The Cadillac of Porta-Cribs
You need a porta-crib. Maybe it's only used when you visit grandparents, or maybe you use it in lieu of a bassinet, but either way, you need one.
We joked that our Graco Pack 'n Play was the Cadillac of porta-cribs, and we loved it. Rather than getting a separate bassinet, we got a Graco Pack 'n Play with Newborn Napper, so there was a cozy nook for the baby to sleep comfortably. Apparently regular cribs feel huge for babies, hence the trend for bassinets as a pre-crib "gateway" bed. The Newborn Napper allowed us to minimize our purchases without sacrificing our daughter's comfort. Check out this pic - she seems okay, right? (She did that herself with her arms. Cracks me up every time.)
You may notice the top of a wipes container and a Desitin jar slightly below the napping pod. That's because the other half of our Pack 'n Play was a changing station. Our use:
This, too, was invaluable. Our Pack 'n Play had an end-cap with room for about 10 diapers, cream, and some wipes, but we frequently just left the wipes below on the unused mattress for easier access. It was so phenomenal to be able to quickly move the baby between napping station and changing station, and they were both at waist level so it was much more comfortable for parents or babysitters (rather than bending over to put your kid to sleep in a deep or low bassinet -- trust me on this one). Here's what the changing station looks like inserted on its own, courtesy of buybuy BABY's showroom:
And then this is the full package (sans baby):
There are loads of porta-cribs (aka playards) out there, and Graco themselves make a ton with different add-on options, but I can't recommend our Pack 'n Play highly enough. If you like the idea of the napper and changing station, but you want a little more changing station storage, opt for the Graco Pack 'n Play with "Napper Elite". It's got at least 3 times the amount of side storage space as the regular Napper model (see below), and it also has a built in vibrate function (as opposed to the attachment you need to use with the regular model... we never used it).
There's about a $40 price difference at buybuy BABY, and I'm not sure the differences make it worthwhile, but up to you!
buybuy BABY has a decent selection of porta-cribs, but you'll get a much broader variety (colors, styles, add-ons) by shopping online at buybuybaby.com. (NYC only has so much retail space.)
The non-Graco product that seemed most popular with shopping moms during my most recent buybuy BABY visit was the 4moms Breeze Playard with a changing table and bassinet combo:
The mattress may be more comfortable than the Graco bassinet mattress (though not the Graco napper), and it's really easy to open/close - just 1-step! But it's $110 more expensive than the Napper Elite. And you can only use one function at a time (meaning, either it's a changing table or it's a sleep station, but you need to attach or separate the top piece depending on which you want to use it as at any given time). So I give it a "meh" rating.
If I had only needed the porta-crib for travel, I would likely have gone with the basic, no frills Graco Pack 'n Play. At $70 it's still cheaper than almost any other product, plus you get the great reputation and manufacturing of Graco.
Quick safety note: please be sure to review all weight limits when using these products, and if your baby shows signs of rolling over, discontinue use of the Napper!
