My niece is having her baby shower in a few weeks and I'm going back and forth on what to get her. I'm torn between a Pack N Play or a diaper bag full of useful things (diapers, wipes, pacifier, swaddle blankets, etc). I have two kiddos and never had a Pack N Play. However, I did have an Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper because both co-slept with us. We used that for diaper changes, clothes changes, storage, etc. But if my kiddos would have slept in their crib I don't think I would have ever used it for any of those things because I would have done all of that in their room.
So, what do you all think? A Pack N Play or full diaper bag (both of which are on her registry)?
I vote Pack N Play!
I'm just thinking if she doesn't get everything, it's probably easier for her to get the smaller, useful stuff than spend a bigger chunk of money on the Pack N Play.
I had a pack & play and only used it one time... when we went out of town on vacation and didn't want to use the hotel's loaner-crib.
I would think a diaper bag full of stuff would be much more useful.
We used our Pack N Play a lot! We used the same one for all 3 boys. We never used it at home, but it is great for travel. Will she travel? I always preferred my own pack n play over a hotel crib. Either sounds like a really great gift!
pack and play. so nice to have. you can stick them in the car and take them to grandmas house, the park the pool etc. just all around great to have
Pack N Play
Loved mine ~ used it a lot! In fact, I got it out 2 weeks ago when my brother was over so my littlest nephew had a place to nap. Came in very handy!
Pack & Play....EXCELLENT gift. I had one and used it everywhere. I just gave one as a gift a few weeks ago.
A Pack and Play or a square playpen. Every baby needs a safe place to play when Mom wants to shower, go to bathroom, has to attend to sibling.
If you have a dog or car, it is a safe haven. I never trust an animal in a room alone with a baby. My granddaughter plays very well in her playpen .
She is only in there when I need to cook etc. I got her used to it early. IMO
safety comes first, hence the playpen or pack and play.
I got a pack and play and never used it. Not once.
I would do a diaper bag full of useful things. If you get swaddle blankets, I suggest Aden and Anais blankets. We used those all the time. I still use them for things, 3 years later!!
Used the Pack & Play a lot. With a 2 story house it was used for changing diapers and naps. It went on several vacations as well.
While both ideas are really nice, I vote P&P!
Thank goodness your shopping from the registry. With my first I was very surprised that 95% of yhe gifts did not come from the registry. Seems that people like to pick out baby clothes. He had enough to get twins through their first year.
I would go with the pack and play. You can still tie some useful things to the bow.
After going through my own shower I make it a point to shop from registries and include socks (all those outfits and I received very few socks) and toys.
I vote Pack N Play! Wish I had one when mine were babies. My niece has one and it's a life saver when she visits.
Good luck!!
Pack and Play!
Hanover said exactly what I was going to. I recieved two pack and plays from my best friend. (we were having twins) One went to Mamaw and Papaws as they kept them while we were at work and one stayed in the living room for naps, changes etc. We liked being close to them even if they were asleep!
It was so much easier to purchase the smaller things as we needed them. It was also much easier to afford the smaller things as we needed them.
Pack N Play - it's nice to have a place to put baby that's safe if I needed to do something out of sight for a minute like change the laundry or take a quick shower. Used it outside in the summer on the deck so they could play but not fall down the stairs.
My vote is for the Pack N Play!!!!
Get the one with the bassinet and changing station. I kept it in the living room for the first couple of months so I could do naps/diaper changes. My mom kept one at her house when she babysat my oldest for the same purpose.
Once baby outgrows the bassinet/changer, they are removed and it can be used for older baby's naps, or as a bed when traveling. It was great for naps when we'd go to my SIL's house for the day. I also took it for a hotel bed for the baby. Most hotels use Pack N Plays as their "cribs", so I'd rather have my own and know that it was clean. I used it if I had to leave the room to throw in a load of laundry, or go to the bathroom. My babies would be happy to play in there for short periods while I made dinner etc... if I threw different toys in each time.
I couldn't have done without it!
Pack & Play!!!! The ones they make now are so incredible--changing table, bassinet, and then later a playyard. It is a must-have in our home, and travels so well with us.
I had a Pack N Play and used it for travel. It came with us if we were staying with friends or relatives (even just visiting for the day so there would be a place to nap), staying in hotel rooms or camping. We used it until the kids were nearly three. It was very useful.
If I bought the diaper bag I would buy a Lug diaper bag. All the moms at the gym have them and love them.
