5 Best Mini Pack N Play Models for Families That Love to Travel


If you love to travel and want to take your baby with you wherever you go, having a mini pack n play is a must. It’ll provide your little one with a safe and comfortable place to sleep and play while you are exploring the many wonders of our planet together. Today there are many lightweight, portable, sturdy and comfy playpen models that you can take anywhere because they are easy to transport and will fit in with the luggage.

Top 5 Mini Pack N Play Models in 2021

#Product NameKey FeaturesDimensions (in)

Weight

Current Price
1Graco Pack’n Play On the Go Playard
Removable infant bassinet
Toy arch with three soft toys
Automatic folding wheels and feet
Lightweight and portable
Durable sturdy frame designed for travel
40 x 28.5 x 29

16.8 pounds

2Guava Family Lotus Travel Crib
Lightweight and folds into a backpack
Takes 15 seconds to set up
Has a zippable side-door
Comfy mattress
Transparent mesh all the way down
GREENGUARD GOLD Certified
42 x 32 x 25

11 pounds

3Baby Trend Nursery Center
Infant bassinet, diaper organizer, and three toys
Hand-locking mechanism
Large wheels with brakes
39.76 x 27.96 x 27.96

23.1 pounds

4Babyseater Portable Playard
Comes assembled
See-through mesh for great visibility
Side zipper to give the baby their own door
Can be used indoors and outdoors
Two safety locks for stability
60″ hexagon, each side is 27.5″

14.82 pounds

5Cosco Funsport Play Yard
Fast and easy setup
Quick-squeeze latch for easy folding
Wheels to move around the place
Portable with a carry bag
40.25 x 30 x 28.25

20.5 pounds

Graco Mini Pack’n Play On the Go Playard

mini pack n play

The Graco On the Go Playard is literally made for travel because it’s compact and portable, yet has all the functionality of a top-grade play yard.

If you need a small playpen that you can easily travel with, the Graco On the Go model will be a great choice. Despite its compact size when folded (39.5x29x10.5’’) this playpen creates a safe and comfy space for your baby to play, nap, or sleep in. Its Dimensions (in), when set up, are 40×28.5×29. Unlike the majority of playard models, this one has easily foldable wheels and feet. It also has a stylish bag for easy transportation.

The playpen itself is roomy and has mesh walls to ensure your baby remains visible at all times. It’s safe for toddlers up to 35’’ and the sturdy frame ensures this mini pack n play remains stable and safe. There is also a detachable infant bassinet that’s safe for your baby to be in until they learn to push up or reach 15 lbs.

Users positively love this model and often use it for travel and even as a primary sleeping place for a baby at home. One of the users commends the quality of packaging as well as the product itself and says the playpen is very sturdy. The Schiele Family also comments that they love how the bassinet is very sturdy despite the fact that this is the cheapest Graco pack and play. Some customers complain about the low quality of the mattress, but that’s a common issue for these products due to their low cost. You can use an extra mattress if this one isn’t to your liking.

Pros:

Compact
Easy to fold (Graco’s signature push button)
Sturdy
Has an infant bassinet with toy arch

Cons:

Low quality mattress
Might have a bad smell when first out of the box

Guava Family Lotus Travel Lightweight Pack and Play

small pack n play

A perfect mini pack n play for camper parents and those who live on the go as it folds into a backpack and is very easy to set up and use.

The Lotus Travel Crib is sure to become your favorite playpen not only for travel or camping trips but to use anywhere inside and outside the house. The Playard is very lightweight and it folds into a backpack instead of a carry bag that can be difficult to lug around. With this play yard, your hands are free during transportation, so it’s very convenient for parents who need to carry a diaper bag and other baby stuff.

The pack and play take only 15 seconds to set up and it has walls made of transparent mesh. It also has a zippable side-door, which you can keep open at home to make your baby feel more comfortable. The mattress is rather nice for a playpen. Also, the Lotus Travel Crib is made of tested non-toxic and non-flame retardant materials and is GREENGUARD GOLD Certified.

Parents love this model because it’s non-toxic and has a better than average playpen mattress, says mommyof2. Another reviewer adds that the side zipper is amazing and their kid loves crawling inside and outside the playpen on their own. Some people don’t like that the mattress isn’t elevated, but that’s obvious from the pictures and doesn’t make the play yard any less comfortable or safe.

Pros:

Lightweight
Packs into a backpack
Set up in 15 seconds
Side zipper

Cons:

Mattress sits low to the floor
No infant bassinet

Baby Trend Small Pack’n Play

lightweight pack n play

This Baby Trend model is a great playpen for travel that has all the functionality of a full-fledged nursery center.

If you are looking for a small, portable, and affordable nursery center, this Baby Trend playpen will be a great choice. It’s easy to set up anywhere and has large wheels to move around. The brakes on the wheels ensure that the playard stays in place when you need it to. The play yard is equipped with a diaper stacker and a full-size infant bassinet with three hanging toys.

This mini pack n play is easy to fold and transport in a carry bag. Despite its extensive functionality, the play yard only weights a bit over 23 pounds. Therefore, you can use it for travel and camping easily.

According to Hailey Tellez, and many other reviewers, the setup is very easy and fast. Although, some people complain that it’s difficult to take down once the one-hand lock mechanism actually locks. But you should be able to learn how to do this after watching some videos and practicing a few times.

Pros:

Has a full-size infant bassinet with toys
Has a diaper stacker
Large wheels for easy moving around
One-hand locking mechanism

Cons:

Needs a bit of force to take down
Might be wobbly without a mattress in place

Babyseater Portable Mini Playpen for Babies

lightweight pack n play

The BabySeater mini pack n play offers a comfy and safe play area you can set up for your baby anywhere.

The BabySeater is a good playpen for camper parents who love to go on short hikes with their little ones. It will give your baby a safe place to play out in nature with you. It’s also good for travel because the pack’n play is portable. Two safety locks ensure that the playard remains stable once set up.

You can set up this play yard with only one hand, so you can hold your baby while doing it. There is a side-door for your little one that will allow them to climb in and out to have more fun playing in the playpen. A zipper will secure the opening when you want your baby to safely stay inside.

KC, one of the many reviewers who say that the BabySeater is an amazing pack and play model, commends its sturdiness and ease of setup/takedown. And according to Jacob Nadjari, this playpen is a lot sturdier and of a higher quality than one would expect from something at this price. Bear in mind that toddlers might get too rowdy and rip the mesh at the corners. That’s why you should follow the directions and only use the item with smaller children up to 35’’.

Pros:

Sturdy for the price
Roomy play area
See-through mesh
Side-door with a zipper

Cons:

No padding
No infant bassinet
Not the most durable mesh

Cosco Funsport Small Play Yard

graco mini pack n play

The Cosco Funsport is affordable, simple, and functional, offering all the basic features of a top-grade playpen.

The Funsport by Cosco is a mini pack n play watered down to essentials, and all the more functional for it. It’s small and lightweight when folded and has a carry bag for easy transportation. The playpen takes less than a minute to set up and the takedown process is just as easy due to the quick-squeeze latch.

The pack and play has a stylish design and mesh walls. When set up, it’s sturdy and offers a safe place for the baby to play or nap in. You can move it around the house or yard fast because it has wheels. The lightweight playpen can be used for travel and even for camping.

One of the reviewers points out that this play yard appears small and compact and yet is roomy enough for the baby to be comfortable. They also commend that the fabric is wipe-clean and easy to wash. Some reviewers don’t like that this model doesn’t have a lot of padding, but that’s why it has such a low price. You can add a standard-size mattress if you want your baby to sleep there.

Pros:

Stylish design
Small and compact
Very easy to set up and take down
Portable

Cons:

Bad padding
No infant bassinet
No extra perks, like toys or music center

FAQ: How to Choose and Use a Mini Pack N Play

Are portable playards safe?
A portable play yard will be a perfectly safe place for your baby to sleep or play if it’s quality is high. Because these products must be lightweight and compact, some manufacturers might take some shortcuts in design. Therefore the playpen might turn out to be flimsy or with defects, like tilting to the side. These items are very dangerous. Therefore, make sure that the model of the pack and play you choose is sturdy and has reliable locking mechanisms that will keep it from folding accidentally.

Can my baby sleep inside a small pack n play?
Whether your portable playard can be used as a bed depends on the model’s design. Some of them are made as small nursery centers that can be used for travel and at home. They come with a mattress and can be fitted with another one for greater comfort. However, some play yards are only good to use for playing and, perhaps, a short nap. They usually don’t have much padding and support at the bottom and lie almost flush to the floor. You might be able to fit a crib mattress into some of them, but not all models have this option.

How easy is it to travel with a portable play yard?
You can take a portable play yard with you regardless of how you choose to travel. When you fly, it will be checked in with the rest of your luggage. However, remember to check the allowed weight limits on your tickets when traveling with a pack and play. These products come with a carry bag to make it easier to transport them. They are also small and lightweight compared to more “permanent” types of playpens.

In Conclusion: Buy a Mini Pack N Play with the Use in Mind

There are many playards that are portable and lightweight, so parents on the go can find the perfect fit for their family. Bear in mind that these models are versatile, so you should consider exactly how you want to use the play yard before buying.

If you plan to travel a lot with the baby, you might benefit from a portable nursery with diaper storage, bassinet, and a sturdy frame. However, if you are more of a camper and only need a safe place for your kid to play when you are out on a one-day hike, you can use a playpen that doesn’t have a bassinet or even a mattress. But instead, it will be spacy and have transparent mesh walls for breathability.

No matter what, remember that if you want your baby to sleep in a mini pack n play, you will most likely need to buy an extra mattress. The ones offered with these models are usually low-quality and very firm.