Playards

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by Rachel Beck "Rachel B" : Love it

I love this bassinet. Not only is it cute, but very functional. It fits in and out of doorways, and has really made my life much easier with a newborn. My only complaint is that when in the bassinet setting ( the padding is hanging from the top of the crib) and your baby gains a little bit of weight it sags in the middle. My son has started to lay across it since otherwise his bottom hangs a little bit. So, in that sense it is not functional for very long. I do love it, and am not sad that I bought it, but now I am going to buy a portable crib, a wood one, since I do not want him to be sleeping in a different room from me yet. If you are buying this so your baby can sleep in your bedroom and wish to do that for 3 months or more and money is a bit more of a factor it might be a better idea to just go directly to a wooden portable crib. They make great ones that fold. That way when your baby hits 10 pounds and you still want him in bassinet mode his butt will not sag in the middle.

It has been several months since this initial review and I did not end up replacing the crib. I put a piece of plywood cut to the size of the mattress to make the bassinet setting last longer and it worked very well ( I also made my own sheets that sandwiched the plywood to the mattress so there was no separation). When my son moved out of the bassinet to his crib we continued to use this travel crib as well... a travel crib and I loved that about this product. The fact that we were able to travel with something familiar my son is able to sleep anywhere. I love the mesh on the sides so I do not have to worry about the whole bumper thing. I did not want to delete my initial review because I feel as though the sagging bassinet setting is important info to a potential buyer and people should know about all their options before purchasing this product.

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by Michele Benitez "first time mom" : I LOVED IT!!!!!

Pros: The weight limit is higher than most bassinets and pack and plays with the bassinet insert. Most of those only go up to 15lbs. This one is 30 I think. My baby weighed 8lbs 10oz. at birth. She was able to use it up to 8 months. It is very sturdy, not shaky at all. Well made. Even after she could't use it as a crib anymore, I took it with us when we traveled and she was able to sleep in it with it set up as play yard. She used it like this up to 2 years of age. The price is more affordable than most bassinets and play yards. It folds nicely, comes with case. Easy to clean and wipe down, etc.

Con: the only con I could think of is that I could only find the sheet in stores that sold it. Like Babies R Us.

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by Riah G "Brylee's Mom" : Couldnt be happier

I was a little unsure when I bought this. For a few reasons. I was unsure if I would like the brown and pink print. I am having a girl but I thought it was a bit bright. But my husband really liked this one so I went for it. I was also a little unsure about the whole size thing. I know that when you first bring home baby a smaller space is great to have. They feel a little safer. I had worried though that it wouldnt be big enough to last us more than a few months. When I recieved this in the mail I rushed home and opened it up. I was happy to find it pretty much put together. Which is great since my husband was away for work. I got it all set up and fell in love. The colors are great and it is a little smaller than the normal pack'n play but plenty of room to grow. This is a great product. We are going to use it in our room when we first bring baby home. It has a bassinet piece that comes with it and it is very strong and will easily hold a newborn baby. I am very glad we went with the lite. I have no problems with this product at all. Money well spent!

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by R.B.H. "GrannyR." : Dual Purpose

I got this for my daughter who is having her fifth child, so she knows what she likes. She thought this was great. Not only for a basinet by the bed for the first months, but also as a travel bed for camping. Their family loves to camp and this new little one will fit right in -- in her own take-a-long bed.

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by TexanBlue : Beautiful fabric, great size!

The photos on this site really do not do justice to the fabric - it is just lovely! I wish I had seen this pattern before registering for all the other baby items - I would love to have a whole set of it! There are very nice soft blue and green accents in addition to the creamy tan and taupe.

It was quick and easy to set up and it really does fit through a standard doorway, which was a main selling point for me. It fits next to the bed like a co-sleeper but was such a better deal and, I think, with a longer use factor.

I also purchased a sheet for the pad, but it was rather thin; however, if you or someone you know sews, it is an absolute cinch to make some of your own that are a bit thicker and softer. All in all, a great product that I would definitely buy again and maybe as a gift for someone else!!

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by Kristine Adam "techie mom" : Totally functional, doesn't take up half a room

Bought this for our 5th child (now 9 months old) and I wish I'd had one earlier as our old pack-n-play was huge. I like to have a safe spot to put baby down in my living area, so that I don't have to constantly run back & forth to a bedroom. The small size has meant that I can have it in the hallway outside the bathroom while I shower. The speedy set-up & reasonable carrying size means that I don't mind moving it to another floor of the house or taking it on trips. The canopy was handy as we have a lot of skylights. I plan to keep this for when friends or family visit with a baby as it's sturdy & versatile.

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by Seb's mom "SVM" : Functional but with downsides

I got this to use for my baby's first few months instead of a co-sleeper. The price was better, its the right height for being next to the bed and easy to move through doors. Also, the Marlow pattern was neutral enough for a boy or a girl. I did not like the sheets that were made for it (too thin, not soft) and I didn't think the mattress that it comes with was cushioned enough. So I bought a little bassinet mattress (Summer's, I think) from Baby's R Us and put a 400 count pillowcase over that. The dimensions worked perfectly. The only problem I see is that the middle has already started to sag and my baby only weighs 8 lbs right now.

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by K. Lewis : Perfect for a travel crib

I love this pack and play. We bought it specifically for the smaller size. Here are a list of the pros and cons

Pros
- Rolls in and out of normal doorways (this is a lifesaver because I can roll my sleeping son in and out of my room)
- Light - the average pack and play is about 40 lbs. The travel lite is only 20.
- Doesn't take up a ton of space. I was able to set it up in a hotel bathroom when my son needed a nap and refused to take one while he could see me.

Cons
- it isn't as suited for bigger kids because it is significantly smaller than a normal pack and play (which is why I bought it)
- It still folds up fine but maybe not quite as neatly as the normal pack and play
- They only sell the sheets at babies r us. Normal pack n play sheets seem to be sold everywhere.

To sum up if you are looking for a smaller version of a pack and play . . . well that is what this is. I don't really understand the people who gave this low marks for being small. I am SOOO glad I bought it. I wanted crib that is light and easy to move around whether to travel with or even within my own house.

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by LoveMyBaby : Very Functional,Totally Adorable

Absolutely wonderful product! After researching for months for something save and convenient for our coming daughter, my parents bought this for us and it's great. You can't beat the price for what you get. It's easy to put to together and take apart (although putting it all in the travel bag requires some talent), it's easy and light to move throughout the house (I've even lifted it with one arm while holding the baby), and it's the perfect size to have her sleep next to me in bed (we have a small masterbdrm). I don't understand some of the reviews that complain about the size---it's only made to be used up to 15lbs which is standard for any bassinet and it's smaller than the original packnplay because it's a "travel" crib. My daughter loves it and sleeps very comfortably in it (and of course it's as cute as can be)!

Graco Travel Lite Crib Playard, Ally
Review by sungifts : Great for Camping or for a small place!

I had been searching for a smaller pack and play for our 3 month grandaughter to use in our RV. There was no way our full size pack & play would have fit and I was unsure as to where she would sleep, but now my problem is solved! This turns out to be the perfect size! A good bit smaller than the full size but just as sturdy! The wheels are great, the bassinet feature will be useful until she's a little older and the canopy will come in handy for outside use. So, if you are looking for something smaller to use when traveling or camping - this is the one!