The Best Playard - 2022
We looked at the top 10 and dug through the reviews from 52 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best .
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.
Our Picks For The Top
- The Best
- 1. Dream On Me Zodiak Padded Lightweight Playard
- 2. SASRL Eco-Friendly Extra Large Playard
- 3. Graco Pack & Play Wheeled Mesh Playard
- 4. Pamo Babe Multi-Functional Folding Playard
- 5. Delta Children Safari Fun JPMA Certified Playard
- 6. Guava Family Portable Backpack Travel Playard
- 7. Regalo Nylon Bottom Lightweight Playard
- 8. Summer Infant Pop ‘N Play Water-Resistant Playard
- 9. Joovy Room2 Waterproof Rolling Playard
- 10. Baby Trend Removable Bassinet Playard
Economical OptionThe budget-friendly price tag on this playard mean you can get a second one for grandma's house.
Multiple Color OptionsYou'll find this playard comes in a choice of colors, including gray, pink and blue.
Extra Safety FeaturesThe safety features set this playard apart, including fastening straps to hold the mattress in place and padded metal bars.
Most VersatileIt takes just seconds to assemble and disassemble this handy playard for baby.
Why we recommend these ?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 10 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 .
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.
The Best Overall
Dream On Me Zodiak Padded Lightweight Playard
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.
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Graco Pack & Play Wheeled Mesh Playard
Our Take
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.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Findings
Dream On Me Zodiak Padded Lightweight 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.
SASRL Eco-Friendly Extra Large Playard
What We Liked: This playard is designed for use both indoors and outdoors. It is twice the size of other playards and includes 50 plastic balls to turn it into a ball pit. The frame is constructed using steel pipes, which makes it extremely durable and safe.
Graco Pack & Play Wheeled Mesh Playard
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.
Delta Children Safari Fun JPMA Certified Playard
What We Liked: Parents will love how easy this playard is to fold and store when traveling or visiting grandma. It’s also got a cute safari design and features four different safari animals on the sides of the playard. A soft mattress sits at the base of the unit to provide a comfortable place for baby to play.
Our 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 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 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.
You May Also Enjoy Our Other Reviews
- Robotic Vacuum
- Cordless Vacuums
- Electric Pressure Washer
- Gas Pressure Washer
- Air Mattress
- Pressure Washer
- Drone
- Electric Razor
- Convertible Car Seat
- Dyson Vacuum
- Infant Car Seat
- Dry Dog Food
- Carpet Cleaners
- Kick-Start Every Morning With Coffee Maker
- Air Fryer
- Laptops
- Home Printer
- Wireless Router
- Streaming Device
- Electric Pressure Cooker