Portable Crib

We always took our pack and play. It's perfect for travel and sleeping away from home.

We always used the pack and play. We did modify ours just a bit, by adding a layer of memory foam between the sheet and the mattress that comes with it. That extra layer of padding made a big difference for my daughter when we went on trips. However there are lots of other options for sleep when traveling. Recently we vacationed with my brother and he had a portable bed that laid on the ground with four sides and a mattress for his toddler. It folded right up, and his little girl slept well. This could be used for a young infant or if your baby/toddler was old enough to get out of bed on her own w/o too many worries. I'd go to the Baby Center website or Babys R Us online and look at the different options for portable beds if you really don't like the idea of taking your pack and play.

Just use the pack and play, what is the difference? As long as your child will sleep in it, does is really matter?? Plus in this economy who could afford to buy another "crib"?

My mother suggested the same thing one time when we went to visit her in Florida. She went so far as to rent a very frightening wobbly wooden thing on wheels. I think that "back in the day" rickety portable cribs were all they had. Our parents just aren't that familiar with pack n plays. They are much safer, sturdier, lighter and easier to set up/take down than portable cribs. Prior to my last trip to Florida, I ordered a pack n play online and had it shipped to my mom's house. She keeps it there for us to use whenever we visit. It was only $59.00 or so from Target.

However, we also bought a very sturdy portable crib for our apartment because it was on wheels, it fit through doorways and it fit next to our bed. But, it was very heavy and not made for traveling. It didn't even fit in our trunk! It was portable only in the sense that it was easier to move from room to room than a regular crib. And, it took up less space. If you're interested in something like that, we bought one made by cosco for $79.00. You can google Cosco portable crib to find it. Even daycares use this one.

I would not recommend getting a portable crib. At one point my mom had 3 grandchildren under the age of 1 1/2 yrs. At her house she had a regular crib, a pack n' play and a porta-crib so when my sisters and I came to visit the babies would have their own sleeping spots. I HATED the porta-crib, I felt the matress never fit right and was unsafe. It wasn't cheap either, about the same price as a pack n' play without the bells and whistles. You are better off bringing your pack n' play.

I've never used a portable crib, but did look at them in the store. I prefered to just use a pack and play as it did seem safer for some reason. I have 3, all are Evenflo. The first we bought from Babies R Us and love it except it was expensive and rather hard to close and open. I bought a cheaper version around $50 at Walmart (actually 2) and they are much easier to open and close and seem pretty safe and easy to haul around.

If she wants to buy something, then get a used pack and play from a garage sale or resale/kids resale shop. Or see if she has neighbors with children that they would feel comfortable borrowing from.
We used a portable crib at a hotel and I did not like it. Seemed wobbly and unsafe, but that is just my opinion. I'm sure that being the hotel variety it surely had seen better days. Glad we brought our pack and play just in case.
I would also think you would get more life out of the pack and play than a portable crib.
Also, I think there is a company that rents baby equipment and will have it delivered to where you are going, sorry I can't remember the name of it though.

Good luck with whatever you choose.