Don't Waste Your Money is supported by our readers. When you purchase an item through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Playard | 2023

Last updated on January 11, 2023

We looked at the top 12 Playards and dug through the reviews from 52 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Playards.

Best Playard

Why Trust The DWYM Score?

DWYM is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to.Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

Our Picks For The Top Playards

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  Top Pick

4moms All-In-One Easy Transport Playard

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

4moms

All-In-One Easy Transport Playard

Overall Take

Everything You NeedGift this all-in-one playard to the expectant mom in your life.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  Runner Up

BABY JOY Mesh Easy Wash Playard

BABY JOY

Mesh Easy Wash Playard

Overall Take

Choice of ColorsThis playard is available in a choice of gray or blue.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  We Also Like

Graco Pack & Play Wheeled Mesh Playard

Graco

Pack & Play Wheeled Mesh Playard

Overall Take

Extra Safety FeaturesThe safety features set this playard apart, including fastening straps to hold the mattress in place and padded metal bars.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus Verywell Family, PrimeTopList, What To Expect, Lucie’s List, Baby Gear Lab, Parenting Pod and 3 more. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Graco seems to have put a lot of thought into this play yard’s design because it has a lot of safety features. From the fastening straps on the mattress to the mesh siding, down to the carefully padded metal bars,..."
Cons
"Sheets and other accessories sold separately"
  Also Great

Dream On Me Zodiak Travel Non-Toxic Playard

Dream On Me

Zodiak Travel Non-Toxic Playard

Overall Take

Economical OptionThe budget-friendly price tag on this playard mean you can get a second one for grandma's house.

Experts Included
DWYM Baby and Kids Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
19

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the playards available to purchase.
12

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

52

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: All Top Ten Reviews, Your Home Security Watch, Mommy Tea Room, Read Best Reviews, Two Monkeys Travel Group.

41,609

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 12 Playards and also dug through the reviews from 52 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Playards.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval
Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

4moms All-In-One Easy Transport Playard

User Summarized Score

9.8
782 user reviews

Our Take

New moms are sure to find this playard a lifesaver. Not only does it offer a safe space to play, but it also comes with a removable bassinet and a clip-on changing table. What's even more exciting is that the entire playard can be set-up and taken down with just one hand!


The Best Bang For Your Buck

Dream On Me Zodiak Travel Non-Toxic Playard

User Summarized Score

9.0
4,937 user reviews

Our Take

This playard is easy to assemble and can be set up in seconds. It comes with a carry bag with a durable shoulder strap for easy transport when traveling. The playard's most attractive features include rounded corners, mesh sides for added breathability and a decorative soft pad that's comfortable for baby.

Overall Product Rankings

1. 4moms All-In-One Easy Transport Playard

Overall Score: 9.8
Reviews Included: 1

2. BABY JOY Mesh Easy Wash Playard

Overall Score: 9.7
Reviews Included: 1

3. Graco Pack & Play Wheeled Mesh Playard

Overall Score: 9.5
Reviews Included: 10

4. Pamo Babe Multi-Functional Folding Playard

Overall Score: 9.3
Reviews Included: 1

5. Dream On Me Zodiak Travel Non-Toxic Playard

Overall Score: 9.2
Reviews Included: 1

6. Delta Children Safari Fun JPMA Certified Playard

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 1

7. Guava Family Compact Lightweight Playard

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 8

8. Regalo Nylon Bottom Lightweight Playard

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 10

9. Summer Infant Pop ‘N Play Water-Resistant Playard

Overall Score: 9.1
Reviews Included: 10

10. Joovy Room2 Waterproof Rolling Playard

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 9

11. SASRL Eco-Friendly Extra Large Playard

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 1

12. Baby Trend Removable Bassinet Playard

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 11

Our Playard Findings


4moms All-In-One Easy Transport Playard

What We Liked: New moms are sure to find this playard a lifesaver. Not only does it offer a safe space to play, but it also comes with a removable bassinet and a clip-on changing table. What’s even more exciting is that the entire playard can be set-up and taken down with just one hand!


BABY JOY Mesh Easy Wash Playard

What We Liked: This playard uses a seven-point load bearing system, so you can feel confident that it’s safe and stable. Parents will love the detachable mattress for naptime, as well as the provided carry bag for taking the playard to grandma’s. There’s also a set of wheels for quickly moving the playard from one side of the room to the other.


Graco Pack & Play Wheeled Mesh Playard

We Also Like

What We Liked: Available in a variety of designs, this playard has feet and wheels that automatically fold to make it easy to transport. An insert lets you raise the sleeping surface to a level more easily reachable, and mesh sidewalls keep airflow moving through the playard. The mattress is held in place with fastening straps to give you the peace of mind of knowing your baby will stay firmly in place.


Pamo Babe Multi-Functional Folding Playard

What We Liked: In addition to providing a safe place for baby to play, this playard also includes a changing table to make diapering at or away from a home a breeze. The breathable mesh fabric sides provide proper airflow, while also giving parents an unobstructed view into the playard. It’s also designed to be used as a portable crib, which is great if you’re camping or staying the night in a hotel.


Dream On Me Zodiak Travel Non-Toxic Playard

What We Liked: This playard is easy to assemble and can be set up in seconds. It comes with a carry bag with a durable shoulder strap for easy transport when traveling. The playard’s most attractive features include rounded corners, mesh sides for added breathability and a decorative soft pad that’s comfortable for baby.

Our Playard Buying Guide

You can’t keep eyes on your baby 24 hours a day. Infants and toddlers need room to play and move around and doing so can easily get them into trouble. Even if you’ve baby-proofed your house, things can happen.

That’s where a playard comes in. Earlier generations called them playpens, but a brand called Pack ‘N’ Play, manufactured by Graco, transformed the concept of a playpen. Instead of being confined to your home, Pack ‘N’ Plays allowed parents to fold up their playpens and take them on the go. But today, Graco isn’t the only manufacturer making this type of product, so to get a true picture of the market, you’ll need to use the product name “playard.”

Like a playpen, a playard gives babies a small, safe space for them to play freely. Think of it as a gated area, only the gate is a soft, safe mesh, and instead of crawling around on the floor, babies get a soft flooring to crawl around on. But perhaps the best thing about playards is they don’t limit you to one small area of your home. They’re built to easily fold up so that you can take them on the go with you.

You aren’t limited to inside play areas with playards, either. You can find some that can be used either outdoors or inside, making them much more versatile than the playpens your grandparents and their parents used. The mesh walls of playards also ensure airflow gets through, which keeps your little ones from being confined between walls that restrict the oxygen they breathe.

But as with almost every other baby product, playards come in a wide variety, with each offering its own unique features. You may find you love the ease of cleaning one playard, only to discover that a competitor has a more comfortable mattress or better safety features. That’s why it’s important to shop around until you find the playard that has everything you need.

DWYM Fun Fact

Playpens have a long history. In fact, they’re believed to have gotten their beginnings when primitive moms realized they could confine babies to a corner of the cave using a barrier, effectively keeping them safe. But as a commercial product, playpens weren’t popularized until the late 1800s, when they were referred to as a “baby cage.” These cages more closely resembled a walker than a playpen, though. That version could double as a cot. A later version was an adjustable cot that could double as a playpen and a go-cart. The first known use of the term playpen was seen in a 1931 ad in the Daily Express, which referred to “play-pens in best hardwood.”

The Playard Tips and Advice

  • One thing many playards offer that playpens didn’t is portability. You’ll find most fold down, with some even coming with storage bags that you can use for carrying. Look at the folding mechanism. The best ones make it easy to set up and break down, taking mere seconds. Some even let you do the setup and breakdown work through the use of a foot pedal, which comes in handy if you’re holding a baby.
  • If you opt for a playard with a storage bag, make sure it has a storage strap that makes it easy to tote around.
  • Some playards have something called a “bassinet feature,” which simply means you can lower and raise the sleeping area by adjusting it. This can make it easier to pick up and put down your baby.
  • If you plan to regularly take your playard on the go with you, look for one that has a changing area built in.
  • Safety features are important with any product geared toward children. Check to make sure the mattress will be secure and that all parts of the frame are sufficiently padded to reduce the risk of injury.
  • As useful as playards can be, it’s still important to keep an eye on an infant or toddler, even when in a confined area.
  • Durability is important, too. The frame needs to be built to last. If you plan to use your playard outside, make sure you buy one that can weather sun, humidity and even a surprise rainstorm.
  • You’ll need to clean the playard. In fact, you’ll probably find cleanup is necessary on a fairly regular basis. Having one with a cover for the mattress area can be valuable since you can simply remove the cover and wash it as needed. But it can also be nice to have one made of material like nylon that can simply be wiped down with a damp, slightly soapy washcloth when needed.

About The Author

Stephanie Faris 

Stephanie Faris is a novelist and professional writer. She's also a wife and stepmom who lives in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. Her work has appeared on popular parenting sites. She also writes books for young children, including the Piper Morgan series of chapter books published by Simon & Schuster's Aladdin imprint.