller ($750) is the talk of the town. Well, its Remi Play Yard is just as good, has a design you can count on and is one we recommend.

To start, it’s lightweight, features a temperature-regulating mattress that’s ideal for sleeping on and includes a zip-on bassinet that you’ll adore for your infant. Much like the Guava Family pick, the UPPAbaby model also features a zip-open panel on its side to comfort and snuggle with your baby.

Aside from the bassinet, this pick also includes a mattress, bassinet insert, mattress cover and carry bag. It also comes in a few colors to best suit your space.

The Delta Children babyGap Deluxe Play Yard is one of the most affordable options you can buy. Not only that, but it’s sustainably made, too. Al the fabric (excluding the mesh windows) is made from recycled water bottles; plastic drinking bottles are sorted, cleaned and shredded into flakes that then become the yarn the seat fabric is made from.

What’s more., this model includes a removable bassinet (with an insert) and waterproof changing table for extra convenience. Its removable toy arm with three plush bears help entertain your little one during diaper changes and play time, too.

With a quick and compact fold that seamlessly packs into its included carrying bag, it’s a wonderful nursery crib alternative.

If you’re on the hunt for a second crib (perhaps for a vacation home or one that most closely resembles the furniture piece in your nursery), then the Dream On Me 2-in-1 Portable Folding Stationary Crib is your best bet. It comes in a catalog of colors to match your space, too, along with locking, commercial-sized wheels and a start-to-finish easy assembly.

Though you’ll have to purchase a crib mattress separately — and, while it doesn’t include the bells and whistles as some of our other top picks feature — it’s a top-rated option if you specifically want something other than the traditional mesh-embossed play yard.

We’re colored impressed by the Silver Cross Slumber Travel Crib. Though it’s a bit of a splurge, it’s one of the easiest to travel with, thanks to its compact design. Though its space-saving design is on the money for apartment-sized spaces, it still includes that multi-purpose bassinet and play yard design characteristic of so many of our top picks.

Not to mention, its zip-up side door is a nice touch to spend quality time with your baby — either to help soothe them to sleep or play a quick game of peek-a-boo. Its mesh sides provide ventilation to keep your baby cool, while its padded, steel frame offers a comfy space for your little one to play in.

Silver Cross features a unique shake-open setup that sets up in a second and folds down easily to fit into its included compact, weatherproof bag. All in all, its consciously created design won’t take up too much real estate in your living room or bedroom (but, is one your baby is sure to enjoy, nonetheless).

For a play yard that’s more or less a ‘baby cave’ for your little one to roam around, play in and sleep in, the BabyBjörn Easy Go Travel Crib is one we love, especially for all the space it provides. Its soft and cushion-y mattress is made of high-resilient PU foam, too, helping your baby catch those ZZZs peacefully, too.

Its breezy mesh design helps you keep an eye on your baby (sans a baby monitor, if you wish to forego one, as your baby is within your range of vision), while its included carry bag helps you transport it seamlessly to grandma’s house. There are no loose parts to attach, either; the legs unfold automatically and the mattress comes with a built-in base plate that keeps the crib standing firmly on the floor.

Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.